Today I saw hope
Today I saw hope… An unusual gift that appeared in the mythical Pandora’s box in ancient times and still holds fundamental meaning for people. We will probably catch sight of it if we lift our eyes towards it every time we are overwhelmed by restlessness and anxiety.
Ancient traditions of our Hellenic ancestors say that a long time ago, when people failed to seize their opportunities for growth and redemption, the gods punished humans by sending a “robot-woman” of extraordinary beauty to Earth.
This woman full of deceit, Pandora, was easily accepted by people, even by heroes, but she used that trust to open the box containing her secret treasure that she always carried with her, letting all the known evils in the world escape from it… While hope remained trapped at the bottom of the box.
Therefore, deep inside every human being, there lives a glimmer of hope when all paths are closed, when all dreams are shattered, when no light is visible on the horizon.
That’s why I saw hope today, and it reminded me that no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always a flicker of hope waiting to be discovered. The vision helped us realize how much we as humans had to lose for this picture to appear before us.
Indeed, much has been lost; many values have been distorted in this unusual moment of historical change. In fact, there is a lack of light, a lack of clarity of ideas; the mind and emotions seem to have dulled in performing their natural functions. Everything seems to have sunk into a dangerous inertia whose restraining force leads to destruction and violence at all levels. It is precisely then, when there seems to be nothing at the bottom of the box of life, that hope appears.
Hope means waiting… having that measure of patience and faith that helps us overcome the current bad moment, so that we can direct our energy towards a better future. However, caution… Hope cannot be continuous waiting.
This mysterious gift of the gods is so fragile and subtle, like magical shadows that appear at twilight. It is necessary to quickly capture the image before it disappears in the darker shadows of the night. Action must be taken quickly as soon as it appears. I am filled with anticipation, allowing us to catch our breath.
Hope is not a gift for inactive people; nor is it for those who have surrendered to difficulties. Hope is a promise, but it requires a determined fight to make that promise come true. Hope promises, we accomplish.
The vision of hope fills me with joy. We cannot – we must not – give up on the constant striving that life entails. It is not noble to relent when difficulties grow. It is precisely when everything seems impossible and insurmountable that hope emerges from the depths of the magical box and promises a different time for those who can see it.
Do you also want to see hope? Look into my eyes, the eyes of these pages, and you will see it too, behind the veil of the present moment that obscures our understanding. You will see it wrapped in a veil of imagination, transparent like dreams, yet so real like the enthusiasm that, I’m sure, lives at the bottom of your heart.