What’s in your glass?

You know the question.  It’s asked by many a high school psychology teacher and youth pastor.

Do you see the glass half-full or half-empty?

You’ve probably heard it a hundred dozen times in your lifetime, but in case you need a refresher it’s a Psychology 101 personality evaluation. If you cheerfully answer “half-full” then you’re considered to have a positive – that is, optimistic – outlook on life. On the contrary, if you scowl in disappointment and answer “half-empty” then you’re considered pessimistic. Otherwise, you probably had an out-of-the-box answer which implies you’re creative and don’t like fitting into typical social norms. Congratulations.

Okay, humor me for a second. Think about your answer. Here, I’ll ask the question again. Do you see the glass half-full or half-empty?

Do you have your answer? Good.

It doesn’t matter!

I don’t care how you see it, really. I don’t care if you feel like you have more than half, or if you feel like you’re down to your last few drops. Here is the question we should be asking ourselves:

Am I thankful for what I do have?

This is a difficult lens to wear in a country like America, where our culture continually crams down a message of necessary materialism, keeping up with the Jones’, and comparing yourself with others to determine self-worth. Reality is, it’s simply a matter of perspective. Try on this new prescription lens:

You are blessed. You woke up this morning! You have air in your lungs! Many of us enjoyed the convenience of running, hot water this morning. I imagine you even slept in a bed, with a pillow, under a roof (whether you own said roof doesn’t matter, it’s still a roof). Consider every sunrise a blessing. The rain, too. Think of every tree, every little flower as God’s love notes written just for you (Romans 1:20).  The first thing we should do every morning we wake up is to thank God for waking us up.

Side note: Don’t automatically blame your bad circumstances on God. Those are typically the result of man’s decisions (whether your own or someone else’s).

Truth is, God never promised this life would be full of riches and comfort. Biblically speaking, you actually tend to see the opposite – a lack of – for those who wholeheartedly follow Christ (Romans 5:3-5). Yet, Christ has given us all we could ever need: an undeserved portion of grace and salvation for those who accept the Cross. For that, I am thankful!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:1-3 NIV