Bright Expectations

A few months before World War I began, a preacher named C. H. Wetherbe wrote an article with the title above. He said:

“The most of us are frequently inclined to look on the black side of situations. We are able to do so, just after we have met with some bitter disappointment. Perhaps someone, whom we had regarded as being our friend, proved false to us. We may have had several experiences of this kind. Then we thought it was unsafe to confide in anybody; we became suspicious of the most of folks. But, after all, there is plenty of room for bright expectations. Not everything is on the black and bleak side. We have reason for expecting to have many good things in the coming days, if we shall live. The sun is not always hidden from our sight. Cloudy days are succeeded by the clearest ones.

Mr. Orison S. Marden, late editor of Success, says: ‘Expect delightful things to come to you and pleasant things to happen. There is a great pleasure in expectancy. If you build air castles, build beautiful ones. Never mind the things which are past; do not hunt for things which are lost, and do not waste time over lost opportunities, lost prospects, lost property, or lost health. Live all your life, and be glad, content, and happy now; fling all of your energy into the present moment; do not waste time regretting yesterday or longing for tomorrow.’

This is valuable advice. If fully carried out by us, it would make our lives brighter than they are now. It is hard for some of us to entirely banish from our minds the unpleasant experiences of past years, especially certain severe ones. Sometimes we wish that we could not remember anything of the past. As for myself, I may say that, for many years I have refused to reflect upon a number of my past experiences, some of which were full of pain and sorrow. I cannot fully block them from my memory, but I can keep from holding my mind to them. There are bright things to occupy my present attention. I am determined to see brightness, even on dark objects. You cannot afford to do otherwise. Do not keep your head down. Look upward and see the Lord of light and glory.”

—Gospel Advocate, January 1, 1914

West End church of Christ • February 2, 2025