6/8/2020
Desk of Dennis Piller
The Truth of Negativity or the Glass is Half Full
Do you know someone who seems too often to give way to the negative? Not all the time but often enough that you have taken notice of it. The first response is at first deflating and accusatory. If you do not have that bent you may be taken back because you didn’t see it that way. What? Why not take the high ground? Can such a tendency be rooted in fear, unbelief, or insecurity? Yes, there are surely times when black is clearly black but what happens when we lean a certain way? Does not the direction change? When I lean on my motorcycle it takes me into a twisting corner. A different direction. I see it coming, I lean in and I take my bike with me. When it comes upon me unexpectedly, I must see it clearly, and I must lean and respond all the faster or crash. If I see it the wrong way and lean the wrong way I will never make the curve.
So what is this tendency, to too often see the glass half empty? And the argument ensues with the other who sees it half full. So what is it that neither of you is seeing? “The glass is full!” Partially with water, that you can see but the rest with air or an invisible element. We need air just as much as we need water. And just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. So isn’t it filled… with something? How many times in your life have you judged another person or situation based on what you see? Every day. We discover a few days later some new details that completely changed your opinion and your attitude along with your judgment. To make matters worse we have a tendency to hold onto them longer. To quote Linus, the Peanuts character: “Good things last eight seconds…Bad things last three weeks.” We have five senses that at times work overtime against us.
But we too often can’t see the air or the invisible portion with our 5 senses. How often do we see the whole picture? What about God’s perspective, that spiritual perspective? That part you cannot see? Where is your God filter? Who is it we run our attitudes by? That is even harder to do when we don’t see that we have them! Jesus addresses this point when he tells his disciples, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
I know that when I am not using my God filter to see things, I have a tendency of going negative. Sadly, I rarely ask the question, what am I not seeing? Lord open my eyes to see before I open my mouth and before I allow that negative judgment to enter my heart.
God’s love and care, His guidance and protection, His insight and perspective, His glory and grace are always there filling the glass (our lives) to the fullest. But some of us need help in seeing that as we view other people’s actions and or intentions. It’s easy to see this when things are going well. But do we see it when our glass seems not only empty but as dry as the Florida beaches? Especially during those dryer seasons when we don’t feel so connected to God we see things half empty/negativity. And if that’s how we view us, how do you think we view others. (and if we are close enough to them we usually let them know about it). (Ouch) The truth is the glass is full whether we see it or not. What does that say to you as one of those negative types OR as one of the positive types? Where is God in your formula or filter of discovery?
Jesus proved this. In fact, Paul writes, “For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) Jesus was the embodiment of God’s full glory. When we have a bent to the negative or the glass half empty, we are truly looking through the glass dimly. 1 Cor 13:12 We are not seeing it all. I think that is part of growing up in Christ, so you can begin seeing things as a more mature believer. Using that sixth sense. The God filter. We are often blind to this half-full tendency we have in life or this penchant to go negative first. If you have an accountability partner or a mentor who really knows you. Talk to them. Get another perspective. Be open. Not defensive. This gift of discernment may save a friendship or a family relationship.
Abraham Lincoln was asked after he was elected how he would handle his enemies’. He said I will destroy them, by making them my friends.
Lord, help me to see more clearly. Help me to look up to where my hope comes from. Lets the word of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you O Lord. Ps 18:14
Michael W Smith Help is on the Way
