Optimism in Strange Places

[283 words] The stranger approached an elderly lady wearing a faded old dress and sitting under a dimly lit archway. All he knew was that he needed to buy a corsage, and the locals all called her “the flower lady.” While purchasing the flowers he commented, “My, you look happy today.” Her reply was, “I certainly am.” The stranger boldly asked, “Don’t you have some problems in life?” Her reply was classic: “Nobody gets to my age without some problems, but it is a lot like Jesus on Good Friday. Things looked kind of bad, but Sunday was coming.” Part of a Christian’s optimism lies in the reality that most problems are going to pass away. The cold and its cough will finally end. The layoff will end in a call back. Losing streaks do not last forever, and the crying baby will learn to sleep through the night. However,…