Optimism and Trust

The story is told of a faithful parishioner who, before she died, arranged to have a plastic fork in her hand when she was laid out in her coffin. Those attending her wake who inquired about this strange request found a moving mini-sermon in the explanation. During the many parish potluck suppers that she had organized, she always announced that all present should hold on to their forks after the main serving, since they would need them later for the desert. She delighted in making this announcement with a pithy bromide, which summed up her optimistic philosophy of life: “The best is yet to come!” Even as a corpse, by means of a symbolic plastic fork, she reminded the mourners to look forward to their heavenly banquet, in which “the best is yet to come.”

There is always something better to look forward to, even while we anguish over the problems at hand. Certainly, “each day has troubles of its own,” as Jesus said (Mt 6:34). Yet, even the worst of the bad-hair days holds a few tiny pleasant surprises. Nevertheless, the endless day of eternity (see Rv 21:23) holds far more, and it’s just around the corner. God’s promises of the joys that await us in the eternal banquet should make every Christian an optimist, almost by definition. However, if we lack a deep, personal trust in the Lord, who said, “I go to prepare a place for you,” then any attempt at optimism will be vacuous--a mere pie-in-the-sky fantasy.

Trust is knowingthat somehow everything works together unto good for those who truly love him and lovingly strive to accept his plan (see Rom 8:28).

This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.