Find
Your Optimism
“No
pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted
land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.”
Helen
Keller
The
world is in a pessimistic place. We have grappled with a pandemic for almost a
year; most of us have stayed inside in what I call, “house arrest.” Our
economic and political climates are challenged to the max, and our hospitals
are overrun. The vaccine is coming, but not fast enough. Schools are still
closed and we’re all getting on one another’s last nerve from being cooped up
together. What’s not to be pessimistic about?
But
here’s the thing—it’s not helpful to wallow in pessimism. To dig our way out of
this dark place, we need optimists with shovels. If Helen Keller, who lived her
life in a dark and silent world, had the grit to be optimistic, surely, we can
muster it, too. Pessimism digs the hole deeper. Optimism throws down a ladder.
One thing
that encourages optimism for me is looking back through our history. We’ve been
through some truly rough patches—revolutions, depressions, civil unrest, civil
war, the scourge of slavery and Jim Crow, and yes, even pandemics. We always
come through them. Even in the middle of war, we find ways to support and
encourage each other. The sun rises and the sun sets, years come and go, and
through it all, we get creative in meeting the needs of the moment. And we will
this time too.
In John
14:22, Jesus consoled his disciples with these words: “Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He was not talking just to them, but
to us as well. He didn’t recommend that we wait around for his return to at feel
peace or that we expect him to come save us from our trouble. Instead, he gave his
disciples and us his peace at once. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
to you.” (John 14:27) All we need to do is reach out and take it. And then
put it to work. Find your optimism. We’ve had enough darkness.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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