The worst
part of the most recent hurricane only missed my home by about four hours.
However, it ravaged a couple of states south of me. My area only got a steady rain/drizzle
for days. For almost a week, residents feverishly watched the media and read
updated newsfeeds and threads online.
My son, who
works at a big-box store near us, said that shoppers were doing the usual frantic
shopping in preparation for a disaster. The line at all the registers was nine-people
deep as shoppers were stocking up on processed foods as well as fresh foods.
What is the
ray of light in the darkness mentioned above? Hope. Sometimes, events aren’t as horrific
as we expect, and traumatic events usually end. In this case, the hurricane did
not hit me. I only saw some light rain.
Obviously, I
am sorry that some states got hit hard. I am not trying to diminish the horror
of that. However, I must be grateful that the predicted catastrophe has brought
only much-needed rain to my locality.
Examples of Times When we Need Hope
Sarah--is dealing with a malfunctioning
computer, buying a new car, preparing a book for publication, and a lethargic
dog--at the same time.
Jenny—is a sensitive soul who just found
out that a man who severely mistreated her some time ago has recently been
given an important position in their religious organization.
Why do we Need Hope?
Hope is the
cure for fear, distraction, polarizing diversity, and anger. It takes our
thoughts to a higher level and allows
us to focus on what’s actually important.
Quotes on Hope
“Never
talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory!”—Norman Vincent
Peale.
************
“Optimism is the faith
that leads to achievement. Nothing can do done without hope and confidence.”—Helen
Keller
************
“Learn from yesterday,
live for today, hope for tomorrow.”—Albert Einstein
************
“Hope deferred makes
the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”—Proverbs 13:12
************
“Far away there in the
sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and
see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow them.”—Louisa May Alcott
************
“While wishing and hoping makes
you a dreamer, acting and doing makes you someone who can turn dreams into
reality.”—Nan S. Russell
************
“Do not spoil what you
have now by desiring what you have not, but remember that what you now have was
once among the things you only hoped for.”—Author Unknown
************
“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.”—Richard Bach
“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.”—Richard Bach
************
Life may not be the
party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.”-- Author
Unknown, from Dear Bertha
************
“We are haunted by an ideal life,
and it is because we have within us the beginning and the possibility of it.”—Phillips
Brooks
************
“Hope is the last thing
ever lost.”—Italian proverb
My Conclusion
Life is beyond
tough. It has a way of throwing curveballs to us when least expected. Often, it
can seem more like one of those machines (pictured above) that baseball players
use to practice batting; it throws ball after ball at us without stopping. We
either hit them, or we don’t, but the uncaring machine keeps spitting them out. Batters
don’t get a break.
In such
cases, what do we have to grab onto? Hope. Your batting average will get better,
eventually. If worst comes to worst, you have the capability to turn the
machine completely off.
Trials usually end at some point, or
they aren’t as traumatizing as predicted. That’s where hope comes in.
For more on
people who hoped against the odds, please see my book, Accept No Trash Talk: Overcoming the
Odds.
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