The smoke from Canada recently filled the sky with a foggy haze. I had noticed the sky looked a different color the day before, but waking up to haze and a smoky smell left no room for doubt. Hundreds of miles south of the location of the fire, our area was impacted. As I glanced out of the kitchen window, the sun had a unique red glow. Moments later, it was hidden behind clouds and haze, completely out of view.

That moment reminds me of a lesson I learned while flying. Above the clouds, I could see the sun shining brightly. I knew that on the ground people could only see the clouds. However, above the clouds the sun was still shining.

It’s all about perspective. The sunshine is constant and the rotation dependable. Clouds, fog, rotation of the earth, or even positions of the moon can change how it appears, but the qualities of the sun remain the same. It’s always hot even when hidden. It’s always bright even when on the other side of the planet or eclipsed behind the moon. Even the fog cannot change the sun’s composition as a ball of gas though it may appear to cause it to change colors.

The astonishing reality for me is the fact that this is true of people as well. Who they are remains consistent and how they show up is fairly dependable. The only thing that changes how they appear is my perspective. Anger, disappointment, frustration, judgment and pain can change how I view another person, but the qualities of who he or she is remains the same. I might view her as non-communicative or even scattered. I can perceive him as distant and condescending. They may appear to be against me or unhelpful. The truth is that all I am seeing is the clouds, the fog or the smoke.

When I rise above my limiting perspectives, I can see the truth. She is one of God’s kids. He is a fellow human. She has insecurities and internal doubts. He wonders if he has what it takes. They all have dreams and hopes. We all need love and connection. The sun didn’t change and neither did the people around me. Perhaps it's time to clear away that which is hindering my perspective.