~Beth Sikora, PhD
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles,
Leaps fences, penetrates walls to
Arrive at its destination full of hope.
~Maya Angelou
Someone suggested that I write about hope this week. I must admit that as I sat down to think about it all I could think of was what the past week or two held:
- Hurricane Harvey in Texas;
- Hurricane Irma in Florida, Georgia, and other southeastern states as well as the islands are Barbuda, St. Martin, the Virgin Islands, and others;
- The memory of 9/11/01;
- The repeal of DACA and then the actions since hinged to the “wall” between the US and Mexico; and lastly;
- Suicide prevention week that was from 9/10-9/16 this year;
- The hacking of Equifax.
Is it any wonder the person suggested hope? It can feel fleeting and difficult to hold onto, can’t it?
So what is hope, anyway? Above I shared some pictures that I believe bring and remind us of hope, and perhaps the magic of a picture can speak to weary hearts today.
According to Scioli & Biller (2010) HOPE is a combination:
- Mastery of feeling one can take care of a situation and/or get the help to do so PLUS
- Attachment or the ability to connect with others PLUS
- Survival or having the tools to get through tough times PLUS
- Positive future or looking forward to something in the future PLUS
- Spirituality of some kind rather than a sense of being rudderless in the sea PLUS
- Non-spiritual which is the ability to reach out to what is all around and within you.
When we have all of this, we truly have HOPE. As Emily Dickinson said: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.
Recommended Reading: The One-Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie
You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
The Book of Hope by Birgitta Jonsdottir
Reference:
Scioli, A. & Biller, H.B. (2010). The power of hope. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.
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