It is an age-old question: Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty?

We usually treat the answer as a reflection of personality. The person who notices what remains is called an optimist. The person who notices what is missing is called a pessimist.

But I have come to believe the question is more complicated than that.

Chronic pain and illness have been part of my life for the better part of the last 30 years, but the past year has been marked by some of the most difficult challenges and I now find myself in a time of sorrow with the loss of ability and sense of community. It has come with isolation and time away from everyday tasks that have been a source of joy in the past and yet have taught me a deeper reliance on God and faith in His promises.