Some years ago, my wife, Mary Helen, frowned when she came in from a walk. She described the first part of her walk in rather lyrical terms. “After the rain everything looked and smelled fresh and vibrant. Birds chattered and sang to me as I walked along. Happiness filled my heart. I felt so thankful for my Father’s goodness. Growth along the road was lush and green. The air was clear and fresh. Beauty surrounded me. Then I saw it!

“It immediately scattered my cheerful thoughts. Garbage by the side of the road! Someone had tossed out a whole bag of containers from a fast food outlet. A little further along I saw a paper cup and straw. How could anyone be so thoughtless? What kind of a person can’t wait to get rid of their rubbish until they find a trash container?

“My mood had suddenly shifted. But when I realized that I was letting garbage ruin my walk, I gave myself a good shake. I made a mental note to pick up the trash later. In the meantime, I asked the Lord to help me rise above thoughts of garbage so I could continue to enjoy my walk.

She continued, “This is so much like life. I sometimes get so distracted by what is ugly along the road, or in life, that I fail to count my blessings.”

The lesson Mary Helen drew from trash reminds us all to focus more on the positive than on the negative.

We cannot deny that life has no shortage of garbage moments; someone cuts us off in traffic or we receive a scary diagnosis. I’m sure God does not expect us to ignore trash or sail through difficult times with nary a tear. However, Mary Helen was right in refusing to let garbage distract her from enjoying a beautiful day. I have to admit, she was much better at doing that than I.

This reminds me of the amazing message of Philippians. Although the author, the apostle Paul, was in Roman chains facing possible death he wrote a “joy epistle”. Six times he talked about joy. “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel.”[1] Nine times he mentioned rejoicing. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”[2]

In part, Paul’s optimism can be traced to his determination to direct his mind away from thoughts of garbage. Reflecting this mindset, he exhorted the Philippians in these immortal words: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”[3] Paul does not ignore problems, persecution or pain but he does bring to all his writings a hopeful outlook. If he were walking down our road he might see the trash but choose to focus more on the wildflowers.

Some of us are pessimists. We allow a tiny, distant cloud to spoil our enjoyment of sunshine. We gloss over the flowers to focus on the weeds. We miss the rainbow in the rainstorm. The weather is either too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry. We find the preacher either used too many illustrations or not enough. I blush to admit being a member of pessimists anonymous—I’m still taking the cure.

In Paul’s case, his hopeful outlook can be traced to his God-centred view of life. He rejoiced that whatever the devil might do in Philippi, he could not thwart God’s grace. “I always pray with joy . . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”[4] Bad things will happen to us but nothing will stop God from completing his gracious work in our midst.

Paul realized that his imprisonment furthered God’s purposes. “Now I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. . . . [it is] clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”[5] What chance has discouragement to gain a foothold if we embrace such a vision?

Nevertheless, Paul is not naively optimistic. He made these statements without ignoring the garbage around him in Rome and in the Philippian church. He wrote that some even “preach Christ of envy and rivalry . . . from false motives.”[6] He reminded them that they lived “in a crooked and depraved generation.”[7] Many of his co-workers, with the exception of Timothy and Epaphroditus, were looking out for their own interests and not those of Jesus Christ.[8] Those of the circumcision party insinuated themselves into their midst with the purpose of enslaving them in legalistic laws rather than helping them to soar in the freedom of Christ.[9] Disunity was also a danger.[10]

These concerns, added to the severity of Paul’s circumstances, might have led Paul to write a very pessimistic epistle. Yet he didn’t. He had such a high view of the purpose of Christ and the overwhelming value of being forgiven and declared righteous in Christ, that everything else seemed insignificant. “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, . . . the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith . . . I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . . . forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”[11]

The hopeful, positive nature of the book of Philippians reflects Paul’s heavenly perspective and commitment to the purposes of God. As we emulate his outlook, we too will be enabled to look beyond this world’s troubles and trash to recognize the onward march of God’s kingdom. Wow, I need that reminder in these days. (Read Philippians 4:4-9)

Father, continue to overcome my bent towards pessimism. Help me not to miss the blessings you scatter along my pathway. Train me to think about good and beautiful and praiseworthy things and not focus on garbage. Give me a heavenly perspective that enables me to see beyond problems to recognize your providence. Help me to value what Christ values. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

[1] Phil. 1:4

[2] Phil. 4:4

[3] Phil. 4:8

[4] Phil. 1:4,6

[5] Phil. 1:12-14

[6] Phil. 1:15,18

[7] Phil. 2:15

[8] Phil. 2:19-30

[9] Phil. 3:2,3,18,19

[10] Phil. 4:2,3

[11] Phil. 7,8,9,12-14