No one likes being fooled. And there’s a place to question motivations or to otherwise explain things. But we rob ourselves of deep joy and wonder when we give into a heart a cynicism. It becomes an act of faith to resist this cultural trend and the temptation to become Mr. Cynic.
The cynic prides himself on sniffing out pretenses and manipulation – those who pretend to be good but are actually motivated by selfish reasons and dishonorable gain. Everything is questioned with guilt automatically presumed. This gives the cynic an air of superiority for seeing through what others might miss – making him appear wise and the champion for authenticity.
But such cynicism actually hardens his heart. There’s no longer hope, childlike wonder, or even appreciation of beauty. And this leaves Mr. Cynic wise in his own eyes, but detached, depleted, and on the verge of despair.
Hope is our ability to trust in God’s goodness even when it has not yet fully arrived. But, when this goodness arrives, the cynic doubts this was actually God at work and believes such goodness was just happenstance or the result merely of his own efforts.
Wonder allows us to be awed in the presence of greatness. But the cynic seeks reductionist explanations. The beauty of a sunset is just the scattering of light waves in the atmosphere. An act of heroism is just a biological survival instinct or social conditioning. And a great leader is probably just driven by his ego and need for recognition.
Time and again the cynic is waiting on people to disappoint, beauty to fade, and corruption to surface. Rejecting the temptation to become Mr. Cynic is not to deny these realities. But it is learning to live in hope, practice wonder, and relish in beauty with the childlike faith we’ve been called to embrace.
In the end, there’s no need to deny the disappointing realities of life. But cynicism distorts our vision – blocking us from the true goodness and beauty still available.
Whatever it takes, resist the appeal of being Mr. Cynic.
Photo by Jean-Léon Gérôme
