Optimism, Reality and a New Us

Here is a quote that I have been coming back to that I read in a obscure little book called ‘Death and Life-an American theology’ by Arthur C. McGill.
“No American child is taught. ‘You will constantly find yourself with needs that cannot be satisfied, with destructive circumstances that cannot be controlled. Therefore, learn courage and endurance to bear needs and in need learn how to receive and how to give. Learn not to be emotionally overthrown by unrelieved pain and unforeseen disaster.’”
I’m convinced that this sort reality thinking is needed in our context to combat our American optimism that preaches a gospel of having. That if we just have the right resources, knowledge, wealth, and opportunity than the worlds ailments will be soothed and cured. I just can’t buy that even though I find myself aligning with this thinking most of the time in my advocating for youth. What is truly liberating is to recognize our need and in our need to giveand receive in interdependent relationships- in seeking to love God and one another. A New Us forming in recognizing the reality of our condition and our need for life beyond ourselves. This is where I think McGill is headed in this book. Any thoughts?