Perspectives

Two senior men walking side by side in the woods, one is somewhat of a pessimist, the other more of an optimist. As they walk under a tree that is home to a mother King-Bird and her nest. The mother king bird decides it’s time for a high flying dive bombing exercise that should scare away the two seniors. Splat! The pessimist and optimist both receive a rather moist one in their eye. The pessimist shouts at the bird, “birdie, birdie in the sky, why did you do that in my eye?” The optimist says to the bird, “birdie, birdie in the sky, I am just glad cows do not fly.”

This is a bit funny, but in a sense many things, and many times in life, we wrestle with life’s problems in the same fashion as these two hikers. One says it’s terrible, the other says it could be worse … much worse.

Our minds do strange things at times. If I start thinking about something often enough, I will come to the stage when I cannot stop thinking about it. My thoughts will get stuck in a groove, and I just cannot seem to get the victory that I want. That is why it is so very important that you and I think about such things that are right, things that will honour God and other people. Clear thinking will motivate people to like being around us. Our positive attitude will make them feel good.

Philippians 4:8 reads like this … Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.) (NIV) In this verse, the apostle Paul has listed several things that we should set our minds on, such as, things that are true, noble, admirable, and praiseworthy.  Many things in this world of ours are misleading and not real; promising what they can never deliver, offering a false peace and happiness. We, however, should try always to set our thoughts on things which will not let us down, because our thoughts shape our lives.

What we believe determines how we behave. How I look at the world and think about the world determines how I respond to circumstances and other people; our thoughts also determine what we will become. In the book of Proverbs (23:7) there is a verse that says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.” (NIV) In other words, what we focus on determines how we live.

In Philippians 4:8 the apostle Paul is really talking about the power of positive right Christian thinking. It is not enough simply to reject non-constructive thinking; you and I must learn the art of reaching for the spiritual side of life, so that we can focus on the positive. I must go a step further and retrain my mind to focus on those things that God wants me to understand. Perhaps you feel the same way. He is asking us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

He is asking us to reject thinking that is impure, unrighteous and ungodly. And He is asking us to embrace a new kind of thinking; that which is righteous and holy. You and I are called on to put into practice what we believe. I know that is tough to do. When Jesus called his disciples, He called them to follow him. And the call to be a Christian is still a call to follow Christ today. If you and I do the things that honour God; it will encourage others to live and think right as well. What say you? Should we be different? Would you agree it is better to have a positive Christian attitude; thinking and doing this Christian stuff, which the apostle Paul says we should do in verse eight? Or should we live like those who do not have a positive message about Christian values? Those who live good lives but do not give a thought in time about Christianity, the church, and faith values?

The people who live or work along side of us are watching us. You and I are challenged to live above this world’s standard. Remember that God has called us here in this world to be a testimony to his grace. We are here to show the world what it is like to be a Christian. Therefore, our challenge is to live our lives in such a way so that the world will desire what we have. The choice is really ours. If we begin to think and do the things that God wants us to do, could it be that we will become optimistic and hopeful; filled with faith? Is it possible that we will become a blessing to others and find that life is indeed filled with God’s goodness? I think so. What about you?