WISHFUL THINKING

I Was Just Thinking About – WISHFUL THINKING.

Throughout the history of philosophy, there has been a struggle between the ideal and the real. There was the ongoing distinction being made between universals, ideals and reality. Plato gave expression to these tensions when he allowed: “Universals do indeed exist, although not in the same way that ordinary physical objects exist, but in a sort of ghostly mode of existence, outside of space and time, but not at any spatial or temporal distance from people's bodies. Thus, people cannot see or otherwise come into sensory contact with universals, and it is meaningless to apply the categories of space and time to them, but they can nevertheless be conceived of and exist.” His thinking would be described as a man seated in a cave facing a blank wall where only the shadows of the ideal would be projected and his understanding of the real would become his reality.

Does this impact us today in any way. A sports story of the Football Game between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings last night begins with this statement: “For Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, the hyperbole has turned into reality. Those who gushed over him in the preseason, lavishing over-the-top praise, have found those compliments to be just and warranted.” The word “ideal” could easily be substituted for the “hyperbole” usage.

The world of politics is sometimes blatant with its struggle between the ideal and the real. Cal Thomas writes today about former UN Ambassador John Bolton being interviewed for the position of Secretary of State and employs this Bolton quote: “Negotiation is not a policy. It’s a technique. It’s something you use when it’s to your advantage, and something that you don’t use when it’s not to your advantage.” That, Cal Thomas asserts, is the opposite of wishful thinking.

If one set out to pursue the tension between the ideal and real in the Holy Scriptures, many volumes would be required. One situation pertains to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul would argue this matter at the outset of I Corinthians 15 and the many witnesses to the actual appearances and reality of the resurrected Jesus Christ. At the outset, there was the moment in John 20:19-29 when the resurrected Jesus appeared in the midst of His disciples. Thomas was missing. When the others exuberantly told him of this reality, he doubted, and dismissed their report as probably “wishful thinking” on their part. He set forth his criteria of accepting their “ideal” and his “reality” when he said: “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” He was overwhelmed when Jesus appeared again and told Thomas to do what he required about the nail-prints and riven-side. After doing so, his reality was expressed when he said: “My Lord and my God!” Are you a wishful thinker who tinkers with ideals versus the real, or have you by faith and commitment the reality of Who Jesus Christ is and what He requires of one’s committed life to Him?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

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