On Saturday night, Minneapolis had their annual Aquatennial festival fireworks. That same night, Dan and I also had my grandpa's fishing boat in our possession. So, we decided that the fireworks should be enjoyed from the water of the Mississippi, rather than just the banks. This was the first time we'd ever done this and we've now decided that we should always do it this way.

The view was absolutely spectacular! However, what surprised me the most, was not the beauty of the fireworks (I mean, they are just fireworks), but rather it was the beauty of the city. This city that I love so much looked so different from the vantage point of that little fishing boat. The river is so much a part of the character and history of this city, yet I had never really looked at the city from the river's perspective. When I did, I realized that this city is far more beautiful that I even realized. The series of bridges and the lights that illuminate the water are truly stunning.

Seeing the city from this different perspective, made me think about the people and circumstances that I look at every day. It made me wonder if there is beauty right in front of me that I'm not seeing because I'm looking at it from the wrong angle. It made me want to be more intentional as I look at people--to make sure that I'm really looking at them and trying to see them from more than just one vantage point. Maybe doing so could help me to love people more and help me to foster better relationships. Maybe it could help make this little corner of the world just a little bit better.