Eleanor Porter’s book Pollyanna was first published in 1912. Nearly 50 years later, Walt Disney brought this little girl to life in the form of a movie bearing her name. In a world of pessimism, Pollyanna saw circumstances through rose colored glasses, focusing her attention on the good things in life.
Seventy years wiser, Pollyanna’s are nearing extinction, killed by negativity. Instead, a new age is dawning, starring, “What did you expect anyway?” Debbie downers have set fire to optimism, extinguishing hope with self-fulfilling prophecies of failure. This attitude is breeding a generation of despair, void of expectations. The blame game, put downs and trash talking are leaving the masses to settle for mediocrity.
To escape this mentality, one must arm themselves with the mind of Christ, 1 Peter 4:1-2. Sometimes debating others until you are blue in the face is a waste of time. Rather, rid yourself of negative influences, Colossians 3:8-10, replacing these with the practices of Jesus, Colossians 3:12-15. Although you won’t have many fans along the way, be doers of the Word, not doubters, Matthew 7:24. In the end, through thick and thin, you can expect a room in heaven, John 14:2.
by Jay Mankus
