Hopeful But Not Optimistic

Optimistic means “things will get better.” Hopeful means “things could get better.” Liz Clasen-Kelly, Executive Director of Roof Above in Charlotte

I heard Liz say those words at a fundraiser last week and they inspire me post-election. I am inherently an optimist with every privilege making that possible:

• “Things” have always gotten better for me after bad news, trauma, disappointments.
• I have multiple safety nets.
• My Scarlett O’Hara vibe is strong: Tara! Home. I’ll go home. And I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all… tomorrow is another day.

Again, privilege.

Today I believe that things could get better on this amazing, glorious, hot mess of a planet. Things could get better, but only if . . .

• We notice our neighbors in distress
• We serve in ways that address that distress
• We shift from focussing on me to focussing on we
• We understand that “we” includes all of God’s children.

I’ve tried to avoid analysis of the recent election for the sake of my wellbeing. But I heard one interview about voting in general that explained some of my questions last week.

People On The Street were asked why they vote and all of them – except one – said something like this:

“I vote for the candidates who will help improve my life.”

The one different answer was from a young man who said:

“I vote for the candidates who will offer the greater good to everyone.”

Two very different perspectives. And yes, it’s easy for that young man and any of us who agree with him to feel self-righteous. But also – this is who we are as Americans today. We are individualistic to the point of not caring nearly enough – if at all – for our neighbors especially the neighbors who don’t look or live like us.

We have an excellent opportunity as followers of Jesus to shift this perspective based on the Gospel. Imagine if – in each of our congregations – we worked towards shifting our church culture from serving ourselves first to serving our neighbors first. This would change the world.

Why do I ask that question in light of the fact that we Christians are supposed to be doing that already? Because we aren’t doing that already. We don’t love our neighbors as ourselves. We consider our own wellbeing before considering what’s good for the whole.

But I am hopeful.

Do yourselves a favor and listen to this sermon preached by the Rev. Jerrod Lowry on Sunday, November 17th starting at 48.7 on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 called “So What Time Is It?” Newsflash: it’s time to be the Church so that all God’s children are treasured and safe especially in light of the recent election results. Trans people, pregnant people, newborn people, immigrating people, poor people, sick people, unhoused people, broken people. All of us are God’s children.

I am hopeful. Because of the Church of Jesus Christ, things could get better for all God’s Children. We just have to be that Church.