Dirty Windows

You've probably heard the story about the old couple who live next to a young couple who hangs the laundry out to dry?  The old lady always makes  snide comments about how dirty the sheets are and how someone should teach her how to do laundry or use the correct amount of soap...This goes on for weeks, but then one morning, the old lady sees clean sheets hanging out to dry.  Being very curious, the old lady says "Well it's about time she finally learned how to do wash, someone must have gone over and taught her a lesson."  The old man replies "No, No, that's not it; I got up early and washed the windows so you you can see more clearly."

My Cousin Vinny is one of my favorite movies; I actually prefer the TV version as the language can get a bit crude at times.  One of my favorite scenes is when Vinny is asking questions to Mr Crane one of the witnesses...

Vinny Gambini: Mr. Crane, what are these pictures of?
Ernie Crane: My house and stuff.
Vinny Gambini: House and stuff. And what is this brown stuff on your window.
Ernie Crane: Dirt.
Vinny Gambini: Dirt. And what is this rusty, dusty, dirty looking thing that's covering your window?
Ernie Crane: That's a screen.
Vinny Gambini: A screen! It's a screen. And what are these really big things that are right in the middle of your view of the Sac-o-Suds and your kitchen window, what do we call these big things?
Ernie Crane: Trees?
Vinny Gambini: Trees, that's right, don't be afraid just shout 'em right out when you know 'em. And what are these thousands of little things that are on trees?
Ernie Crane: Leaves.
Vinny Gambini: And these big bushy things between the trees.
Ernie Crane: Bushes.
Ernie Crane: Bushes. So, Mr. Crane, you can positively identify the defendants, for a moment of 2 seconds, looking through this dirty window, this crud covered screen, all of these trees, with all of these leaves on them, and I don't know how many bushes.
Ernie Crane: Looks like five.
Vinny Gambini: Uh, uh, uh, don't forget, this one and this one.
Ernie Crane: Seven bushes!
Vinny Gambini: Seven bushes. So, what do you think? Isn't possible you just saw two guys in a green convertable and not necessarily these two particular guys?
Ernie Crane: I suppose.
Vinny Gambini: I'm finished with this guy.

Life really depends on the aperture we use doesn't it?  The world's filter is quite different than God's filter.  Jesus was born to proclaim good news and tells us to Love God and Love others. If we filter all or actions and attitudes through that lens what a wonderful world it would be.