Vicky Biccy's Blog

Keeping hope alive

I stood in silence for two minutes yesterday, along with millions around the world. I remembered the soldiers of the first and second world wars, and the soldiers in Afghanistan who have been fighting for the last eight years. I remembered the victims of the holocaust, and the ‘civilian casualties’ of the ongoing wars across the world today. In my mind, the silence was filled with questions. ‘Why do we keep doing this to each other?’

I have to say, I struggle to find hope when I think about the reality of this stuff. However much we attempt to distract ourselves, it’s never long before we are faced with the truth; it breaks into our cosy worlds and declares itself unavoidable. But somehow, people all over the world find strength to cope with the most terrible situations, every single day. People who live with war as a daily reality. People who face disability, poverty and pain. People who have lost the person they love the most. People for whom just getting out of bed is a real challenge.

What is it that keeps us going, I wonder? How do we manage to summon up the courage and determination to look life in the eyes and keep living? Whatever it is, it’s essential. It’s precious. Speaking with some elderly people recently about what it is the stops them from giving up, I noticed three recurring answers: family, faith and friends. Perhaps some variation of these themes serves as an encouragement to us all. We cannot forget. And we cannot give up. We must find hope, and keep it alive, at all costs.
 

Created on Thu 12th November 2009 13:52