The Stockdale Paradox
As I write, there are many questions about the recent riots and looting that are devastating minority communities in a few cities across our nation.
Why is rioting and looting the answer to the miscarriage of justice by a scant few bad eggs?
Where is the outrage over a few camera angles rather than wait for the wheels of justice to grind out the blind truth?
Where did common sense and common decency go?
I ask these questions not to answer them in this post, but to point to the growing sense of unease many followers of Christ have at answering the sheer volume of negativity we are seeing in this country some 50+ days before a pivotal election.
Consider the Stockdale paradox. Made famous by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great, the Stockdale paradox is named for James Stockdale, former vice presidential candidate, naval officer, and Vietnam prisoner of war.
The principle comes from how he handled the torture and abuse at the hands of the Viet Cong for seven long years. Read that again 7 long years. Let that sink in before reading further.
Stated in short, the Stockdale paradox is the need to balance realism with optimism.
Realism. The act of accepting a situation as it is and dealing with it accordingly.
Optimism. Hopeful confidence in the future.
Pure realists tended to live longer in the camps but often came under severe PTSD and lifelong psychological scars and sadly many did not make it. Pure optimists broke early and often died first in the camps. The key, according to Mr. Stockdale, was finding the balance of both.
Christians can find this balance.
Realism.
Scripture teaches us to consider the day while it is called Today, so we wouldn’t be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We are only given today to live in and we must let go of the past we cannot change and the future we cannot know. Christians are to be the ultimate realists in the sense of having a clear-headed view of their lives. Christianity is the most realistic life we could live if we live it according to the Bible.
Optimism.
We have hope and an anchor for our soul. That hope is hope in the salvific power of Jesus who has accomplished, does accomplish, and will accomplish our salvation. The complete washing away of our sins and restoring us to a right relationship with God for good. Heaven is our reward. Anyone who comes to God and does what the Bible teaches possesses the benefits God offers through Jesus Christ. It is good news that sin no longer has hold over the Christian. God accepts the blood of His Son as a complete sacrifice on our behalf. Read your behalf. Yes, you. If we simply follow Him and obey His commands we know we have eternal life. There are many great reasons for the Christian to be an optimist.
We are only given today to live in and we must let go of the past we cannot change and the future we cannot know. — Tweet this
If we are off-balance in the currents of recent events then we need to ask ourselves what is causing that imbalance. What struggle, difficulty, or sin is causing unease? Some of that unease is self-imposed. Rarely is the difficulty completely out of our control as in James Stockdale’s imprisonment. The key is to find the right balance of realism and optimism.
Ryan