Hardened by Hope

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

– Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hope is there anything quite like it?

Hope and Love are nearly impossible to separate, we are made of each. They are visible core emotions, like Joy and Sadness.

Since I made a Pop culture reference, allow me to share lessons of Hope from a Video Game. One I played way too long when it came out and for many years after. The sun rises every day, even in Spira. Hope there was bought by the sacrifice of summoners, and a Guardian. Stronger if it one they loved… Even when successful, Sin, the great beast would be reborn, and the cycle would restart. Reminds me of The Hero’s Journey. As Lulu says: “No matter how dark the night, morning always comes, and our journey begins anew.” So long as the Sun rises, we will have hope.

Hope gets us through the darkest of times.

It is sometimes a candle that flickers in the distance, urging us to keep moving forward, even when the path is shrouded in mist and shadow. But hope is not without its challenges. It can harden us, shape us, and sometimes, it can carve deep wells of resentment when our expectations remain unmet. We must speak up; we must shape up. Hope requires effort.

Hope in one hand, and Cry in the other…

Depths of Hope

There are those who are hopeless, and when we see them, we shudder. We pity. We fear.

Therefore, we must dig deep wells within ourselves, mining the caverns of our souls to find the strength to hope or even to hope again. This journey is not for the faint of heart. It requires us to confront our deepest fears and insecurities, to face the darkness head-on.

In Final Fantasy X, the game I referenced earlier, Yuna’s pilgrimage is a testament to this. She hopes for a future free of Sin, the destroyer. She goes forward despite knowing the personal sacrifices it entails. She understands she will need to die. Her hope was not naive; it was forged in the fires of determination and love for her people. This is the powerful depth of Hope.

Heights of Hope

Hope, if our dreams are to be real, also demands that we climb, overcoming obstacles that seem like mountains. It is in these moments of struggle that hope continues to reveal its true power. Gandalf’s words in The Lord of the Rings resonate here:

“Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.”

If you draw breath, you can take another step. Each one another closer to the summit.

In Spira, Yuna’s guardians are torn between their summoner’s quest and the love they have for her. They are her protectors, chosen and willing to walk with her to the end. Among them, there are those who refuse the hope that fades. They persist to climb the tallest of mountains. They become enemies of the state, after discovering corruption in the highest levels of office. The heroes were hardened by hope. Of another way, of a change in heart, driven by honor, by love, by logic, or by self-interest. All led to their refusing to accept, “fate,” and the spiral of endless death was broken.

The hope of the next sunrise had whole new heights.

The Risk of Hope

Yet, hope is not without its risks. As mentioned, unmet expectations can lead to resentment, hardening our hearts. Hope and Love are intertwined, and they should remain that way. We must acknowledge this risk and take care to check our hearts often. As we cultivate and harvest hope, we must remain aware, flexible, and open to understanding others. Hope can hurt, especially when love is involved but hope is healthy. Love and Hope properly together kept Yuna alive.

Love and Hope can take us all to new horizons.

Here is to Hope

Hope is a fueling emotion and driving force. With it, we can face life’s challenges with a sense of optimism. Love provides a purpose.

Hold onto hope, lean on Love, and inspire those around you.

Dig deep today, and as my soul sister Heather so wisely said,

“If you lose hope, you lose everything.”