Optimsim

Do you consider the glass half full or half empty? For all the negative news we get pummeled with every day - Earthquakes! Unemployment! Cancer! – you’d think we would tend to be downright pessimistic, focusing on the empty part of the glass. But according to a recent book, The Optimism Bias by Tali Sharot, we humans are actually an optimistic bunch. “The belief that the future will be better than the past or present is known as the optimism bias. It abides in every race, region and socioeconomic bracket.” According to Sharot, a growing body of scientific evidence indicates optimism may be hardwired into all of us.


Which comes in handy when things don’t exactly turn out how we’d like. Just ask anyone who’s had their heart broken, yet dreams of new love anyway. Or the business manager who lost the bid, but starts searching for the next opportunity anyway. Or Cubs fans, because there’s always next year.

Optimism is founded on hope. Hope imagines new opportunities. Hope believes that conditions will improve. Hope drives us forward despite situations that scream out for pessimism.

It is that kind of hope that enabled Paul to confidently state, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Not just some things. Not the occasional thing. All things. So if hope springs eternal, shouldn’t the source of our hope also be eternal? What keeps driving you forward despite the negativity pressing in on you?

It seems to me Jesus was an optimist, and imparted some of that optimism in each and every one of us, as science is beginning to understand. After all, He did say, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). That makes me think even if the glass appears to be half empty, we can believe it will eventually be full if have faith in Him.