Beautiful People,

It's that time of year when all your senses are heightened and elated by the reality of Christmas. Snow bells are ringing, presents are wrapped, music is jingling, and a slew of Christmas movies are on the horizon. A Christmas favorite at the Kabanje household is the movie Elf. If you have yet to see it, I recommend it. It's a fun family movie. For those that have seen Elf, you probably have asked yourself, "how did they make Will Ferrell, "Buddy," so tall compared to the other elves?" I've wondered the same thing. They were able to accomplish this by using a photography technique called forced perspective. Forced perspective employs optical illusions that manipulate human perception to make objects appear as though they are farther away, closer, larger, or smaller than their actual size. This optical illusion is accomplished by controlling and manipulating the distance and vantage point of the camera. It's an exciting technique ripe with spiritual implications. I firmly believe that the Garden of Eden defines everything we need to know concerning human behavior and relationships.

The first three chapters of Genesis outline the idyllic and harmonious intentions for human flourishing and actualization. Eden was a perfect picture of God's creativity and splendor; however, the Devil skewed this picture with a forced perspective—a manipulation of Adam and Eve's perception of God and His character. At the center of this manipulation is a simple question, "who will you serve?" Our perception of self often places us in the role of "God" because we have bit into the lie that we are self-sufficient in creating our paradise. To destroy this illusion, we need to get closer to reality and change our distance and vantage point. The further we get away from God, the more skewed He appears; however, friends, the closer we get to God, the more beautiful He becomes. We don't have to live in a forced perspective where our perception of God is twisted. The truth and beauty of God has appeared—His name is Jesus Christ. Through Christ, the manipulation and disillusionment of the Devil will have no control over us. Look to Jesus to fix your perspective and perception of life.