In the rules of logic, there is an old Latin saying, tertium non datur, also known as the law of the excluded middle.  It literally means, “no third is given,” or in other words, there are only two possibilities.

Many people today think that Hope is the same as optimism, and that there are three options in life: you can be an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist.  And more often than not, they will tell you that realism is the best, because it is scientific, objective, not superstitious—“just the facts,” they say.

The problem is, they are thinking only of this world; they forget eternity; and they forget the question of the Truth.

Dante, in his great work Inferno, describes the gate at the entrance to Hell as having an inscription above it that says: “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”

Don’t be fooled.  To live without Hope is not realism, it is despair…what Kierkegaard called the sickness unto death.  Between Hope and despair, which will you choose?  And remember, tertium non datur.

Now, for the Friday Funnies:

An Old man went to the doctor complaining of a terrible pain in his leg. “I am afraid it’s just old age”, replied the doctor, “there is nothing we can do about it.” “That can’t be” fumed the old man, “you don’t know what you are doing.” “How can you possibly know I am wrong?” countered the doctor. “Well it’s quite obvious,” the old man replied, “my other leg is fine, and it’s the exact same age!”

Have a wonderful weekend.