Restoring Hope To A Hopeless Generation
“In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.”
Paul Harvey (1)
Monsters of society have been a fact of life since the dawn of time; ruthless killers like Genghis Khan, Adolph Hitler, Osama bin Laden, the young men from Columbine and now the shooter from Connecticut. In times such as these, it can seem difficult, if not downright impossible, to view them as fellow human beings; men made in the image and likeness of God. (2) And yet, we all originate from the same Source. I won’t comment on the recent event itself. I will leave that whole episode to the politicians, gun lobbyists, special interest groups, psychiatrists and psychologists for them to sort out and interpret.
However, I do wish to address the sense of hopelessness that seems to be pervading our society in ever more powerful waves of woe. How can we restore hope and love to our society as a whole? By beginning with ourselves and the emotional responses we allow ourselves to express! Healing starts with compassion and love, not through knee-jerk reactions to punish and hurt others. Oftentimes, our hatred and intolerance for others stems from a lack of acceptance of ourselves. The only way society, as a whole, is going to improve is by improving each and every one of us, one person at a time, from the inside-out. We can never hope to change others around us, but the one person we can change looks back at us through the mirror every morning. And, as we change ourselves, our example gives others permission to change as well.
Remembering who we are and why we are here is a really good starting point. Genesis 1:27 states, “God created man in His own image.” (3) In other words, we are ALL mirrored reflections of God. In Matthew 25:14-30 and again in Luke 19:12-28 we find the Parable of the Talents or Minas. (4,5) Traditionally, these “talents” or “minas” have been interpreted to be monetary units, or money. However, they could just as easily be representative of the innermost aspirations, hopes and dreams God blesses each of us with at our birth. These dreams are God’s gift to us. Following these dreams is our gift back to God. Our dreams are not meant solely for us; like in the Parable of the Talents or Minas, they are meant to be expressed and increased for the good of us all. Unfortunately, life has a way of pounding our dreams out of us as we grow older. Our dreams become suppressed and discarded as we clamor toward conformity. Yet, stifled hopes and dreams have a way of making themselves known: sometimes as cries for help, sometimes by impulses to act out violently.
1 Timothy 4:14 cautions us, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you.” (6) Likewise, Matthew 25:29 and Luke 19:26 caution, “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” (7,8) In other words, those without hope will end up ever more so. But to those who acknowledge their inner longings, to those who follow their dreams and utilize them as God intended, ever more will be added unto them.
If we want to restore hope to humanity, we must restore it first to ourselves. Create an environment that actually supports and fosters our dreams rather than one that suppresses and forces conformity. Celebrate our differences and live passionately. Have faith. It is worthwhile!
One final word of caution concerning recent events: we must be VERY careful and selective about what we allow ourselves to imagine. Picturing ourselves in the shoes of the victims can be very dangerous indeed. Don’t imagine, “What if it was my kids?” Don’t go there! Give thanks for the health and safety that our kids enjoy and don’t ever picture it any other way! This does not mean sticking our heads in the sand, so to speak. We all can, and should, continue to pray for those touched by this tragedy; just don’t join them in their loss.
Dr. Jon M. Ketcham
Author “iContractor 1” & Dream re-Kindler to Earth-bound Travelers of Light
Bibliography
(1) The Book of Positive Quotations, John Cook p. 223
(2) Bible, Genesis 1:27
(3) Bible, Genesis 1:27
(4) Bible, Matthew 25:14-30
(5) Bible, Luke 19:12-28
(6) Bible, 1 Timothy 4:14
(7) Bible, Matthew 25:29
(8) Bible, Luke 19:26
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