Hopeful realism
M. Scott Peck wrote a haunting book, The People of the Lie. I read it to try to understand people who commit evil things. It happens slowly, Peck suggests. We quiet what protests within us when we do something we shouldn’t do. We stop listening to our conscience, to that still, small voice (cf. 1 Kings 19:9-14) within us that is the presence of God. After doing this over and over, we become hardened to hearing it. Personally, I don’t think we are capable of silencing God within us, but we sure can put Him on a far back burner. This is frightening.
I’ve watched while some people just hold on to the justifications for remaining hooked to the negative. This is another form of becoming “people of the lie.” Because “other people” are so cruel, so ignorant, so out of touch, they say, they refuse to turn toward hope, toward the good, insisting it is naive to do so or just too hard to maintain.
There’s a difference between pretending all is just wonderful and adopting a hopeful realism. Hopeful realism is well aware that crucifixions occur, but this awareness is also informed by resurrection — “you will face hardship in the world but take heart! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)
Overcoming takes all kinds of forms: it can come before pain begins, keeping us from pain. But far more often, it comes during and after pain. It comes as we realize just how strong we are as we endure. It comes when we look back and see just how much we grew as we endured. It comes when pain recedes, and we grasp victory. And, it comes, too, when pain seems to win out, but our spirits managed to soar above.
Reflection
How have you encountered the overcoming of suffering, before it, during it, and after it?
Prayer
Oh, God, there is so much pain in this world. I am frightened by it all! Move my focus, Lord. I am staring at the grave. Lift my vision. May I train my eyes on you. May I trust. May I know we will overcome. Resurrection is not for the future. The power of resurrection is here, now, always flowing in and through all of us. May we choose to see it and put it to use!
