I’ve noticed how you can divide humans up into two separate sub-species. There are the ones that exist with their glass half full, and those for whom it’s always half empty. The optimists and the pessimists. Optimistic humans live out their lives with a certain amount of idealism. A belief that things will eventually turn out OK. Even when there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Meanwhile, pessimists prefer to gaze upon the stark reality of the present. Towards all of the things that are not right, and unlikely to ever improve.
So where do Christians fit in with all this? Well, Christians believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They believe in an underlying purpose and end goal for their existence here on Earth. They believe that Jesus is their Saviour, and that they are destined for eternal life in Heaven. So they are definitely “glass half full” optimists. Pessimists can argue that Christian belief is a form of “pie in the sky” idealism. But there’s a problem with this type of mindset. Because it can easily develop into a self-fulfilling prophesy. For if you’ve got no desire to improve your own life, or the lives of others around you, then nothing will ever change.
One of the shining figures of the Coronavirus pandemic has been Sir Captain Tom Moore. He proved that idealistic dreams can become reality. Yes, there was Captain Tom, -a diminutive 100 year old war veteran, disabled and only able to walk with the aid of a metal frame. And yet he was able to walk far enough with that frame to raise nearly £33 million for the N.H.S. before finally falling victim to Covid. He made the impossible come true through positive thinking.
“If I have learned one thing from all that has happened it’s that it is never too late to start something new and make a difference, especially if it brings light and life to people around the world. There is a future for everyone and there is always room for a global expansion in kindness.” (Sir Captain Tom Moore: London: 2020: Penguin Michael Joseph: “Tomorrow will be a Good Day”: pp371-2).
Now, I don’t know whether Captain Tom had any Christian beliefs, but his faith and self-belief in what can be achieved against the odds mirrors the same belief that many Christians have in God and Jesus. The belief that there is something much bigger and better out there just waiting to be discovered or achieved. Irrespective of our age or who we are or what we may have done in the past. And it was this same kind of belief and realisation that enabled sinners in the Bible to change their lives around and to start to trust in Jesus. For example, when Jesus was anointed by the sinful woman at the house of Simon the Pharisee. The woman had a sudden moment of reckoning, turning away from her negative past to embrace the positivity of a new life with Jesus.
“Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven- for she loved much.” (Luke 7:47).
We all need to ditch the negativity of pessimism for it does nothing but restrict us. Christianity is all about stepping out from the shadow of pessimism to embrace optimism. Only then can we achieve our full potential….
“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.” (Winston Churchill: 1874-1965: U.K. Prime Minister 1939-45; 1951-55).
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” (Oprah Winfrey: 1954-present: U.S. talk show host and philanthropist).
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
