Choosing hope
New beginnings are around us everywhere, every day. Even when we think all hope is lost, we’re reminded there’s always a chance to find something new, something to inspire and reinvigorate us.
In recent weeks, I’ve watched two people I love start their new life together, a bride and groom confident in their partnership and their future. I celebrated a friend’s first pregnancy — one that did not come easily, and is all the more appreciated for it.
By contrast, I saw our country’s divides grow deeper over issues like race, choice and equality. My heart ached as Detroit declared bankruptcy, proof that a city holding a lifetime of memories for me is struggling to survive.
But I choose hope. I choose to reflect on the new beginnings I’ve witnessed. I choose to do my part to contribute to a better future for those just starting out — new couples, new babies, new businesses, new dreams.
Can America overcome what divides us, to stand united for the good of our country and each other? I believe we can, if enough people want it and work for it. Can Detroit rebuild itself and become a great city once again? I have no doubt. In fact, the seeds of that rebirth are already there, in the businesses and residents moving into the city. They’re choosing hope, too.
No one’s saying it will be easy. Even the most joyous of new beginnings — a wedding, a baby — has its challenges. Emerging from bankruptcy or overcoming decades of division are tasks that will be years in the making, but absolutely worth the effort.
Sometimes, it can start with the smallest of seeds, A kind gesture, a purchase at a local business, a thought of forgiveness for someone who doesn’t share your views.
Hope can even lie dormant but it’s always there, like the lily that blossomed in my house after two years without flowering.
Hope is always there. You just have to believe in it.
