Well Said

From my quote journal. Note: I do not always agree with the 3 Minute Theologian, however, he is usually inspirational and always thought provoking. I recommend that you try out a few of his podcast episodes.

We now seem to believe that realism is one part cynicism and two parts disappointment, and to drink deeply and despondently of such a potion is the sign of the “realist”. The world will eventually disappoint you, and your leaders will inevitably let you down. To be cynical merely means getting your disappointment in first. ...

Even so, the opposite of optimism is not realism: it is pessimism. Pessimism is the sense that nothing will make any difference; our destiny is to go to hell in a handbasket (The Duke of Wellington’s comment, “Reform, sir! Reform! aren’t things bad enough already?” is the peak of pessimism). The handmaid of pessimism is cynicism, the belief that things will go bad because of stupidity, greed and deliberate malfeasance. Optimism, on the other hand, is the belief that there is more good than evil in the universe, and that good will ultimately win out. This belief does not, should not, exist as a wide-eyed and unworldly Pollyanna-ism. After all, optimism’s first principle is that evil exists and bad things happen. Rather, optimism’s handmaid is a clear-sighted realism: being able to look at the world as it truly is, and see where the forces of good are at work and where they need to be strengthened.

And the personification of the optimistic realist (or realistic optimist) is Jesus. After all, it was he who sent his disciples out with this hopeful piece of advice: “‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).

3 Minute Theologian: Words about God for the Attention Deficit Generation