Finding Hope in the Darkness

I have consistently been a person who likes to know what’s going to happen. Whether it be what’s for dinner or a meeting agenda, I like to have a sense of what’s going on or what to expect. However, as I’ve gotten older, I have started to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. Realistically, we don’t know everything tomorrow will bring, let alone next week, month, or year. We might have some indicators so we can prepare, but no one knows exactly how things will go. That being said, I have found ways to feel more at peace and move forward rather than stewing in anxiety, discomfort, or any other negative emotion.

As of writing this, I have no idea how the election is going to go. Many early voting ballots have been cast, and many events have taken place on both sides, but there is no clear winner yet. Even when this blog is published, while we might have a winner, there is so much that could still happen and change. Honestly, that terrifies me a bit, and I am sure it terrifies many of you. However, there are many things I have been able to do that give me some hope and peace despite this discomfort. 

This year, I was placed at the Franciscan Action Network (FAN). Working at FAN and the many experiences that I have already had as part of it give me hope that no matter how things turn out, there will always be good-hearted people fighting for justice. At our conference last month, I had the privilege of facilitating an advocacy training for the participants, and a week afterwards, a virtual one was held for the rest of our network. Seeing the level of engagement we had from the range of our network was inspiring, and it made me excited to see how excited everyone else was. Also, I have participated in a variety of actions for a range of different issues, and seeing people from all different faith traditions come together in support of others, whether it be migrants, those facing the impacts of climate change, or the victims of the genocide happening in Palestine has demonstrated to me how it is possible it is for people to come together, regardless of differences, to work for what is important. In each of these cases, there are plenty of things working against the movements and people involved in them, and none of us know what will happen next, but regardless, we feel called to work for justice and will continue that work for as long as we can. 

As I mentioned before, there is a lot of darkness right now with the election and the general state of the world. However, it is important to remain hopeful. While it is easier said than done, focusing on the good and doing what you can to support the good makes it easier to stay optimistic. I know I will continue to do so. 

Question for Reflection: Reflect on a season when you were optimistic in the face of darkness. What helped you remain hopeful during that time?