SHINE HOPE
"You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” Pablo Neruda
Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is the belief, or even the quiet feeling, that a difficult situation can get better. It is a kind of trust in the possibility of a better future, even when we don’t know exactly how things will unfold. The opposite of hope is hopelessness and despair. Hopelessness is the belief that things will not get better, that our circumstances cannot change, or that we will not succeed. To live without hope is to live under the weight of fear and despair. Hope becomes especially important in times of uncertainty. When we experience hope, we can feel less overwhelmed by anxiety, allowing our minds to think more clearly, make better decisions, and see possibilities that fear can hide from us. In this way, hope can be a powerful source of strength and healing. Whether you are facing a serious illness, experiencing financial hardship, navigating loss, or simply moving through a season of uncertainty, hope can help sustain you when life feels difficult. But hope is not about forcing yourself to “think positive.” It is not pretending that everything is fine when it isn’t. Hope is about making room for the possibility that the future can be different. It is believing that change is possible and recognizing that you may have a part to play in creating that change. You don’t have to believe that everything will work out. You only need to leave room for the possibility that it could.
PRAY AND BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL PROVIDE
Hope can come from many places including a doctor, a friend, a family member, or even an unexpected event. But at its deepest level, hope is rooted in faith: faith that we are never truly alone, and God is fully aware of our situation and is protecting us. Prayer is an antidote to hopelessness. Pray wherever you feel closest to God, in a church, mosque, synagogue or temple. If you are unable to visit a place of worship, you can visit the Prayer Cave on the Rise of Giants website. Enter with sincerity, open your heart, and ask for grace, strength, guidance, and support. God hears you. He is your most powerful protector and your dearest companion.
When you feel lost, pray.
When you feel afraid, pray.
When you feel hopeless, pray.
WHAT IS HOPE
To get started, step away from your office or home and find a place where stress is minimal.
Take a pen and paper and write down your thoughts.
Start by listening to the audio session, then watch the short video(s).
PREPARATION
GUIDED SESSION
Use headphones for optimal sound
Even in the Driest Desert, there is HOPE for a Plant to Bloom
Hope for the Future. Robin Griffith. The Reading Teacher. International Reading Association. V. 74, No. 6. P. 673-676. 2021.
The science of hope. Benjamin W Corn, et.al. The Lancet Oncology. V. 21, Issue 9. 2020.
Hope and the Future. Richard Rorty. A Journal of Social Justice. V.14, 2002 - Issue 2. P. 149-155. 2010.
Understanding hope and what it means for the future of conservation. Andrew Park, et.al. Biological Conservation. V. 244. 2020.
Life in the Present and Hope for the Future. Werner E. Lemke. A Journal of Bible and Theology. V. 38, Issue 2. 1984.