Optimists
PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND
January 25, 2023
OPTIMISTS
Bill Gates was the guest editor for Time magazine’s January 15th issue about optimists. In his opening essay Gates acknowledges that there is much in the world about which to be concerned. However, he concludes that on the whole the world is getting better and there is reason for optimism. Over the last twenty-five years there has been a declining child mortality rate, the percentage of those living below the poverty line has fallen, an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths are now averted each year because of vaccinations, and women have gained increased political power.
The January 15th issue has a diversity of persons who share from their own perspectives why they are an optimist. Warren Buffett, CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway writes about the growth of the GDP in relationship to the increase of population in America. Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective focuses on the hopes of “Dreamers.” Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, grew up in world of optimism in South Africa. Bono is concerned about adult literacy. These are just a few of persons included in Time’s issue about “The Optimists.”
One area where Bill Gates has helped to create an optimistic future is Polio. His foundation has partnered with ROTARY International to wipe out Polo in our lifetime. At the recent Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, Gates announced that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had pledged up to $450 million to eradicate the disease. At the present time there are cases reported only in three countries. We have come a long way since I was vaccinated for Polio when I was in grade school in Cortland, Ohio.
I have several Purdue friends who are always focusing on the doom and gloom that might await the football and men’s basketball teams. They choose to pick facts which support pessimism. Eventually they can find a glimmer of support for their positions. On the other hand I have friends who are very optimistic about the Purdue teams. They are always finding reason for hope. And in some measure their expectations are met. Being a pessimist oran optimist is not so much based on a set of facts but a perspective through which the facts are viewed.
The Book of Revelation was written during a time of extreme persecution of Christians by the Romans. A great deal of the book describes in vivid fashion the hardships confronting the followers of Jesus. It might be expected that Revelation would be a pessimistic book. However, it is optimistic because its focus is upon God and not the powers of this world. With God all things are possible. Ultimately, everything will work out according to His will and purposes.
One of the songs that I remember hearing when I was growing was “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill. The verses focus on various things that Stanphill does not understand. They would tend for one to have a pessimistic view of life. But the chorus focuses on what Stanphill does know. “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.” With this knowledge Ira is able to be an optimist.
All of us have a choice of being either an optimist or a pessimist. Where we come out depends on the facts upon which we choose to focus. If we choose to focus on God and what He is doing in the world, it is hard to be anything than an optimist.
This article was first published January 21, 2018.