As lockdown begins to lift, fears about our health and economy abound. Could staying positive be an effective response to these doubts?Doom and gloom seem to have taken hold of our communities, the Church, and society at large. The future looks bleak and uncertain and many wonder how they can still look to their future with hope and optimism.
The notion of staying positive may seem somewhat foolish, but this is exactly what we must do. The recipe is very simple; it consists in harnessing our energy by paying less attention to ourselves. It’s an effective remedy for the ambient moroseness. If we pay a little more attention to others, if we choose to see things in a positive light and adopt a hopeful attitude, we will recover our natural optimism. This requires that we start to see a silver lining every time we hear bad news or experience difficulties.
If we truly believe, we must remember that in his agony on the Mount of Olives, Christ told his disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). Even in the middle of our problems there is still a place for peace and joy – Christ has triumphed over sin and death!
So, why don’t we search for signs of joy within ourselves and all around us? Why don’t we seek out the means to let it into our lives? For example: enjoy some music, read a good book, go through our day and find something positive, lend a hand to elderly neighbors, or call a friend who always makes us laugh. Staying positive and preserving this joy is a real struggle, but it’s up to each of us to find our own way.
Father Sebastien Thomas
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