THE CYNIC, THE REALIST, OR THE OPTIMIST?

[Words From the Father--Stephen Hanson]

THE CYNIC, THE REALIST, OR THE OPTIMIST?

6/22/23

I will be honest, oftentimes my view of the world at this time can border on one of cynicism. I guess I see the glass half empty at times. There are so many different problems in our world--grief, injustice, and deceit. Yes, it would become very easy for folks to just give up, but there’s always sunshine even when it’s raining, as the song says.

I think the main thing, is to have HOPE. For actually without HOPE, there’s no promise for a better tomorrow. Perhaps with the HOPE, is the need for steadfastness, and patience. We live in a quick-second society where we expect to get our answers and fulfillment in just a moment. But waiting is not an easy thing to do, now is it? For in the waiting, one can lose heart and begin to worry or doubt.

But if we can look back on the times that we thought something just wouldn’t work out, and then right around the corner, an answer came. Of course it’s a matter of faith isn’t it? We have to believe without actually seeing the promise fulfilled. We want to see a hint of the development manifested for us, before we actually sign our name and believe, don’t we?

My dad used to always say, “Expect the worst, but hope for the best.” I thought he was a very pessimistic person and wondered at times, how he could live like that. But actually perhaps it was more of a realistic viewpoint. When and if things did work out for the best, then he was happy in the end, even though he didn’t necessarily expect a bright shining outcome ahead of time.

But having hope anchored within us, even when we may waver, then at least we have something solid that can instill in us something to propel us forward.

Here is a poem I wrote several years ago, from my book of poems:

THE PESSIMIST AND THE OPTIMIST

1/1/16

You see the worst ahead, for everything’s dark, without hope or the light. The problems are many, and they come all the time.

Nothing can solve them, nothing can help. The taxes are due, the money’s been spent, and there’s no room for extras, and even the rent.

You reason and fume, for there’s no solution. Because the world is bad, especially the pollution.

But then you see him, that one that speaks just the words. They come softly and yet happily, as they fill the air.

He says that hope faileth not, and love is divine. The next morning everything looks fine.

But you wrestle with this thought and that thought for hours. You’ve heard this talk before of sunshine and flowers.

How can it be that our thoughts could be so different? Are we not just men, and men are the same?

But the glass is half empty to some, and half- filled to another. One sees the sunshine and another the clouds.

But the world is filled with light and with dark. We each determine which way is the right.

Stephen Hanson

tsey...@yahoo.com

(Carol is in rehab because of the knee replacement surgery this past Monday. She's in pain especially today. It's just part of the process, but I know it's no fun.)

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