Pessimist or Optimist? Both are Needed.

Do me a favor.

Take out a glass of water.

Fill it up half-way.

Stare at it for 30 seconds.

Did you do it?

Waiting...

Did you do it?

You see, psychologists have been using this metaphor as a litmus test for people who are either naturally optimistic or pessimistic.

The optimist sees what is currently there. The pessimist sees what is gone. It does not matter whether someone is right or wrong on this metaphor. What matters is how we interpret the glass of water. What do we see?

Can you guess what I am? That's right! Optimist all the way! Haven't you noticed all the exclamation points? I see everything in life as half-full. I see the potential of what could be, not the obstacles in the way. And, this can "sometimes" get me in trouble. Occasionally, my ideas, desires, and dreams are not realistic and I need the voice of the "realist” to say, "Hey, great idea. How do we get there?"

But...if I was a betting man...which I am not...I would tell you that God needs both. God needs the pessimist and the optimist, the realist and the risk taker, the crazy- idea person and the problematic deliberator, to accomplish the task at hand.

Take Mark 2 as a great example.

Jesus is teaching and the house is packed. No more room.

Lines are out the door.

Four dudes and a guy on a mat.

He cannot walk so they carry him to Jesus.

But...there is no more room in the house.

So, the optimist says...

Optimist…”There's a roof we could cut a hole and lower him down to Jesus.”

Pessimist.....”No way.”

Optimist......”Way”

Pessimist.....”It’s not going to work.”

Optimist....”It’s worth a shot.”

I have to think here that the optimist was not the one tying the crippled guy down and doing the fancy rope knots. He may have still been daydreaming about his novel idea. Likely, the realist, the practical one, though doubtful it was a good idea, ensured that the plan was executed and he stayed safe on the way down.

You might know this story.

Guy comes down on a mat but leaves on his feet.

He came in on a stretcher and he’s now stretching for the first time.

He came in on his back and now he's walking out on his feet.

A miracle took place. And, it took both the pessimist and the optimist for it to happen.

What's the point? Just some encouragement to both types:

Hey optimist...Keep dreaming. Keep believing. Keep risk-taking. We need you. We need your ideas. We need your creativity. We need your grit and guts.

Hey pessimist....We need your reality check! We need your deliberate questions and planning. You're the engine to keep the car moving. We cannot do this without you. We need your execution and careful, detailed planning. Without you, no one knows where to go and what to do.

So, whether you see the glass half-full or half-empty, know that both perspectives have great value in the Kingdom. As we work together God will do amazing things!

!!!