There’s a story about a grandpa and grandma who visited their grandchildren. It goes like this: 

Each afternoon Grandpa would lie down for a nap. One day, as a practical joke, the kids decided to put Limburger cheese in his moustache. Quite soon he awoke sniffing. “Why, this room stinks,” he exclaimed, as he got up and went out into the kitchen. He wasn’t there long until he decided that the kitchen smelled too, so he walked outdoors for a breath of fresh air. Much to Grandpa’s surprise, the open air brought no relief, and he proclaimed “The whole world stinks!”  Mmmmm – no! It was just his upper lip! 

How true that is to life! When we carry “Limburger cheese” in our attitudes, the whole world smells bad.
[Maxwell, J. C. (1999, c1993). The Winning Attitude. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.]

There’s no denying that times are really challenging right now for many people. Job losses, shrinking savings, high stress levels, health concerns, doubt and fear about the future are darkening the thoughts and lives of many, magnifying feelings of futility and hopelessness.

But there is good news too! While we cannot control many of the outside factors that affect us, there is one thing we can control and that’s our attitude and the way we respond to circumstances around us, over which we have no control.

I feel blessed to have a mother who is so eternally optimistic that she is often accused of viewing life through rose–tinted glasses. I remember her being teased by my Dad and others, but I always marveled at her and thought it to be an amazing attribute. I am happy she is that way and very grateful that her attitude has rubbed off on me. She sees the good in everything and everyone and despite the many challenges in her 90 years of life, her attitude never diminishes – not even now as age dulls her memory and physical infirmities cramp her style some. As a teenager facing struggles with this or that she would reassure me, “it’s all going to work out for the best – unforeseen circumstances can happen that you never thought – people and things can appear that you never imagined in your wildest dreams.” She was right. And she is a beacon of light in a world that is often clouded by darkness.

We can choose to be a beacon of light that burns so bright there is no room for darkness to thrive. We can banish all thoughts of doom and gloom. Some of us find it easier to stay positive and filled with hope than our counterparts. If you are such a person, then share it with others – go out of your way to be a beacon of light and hope for them.

I absolutely refuse to participate in negativity or the “recession” or the feelings of hopelessness that are pervasive in this world right now. I will not pass on doom and gloom to others.

The whole world does not stink! I am a beacon of light and I will shout hope and positive thoughts from the mountain tops.  I will light other beacons until we smother any darkness that would try to consume us! Will you join me?

Together we are a powerful force with which to be reckoned.

Did you know that some of us even fear the power of our light within us?  Banish the thought! Embrace that power and transfer it to others! We can make a difference!