Hope

What is hope? Why is it such a strong feeling? Recently I have pondered the power of hope and how it can help one get through difficult situations, and circumstances. As I’ve studied the subject of hope I have come to two conclusions. First hope can get us through some of the most dire of situations. Secondly when does hope become blind ambition? 

Let’s start with the definition of hope, Merriam-Webster gives us the following definitions, ” to cherish a desire with anticipation, to desire with anticipation of attainment, and lastly to expect with confidence.” 

As I think about those definitions I am called to remember the story of Aron Ralston. For those of you not familiar with Aron he was the hiker who was pinned underneath an 800 pound boulder while hiking by himself in Utah. He was trapped for 5 days until on day 6 he mustered up the courage to amputate his arm and free himself from the boulder. Now this story is an extreme example of how hope can get you through the most dire situations. Aron didn’t give up hope that he would escape the boulder and because of his hope he was able to survive. 

Aron’s case is extreme, I want to talk more about how hope can help in our day to day lives. For me personally I like to hope that the best days of my life are ahead of me. I sometimes get frustrated because I have this picture or dream of how I want my life to go, and now I am just paying my due’s until I get there. I need to use that hope to fuel my work ethic to reach my goals. I think that I am currently doing a decent job of using hope effectively. I need to be more appreciative of the journey. I am working on it.

Now on to my second thought on hope. When does hope become blind ambition or a fantasy that is not realistic. It’s a fine line between having hope and knowing when to give up. I think I have struggled the past year with this line. When should I give up hope on someone? When should I throw in the towel and stop thinking about the past? When should I stop dreaming about the future I had planned? It’s a touchy subject for me, on one hand I still very much have hope that my dreams and plans will come true; however, I think that the other half of the dream isn’t on board or doesn’t want to be. I think this is the worst feeling that we can have in this life. But the first question about hope could be the answer! I just need to adjust my hope to something different, hope for something better, something even realer than before. Its out there for sure, but I have to have the courage to pursue it. 

In my case the chips are all on the table, whatever the other half decides I am prepared to either reignite my current hope for the future or adjust my hope to something else. I challenge everyone to look at the things they hope for and remember that hope can be as strong as any feeling that we can have in our lives. My advice is to use hope wisely and don’t be afraid to adjust your hope if it comes to that.