Lately, the books I’ve read have had a very negative bent. They lament the downward spiral of American culture. They point out economic chaos and systemic problems in our government. I turn on the news and I hear the same kind of thing. Our rights are disappearing. Our currency is devalued. Our relevance is waning. But it’s never quite turned me into a pessimist. I’ve never been able to reconcile all the positive things I see and experience with all I’m told I should fear and regret.