The Big Picture of Details

Some people are big picture people: they like to see everything from far off and get a view for what's to come. Others are detail people: they like to see everything up close and get a view for what's here and now. Regardless of which one fits you best, the truth is... you need both.

Personally, I'm a detail person. It's the little things that make the biggest difference for me. For example, let's take a look at the following picture (click the image to see it full-size):

This image is an in-game screenshot (meaning that everything you see is being rendered by a video game console while someone is playing) from the new game Assassin's Creed 4. At first glance, some of you won't notice the lens flare from the sun, the realistic shadows on the sand, the water spray on the camera, etc. Your eyes saw the big picture first: a ship sailing through Caribbean waters. Others are like me and saw the details first. Either way you're view is right, but it is not more right than the other view.

You see, the details are what make up the big picture. Without the details, this would just be a smudgy picture of blues, greens, grays, and browns. And yet, the details don't have a purpose besides contributing to the big picture. Both are important! When it comes to significance though, each person is going to have a slightly different view of the picture. Some will see details, others will see the big picture, and that's OK! In fact, it's part of the way God made you.

God is equally big picture and detail oriented. He knows the big picture of the entire universe, and yet also knows every intricate detail of every atom. Since we are made in God's image, we possess some of this vision, but only in part, a part that is usually slanted one way or the other. God made you that way on purpose, and He has a plan to use your unique vision to build His Kingdom.

If you're a big picture person, let the detail people know what they're contributing to. If you're a detail person, let the big picture people know what's making up that picture. Help the people who have the opposing vision type see the beauty in your vision type, but don't tell them they're seeing it wrong. You're both seeing the same thing, just in a slightly different way. Of course, sometimes we can get focused on only the details or the big picture and we need someone to help us see the other view again. But even then, it's not a wrong view, just an incomplete one.

Here's another example. Big picture people and detail people both like seeing cool views of nature, like this one:

However, each likes the view for a different reason. I like the view because of the specific angles, colors, types of trees, the details of the mountains, the differing distances between the elements of the view, etc. Big picture people like the view (I generalize) because it looks amazing and how much they can see. We see the same things, just in a slightly different way.

Bottom line: whatever you're view type is, let other people know what you see! It just might be that your view of things gives them the perspective they need.

Godspeed,

Jason