I’m keenly aware of the gap between the way things are and the way they should be. My heart grieves how far the world, the church, and my own life are from the way God intends them to be. Despite this, I rarely find myself discouraged. On the contrary, I’m an eternal optimist—even to my own detriment (I’ve been known to put up with things far past an appropriate time). Ever hopeful of what could be, I feel compelled to do my part to bring about positive change. But I admit th