Peering at life through a glass half-empty

The Rev. Bob Leiste, pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2700 Lawrence Ave.:

Looking at the negative seemingly goes to our human nature. For example, something may be good but not perfect, so we think only of the negative and veto it. The glass is proverbially half-empty.

Biblically, we would say that this is the fallen part of our nature described in Romans 7-8, under which we all groan.

So what do we do? Continue to look only at the negative, or do we look at the gift God gives us to help deal with the negative?

I prefer to look at the positive, which overrides the negative: the gift of hope born of God’s love through faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

This week we remember (through Maundy Thursday) that great act of hope God gave when he turned the negative into the good. God took the negative of suffering and death on the cross (Good Friday) and turned it to the good by rising from the dead on that first Easter. In this action of God’s love for us, God gives us hope which sees past the negative and looks to God’s helping hand.

God’s help takes many forms. It may be the shoulder to cry or the friends that come to help. It is in the comfort of his word and sacraments – the comfort in knowing that God listens to our prayers and will respond in love with a course of action best for us.

All of this gives us hope, which is a power to look beyond what we far too often look at first: negative.

Do we look at the negative? Yes. Do we have to dwell on it? No. God has given us hope, and hope is able to see beyond it to the positive.

– Send e-mail to Bob Leiste is raleiste@yahoo.com.

Past lessons affect your present life view

Charles Gruber, Lawrence resident and student of Judaism, Zen Buddhism and Sufism:

“Do you think I have a big butt?”

“I’m sick of the way the government keeps lying to me.”

“My job victimizes me.”

“Your back aches? Oy, my whole body aches.”

“I can’t believe that (expletive) cut me off in traffic.”

Do you know someone like this? Why do they suffer so?

I believe that there are those who obsess on the negative side of life because they were raised in a household where that was the norm. Many people feel comfortable with negative attitudes because of their past.

People are either aware or unaware that they focus on the negative. For those who are unaware of their attitude, they are often stuck with: “Me, negative? No way. I call it like it is. I’m a realist.” For those who are aware of attitudinal constructs, there is always the possibility of change.

So what’s at risk for those wanting to change from a dark outlook to one with more light and faith? There’s the risk they may be disappointed occasionally, instead of, really, all of the time. There’s the risk that they might experience the divine aspect of themselves, and then would have to “live up to that standard.” There’s the risk that they just don’t “deserve” joy and pleasure and optimism.

The good news is that everyone deserves joy, pleasure and optimism. We are all children of the Divine. What parent wouldn’t want the most productive and positive and creative mindset for his or her children? As my mother said, “You’re entitled.”

– Send e-mail to Charles Gruber at cgruber@cgruber.com.