Hope, Despair, Faith

Hi everybody. This issue is a replication of a face book post did recently, and as such you may have already read it. That is my Mom (1913-2010) in the middle of the photo with her sister and brothers gathered round. My guess is given the clothing they had just returned from a church service of some sort.

Mom was 5 years old when the great pandemic flu of 1918/1919 shook the world. She held vivid memories of those days all her life. The story she told about the party telephone line informing which of their rural Missouri neighbors had succumbed has in turn stayed with me as well. I never thought that within my lifetime would live through a pandemic (a little, somewhat, more frightening?) as what she did, but here we are.

I am a fan of the learned optimism mindset espoused by Martin Seligman. As such, if I spill a gallon of milk (did that yesterday) am not that worried that will do so again in the near future. After all there have been hundreds of times that have not spilled any thing including milk. And as to positive occurrences such as being able to run 5 hours one week, such makes me feel positive that can run 6 or more the next. The same held true when taking youth through the wilderness. If they could hike 4 miles along the beach was positive they could do 20 in the mountains. I believe the future holds tremendous promise as regards lifting people out of poverty, curing disease, and technological advances.

Long before becoming acquainted with Martin's work I had a belief that things would work out just fine as regards home and work life. And they did. I have a wife for life, three children whom grew into loving giving adults, and a rewarding career that although now a decade finished will never be past.

I realize how fortunate have been. I know that any marriage can be torn asunder, and that anything can happen to children and youth no matter how wonderful their parents maybe. I have an uncle and aunt whom divorced one year after their golden celebration. Early in my career I was the VR counselor assigned to the island's drug rehabilitation facilities. One of my duties became answering questions families had about why their child overdosed. Why despite that knowledge I thought my family and children would be okay I cannot explain other than to say that had faith such would be the case.

I do though have moments of despair. Especially at times like these when think of current and future wars, inequality strife, and climate change. Any one of those crisis and others yet unnamed could easily dwarf the current corona situation in terms of ecological damage and human suffering. But sometimes as various philosophers have noted despair may well be a necessary component in order for hope to take hold as such can spur us on to take action to make things better.

If 7th grade math instructor Mr. Albee had not dragged me up the stairs to my Mom;s home economic class where he bellowed upon our arrival to a room full of girls "see your son, this boy will amount to nothing," maybe I would have never buckled down to get better grades. If Drill Sgt Hill had not plucked those hairs out of my sideburns, perhaps I would never taken the steps necessary to get assigned to where what mattered was to get the job done well for the patients and not how well one shaved. That effort led to working under Sgt Riddle whom saved my soldier life. As a program administrator being told to go back where I came from spurned the effort to improve services lest my legacy become that of a consumer group wanting me gone.

"The perfect hope is achieved on the brink of despair when instead of falling off the cliff we find ourselves walking on air." That Thomas Merton quote rings true for me. He also said something about truly humble people not needing to despair to find hope but hey for sure I am not at that level.

I have had this faith most all my life that the future does hold promise. It is why despite age related conditions such as arthritic feet and meniscus tears I still believe can become a better runner. It is why I support the Sierra Club and the Friends of Ho`opono as well as Doctors without Borders and others. I don't know for sure they will do good with money given but the belief is present that they will.

I also know that belief in the unknown was not necessary for me to understand that my Mom and Dad while here on this earth were proud of, cared for, and loved me.

I have faith they still do.