Without a Doubt

“Hope is not empty optimism springing from a naive confidence that the future will necessarily be better than the past. Hope and trust are the premise of responsible activity and are nurtured in that inner sanctuary of conscience where ‘man is alone with God’ and thus perceives that he is not alone amid the enigmas of existence, for he is surrounded by the love of the Creator!” – Pope John Paul II

 

Today began as an ordinary day.  I went through my normal routine for getting ready for work, and I arrived to work shortly after 8 am, as I usually do.  I immediately gathered my supplies and headed out to the local homeless services center.  The first client we were supposed to meet with did not show up, and so I met with another client.  After meeting with this client, I decided to “mingle” by being with all those watching the inauguration from the meager comforts of the cafeteria of this homeless services center. 

 

It is a plain room, with regular, neutrally-colored tile, white walls, and white-plastic fold-out chairs and tables.  There is not usually a TV in the room, but even in one of the most conservative areas of our country, somehow the historical importance of the moment warranted the extra effort to facilitate the common viewing of the nation’s first African-American President being sworn into office.  The room, though neutrally decorated, was filled with the radiant faces that beamed in colors reminiscent of those found in mosaics.  They were the faces of those who could truly be considered in secular terms to be “just the average Joe,” those who in religious terms would be “the least of these.”

 

Looking around, I saw African American people and Caucasian people.  I saw people who seemed utterly worn by their daily struggles to simply survive, and I saw people going about their daily business.  I also saw a few people who were so engulfed by their seemingly-desperate situation that they could not stop long enough to be present in the historical moment unfolding before their eyes.  I saw African Americans who voted for the other guy, and I saw Caucasian Americans celebrating the accomplishment of our nation’s first African American President, cheering and clapping as President Obama spoke what felt like prophetic words of wisdom.

 

I saw people cramming in to a small space, patiently waiting their turn to do their laundry in some of the most public washing machines in central Texas.  The one thing that struck me the most, however, is that I also saw a group of people who were hoping.  Yes, I know, so cliché now that Barack Obama is President, but hope is the foundation of the work I do with my clients, and it moved my heart to see my clients hoping in way that somehow extended their concern beyond a merely individualistic hope to a hope that encompassed the idea of ‘the other.’  Today, I saw my clients hope, not only for a better tomorrow in their lives, but also for a better tomorrow in yours and mine.  I saw a man stand up, command their attention, and reflect their deep hope for a better future.

 

No matter what political affiliation you have, at least one thing is undeniable; the power of positive thinking and positive acting can breed hope in even the least hopeful.  Hope is not the only component of a strong foundation for a better future, but it is one of the most important.  Hope is what lets us dream, and without dreams, we linger in stagnation and discouragement.  Hope is what lets us imagine, and without imagination, we cannot be creators of a new world.  Hope is what lets us experience the fullness of our humanity, and by feeling human and helping others to feel human, we can restore the dignity and worth of every human being to its rightful place in our priorities.

 

It is my hope that we can all have the strength, courage, and fortitude to hope beyond the shadow of doubt.  So let us dream the dreams we had before the weight of the world bore down upon us, let us imagine a brave new world, and let us experience the full capacity of our being by living the hope we have for ourselves and for our world.