Prefer to listen?
Sometimes the hurt in the world can feel all consuming, engulfing joy, optimism and laughter. But even the most challenging of times are no match for hope because at its core, hope is an unshakeable faith in goodness. Some might say it’s foolish to hold onto hope, a human flaw even. But I’d argue that hope is one of the most redeeming quality’s of humanity.
At any given moment we can access news outlets that would lead us to believe that there’s a hailstorm of trauma occurring in nearly every corner of the world. And in most cases this is true. Pain and suffering do not concern themselves with borders. But, at the same time, there is love and compassion in those very same places. Like a magnifying glass, inspecting the carnage of a tiny ant battle, the media is only one small part of the story.
Where there is pain and suffering, there is also compassion. Where there is trauma and injustice, there is also love. And where there is crisis and catastrophe, there are helpers.
It may not always feel like we can make a meaningful or tangible difference. And that can be a tough pill to swallow. But it’s foolish to think that our acts of generosity and compassion at home have no impact on the other side of the world.
This is the power of hope. Hope reminds us that acts of compassion, no matter their origin, stretch farther than we could ever imagine.
Kindness at home, generosity and gratitude in our immediate communities, these are not wasted acts of goodwill. They are tangible examples of hope. Why else would we choose to act? Why else would we invest in those around us, unless we believed that we were deserving of a kinder gentler world?
So as you go about your day, navigating the media, engaging with your community, and spending time with your friends and family, remember that wherever there is strife there is an opportunity for hope, for compassion, and for all of us to shine a brighter light on the best qualities of our humanity. As Mister Rogers once shared, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”
So I say to you, look for the helpers. Thank them when you see them. They are more bountiful than we are led to believe. More importantly, they begin with you and me.
One Comment
Pingback: