How we look at the world and what we say about it really matters. Oscar Wilde once said, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Either we can be people who communicate with hope and joy, or we can mesh right into the culture of complaint so rampant all around us. As artists, we have a tendency – and a reputation – for being cynical and negative. While it is certainly true that we live in a broken world, with much to be sad and sober-minded about, we desperately need to be among those who usher in some hope. Sunday mornings can be a time when people who attend church receive encouragement, inspiration to persevere, a glimpse of the abundant goodness and faithfulness of our God.

At our church we have a place called “Guest Central”, where anyone from the congregation can stop in after the service to sip a cup of coffee and talk with the pastors and volunteers who serve there. After I teach a message, interacting with the people in Guest Central reveals to me part of how God worked through the morning service, and reminds me every time of the unbelievable challenges so many people are facing. I count it a tremendous privilege to talk with people and often pray with them. Not long ago, a man approached me in Guest Central and said he was new to our church. He then described what a difficult year he has endured – including a divorce and the loss of his job. Then he looked me in the eyes and said, “I’ve been coming here only about six weeks. All I know is that when I go out to my car after church, I feel a little more hopeful.” No matter where people are on their spiritual journey, they all need a little more hope!

If you and I are going to offer hope to others on Sunday – as well as throughout the week - it will begin with being more positive and hopeful people ourselves. I attended a funeral last week where a son-in-law of the 83 year old man who died from cancer said that in the previous 25 years, he could not recall this man complaining about anything a single time! That’s inspiring to me, and actually a little daunting. I can’t do much about our culture of complaint overall, but I can certainly try to be less of a whiner and more of a delighter myself. I doubt I can go 21 days straight without whining any time soon – 21 hours might be more realistic! May all of us increasingly focus on all that we have to be hopeful about, and allow that spirit of gratitude and joy to permeate our art and our ministries. Let’s look for something right with the world!