2012 in Review: The Fate of Hope

Last New Year's Eve, I wrote a post called 2012: A Year of Hope, and as the year comes to an end it’s time to take stock of where we are.

Hope is a funny thing.  It seems to shine the brightest when we can see and feel nothing but darkness.  

This year, December 14th became a day that will stand out for many.  From some it will forever be the anniversary of great tragedy and loss.  The tremendous amount of pain and senseless suffering associated with the Sandy Brook Elementary school shooting will remain a scar on our national psyche for many years to come.  In the wake of this massacre it might be easy to believe that darkness has won. 

But just hours after the tragic events of the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, two friends welcomed theirdaughter into the world.  Two people who are kind and generous and loving experienced, in an instant, their family, their love, their joy expand beyond comprehension. 

And so, hope enters the world.

If we widen the scope, 2012 has not been an easy year by any account.  There is plenty to be upset about.  Our hurts seem to have multiplied.  We are weary from extreme acts of senseless violence and a nasty campaign season.  We are bitter from loss at the hands of hurricane Sandy and our in ability to recover fast enough.  We are heartbroken, as good people who want to work remain unemployed or under-employed.   We are plugged in, but seem to be farther from the people in our lives.  We are surrounded by information and entertainment, and often feel isolated, alone, and bored.

And yet, we are still here. 

AmeriCorps members, National Guard, and many others are still serving in the aftermath of Sandy. Teachers, parents, administrators, and local law enforcement across the country are working like never before to keep our kids safe.  Children are being born, and growing up, and being loved by their families.  People everywhere are starting to talk about being tired of the anger and violence that seems to be everywhere.  Many of us are lucky to have family and friends close at hand, which is a bigger blessing than we regularly acknowledge.  

Despite the frustration and pain, the disappointment and loss – the great experiment continues.  

Like the phoenix hope often seems to rise out of the ashes of disappointment, sorrow and suffering.  St. Augustine believed this when he penned the lines: “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”

This year may not have turned out like any of us expected, but if we embrace anger towards that which is wrong in the world and the courage to become an agent of change, then we will get things done in 2013.  

Thus, hope lives on.