08/18/2015
I know it’s been a while since I’ve written, but I’m hoping to change that now and in the days and weeks ahead. I’ve missed writing and God has been prompting me with thoughts and ideas for the past year. Lately I’ve been feeling like I need to push past my fear and just do what I love to do … write. So this is a start – I hope it blesses you!!
The Struggle with Pessimism
The other day I did another one of those Facebook quizzes/tests – you know, the ones like, “Who would be the one to bail you out of jail?” or “Who is your truest friend?” or “What drug are you?” (For the record, I’m chocolate, which should come as no big surprise to anyone!!) This one was entitled, “What is your greatest strength?” and I admit it, I was curious to see what it said. I was thinking it would say something like “Persistence” or “Determination” or maybe even something like “Courage” … so imagine my surprise when the results showed the word, “Optimism”. I was so floored I nearly fell off the couch. Then I showed my hubby, whose incredulous look was, indeed, a priceless Hallmark moment. After a long awkward and hesitant pause, he finally looked at me and sputtered, “Oh, honey … they don’t know you very well, do they?” Ah, well. Apparently not.
Truth be told, optimism is not my strong suit. Heck, let’s be honest: I am, by nature, a pessimist. Born out of dealing with the repercussions of a body that has defied normal medical explanations at every possible turn, I’ve unwittingly earned the title of Pessimist by doctors and lay people, alike. When faced with a dire situation my mind immediately races to the absolute worst case scenario - in a nanosecond. I don’t even have to blink twice before I’ve thought of every possible catastrophe that could possibly ever happen. And this doesn’t just apply to all things medical – pessimism has spared no area in my life. I find that I can manage to explore every possible negative that could ever be fathomable in any given situation. I don’t even have to try – it just seems to come naturally. I’m the person that, when asked if the glass if half full or half empty, says, “What glass are you talking about? I don’t even see one!” Yes … the struggle has been that real.
One of my favorite movies is "Apollo 13" – and not just because I love Tom Hanks. It’s one of those movies I’ve seen nearly a dozen times. I love the mounting tensions that develop throughout this movie – from the explosions that rocked the rocket upon the pressing of the button to stir the fuel tanks and Jim Lovell’s “Houston, we have a problem” to those tense 4 minutes before you hear Jim’s response to Houston, “Hello Houston. This is Odyssey. It’s good to see you again” - and I find myself cheering as they safely reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, Every. Single. Time. I bring this up because the day after my “Optimist” results, I happened on this movie and decided to watch it while exercising and getting ready for work. I wasn’t able to watch it in its entirety, because I was in and out, busily getting ready, but when it came to the scenes where the Odyssey was about to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, I stopped and turned my attention to it. It was right at the scene where they’re in the Control room, everyone sitting at their stations getting ready for the reentry and there are the NASA Director and Gene Kranz, nervously standing there. Another gentleman is recounting to the Director all of the variables that could go wrong upon reentry, and he (the Director) says, “This could be the worst disaster NASA’s ever faced. Gene Kranz eyeballs the Director and replies, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”
BAM!!
Each and every morning when I roll out of bed, I am faced with a very simple, but real decision on how I am going to view my upcoming day. I can continue in the belief that it’s going to be a disastrous, epic failure … or I can work on transforming my mind to embrace the reality that this day could very well be my finest hour. It’s all a matter of perspective, and whichever mindset I choose to affirm will set the course for the day at hand. And while the struggle may be real, it’s not insurmountable, and I need to choose each and every day to see things from God’s point of view; to see that He has my finest hour at hand. He is always with me and I have learned to forsake pessimism and take Him with me wherever I go. When I do that, even the hard times are lined with His hope and His peace.
The good news is that if I can do it, so can you. You may be thinking that today is going to be the most epic failure of them all. You may think that nothing is ever going to make this day go right. I encourage you to cast off that pessimism and rediscover the dreams and visions God has given you for just a time as this. I entreat you to choose to clothe yourself in His optimism and to find the gold He has just for you. Most of all I pray that today you encounter God in ways that you never even imagined … and as you do, He will give you one of your finest hours.
Have a great day, my friend! :)
