Glass 2/3 full?

Have you ever been asked this question: Are you a glass half full or glass half empty kind of person?

Probably most of us have been asked this question as part of an ice breaker type activity within a social group setting. It’s supposed to be a rudimentary test of our overall bent towards optimism or pessimism.

It’s not a question to be overly analyzed or critical of; rather, an impulse answer is most likely the closest to the truth. And usually, the people who know you best, will quickly answer for you without skipping a beat.

Recently, an interesting thought took a rambling hike across my brain. I was remembering the year 2012, the year my life calendar turned 50 years. I decided then that I was about to arrive at my half way marker, and I wanted the last half to be lived in full color with as few regrets as possible. This would be my personal year of Jubilee!

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”“In addition, you must count off seven Sabbath years, seven sets of seven years, adding up to forty-nine years in all. Then on the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year, blow the ram’s horn loud and long throughout the land. Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each of you may return to the land that belonged to your ancestors and return to your own clan.“
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭25‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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The idea came to me during my 48th year, in which I felt weary, and for the first time in my remembrance, I felt kind of old like a tattered flag flown through too many storms. We, my dear man and I, were just beginning to see a speck of light pricking the darkness of a really difficult season of relationship building for our family. As I sat reading God’s commandment to His people, Israel, regarding the year of Jubilee, a spark of creativity took hold in my spirit.

I sensed an opportunity for a do over, and I lunged for it!

And so from December 31, 2011 through December 30, 2012 I chose to celebrate all that had been and all that was yet to come. Additionally, I continued to read, study, and pray through God’s idea of renewal, restoration and redemption. And then by His grace, I began to act on His ideas, the ones He highlighted through the reading of His word.

This year of letting go, releasing old debts, freedom from entanglements, and forgiveness toward everyone became the gift I was giving myself. So what did that look like practically?

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”“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.“
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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The more I read God’s word in the Bible and prayed for His revelation, the more I realized that He long ago catalogued His wishes for how we could best honor Him with our lives, and also live in peace with our fellow man. And so I simply asked Father God to show me practical 21st century methods of obeying His commands.

• I started a list of names. This was a list of every person with whom I held an offense. No matter how big or small. I started praying blessings over each one. Then I called, wrote letters, and visited with each one available, and I apologized for holding an offense and for withholding forgiveness. I asked for their forgiveness. Regardless of their response, I set each one free. (Initially, I couldn’t think of a single person with whom I felt an offense. However, the longer I prayed for God’s insight, the more names I wrote on my list. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Ask Him.)
• I began to tell people outside my family, “I love you!” What this really means is that I began to see people as my neighbor. I began to ask God to help me see the person in front of me as someone He created. And what would Jesus say to His creation, His neighbor, but “I love you!” (People are sometimes startled at first, but quickly warm to the idea of being loved.)
• I chose generosity as a lifestyle. I purposely recounted all the times God was generous with me. His grace, His provision, and His protection, along with His abundant patience to continually call me back to Himself became my example for how to live my next half. And so, by His grace, I began to give to others what I recognized were the simple graces God put in my hands to give away.

In all these things, God was abundantly gracious to me, and patient in leading me. He lit the spark, but I am pretty sure I recognized His giant grin when I allowed His spark to ignite a flame of change from inside of me.

Of course, none of this happened in perfection, nor did anything change overnight, with the exception of my decision to make a change.

I made a decision to boldly take God at His word.

Each day I am fully aware that 50 years were not promised to me, nor have I been promised another day since. But regularly I decide that if this is the year I’ve reached the fullness of my days; well then, I am going out celebrating.

What does all this have to do with a glass and whether it’s half full or half empty?

Fast forward eleven years, and I’m tiptoeing on the cusp of my 61st birthday. In my numbers leaning brain, the calculations run automatically as to where I could realistically be on my journey toward the finish line. The halfway mark? That was more than a decade ago.

My optimistic calculations put me round about 2/3 full of life. I’m looking at new opportunities to choose a perspective.

What will it be?

I actually took some time to ponder the idea of living 1/3 remaining or 2/3 full. As a lifetime optimist I’ve decided living out of a 2/3 full glass will serve me well as I continue to jog-walk toward the finish line.

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”“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭39‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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What about you? At which mile marker do you find yourself in this race called life? Do you generally see your glass half full or half empty?

Agreeing together that you are purposefully designed by a loving God, is there anything you want to ask Him about your perspective on a new year? Perhaps Holy Spirit is highlighting particular scripture to ponder during this next year.

What if each of us would make use of the fullness we’ve been given to live the remainder, day by day, as if it’s all we’re going to get?

Happy 2024!

Live Love Brightly,

Lisa