In the Gospel of John (11:1-44), Christ raises Lazarus from the dead. (1) In modern parlance, to be raised from the dead means to have your life “come back to you” after an economic or emotional collapse: in short, to figuratively be reborn. This is where you must truly respect yourself to find that inner strength. You have beaten all the odds, fought all the battles – been wounded – and yet are still able to return to the authentic self (2) – the unvarnished, unblemished person that you really are.
How did you stumble into this situation, you may ask? Why was I so tested? It could be the failure of a relationship, the loss of a loved one, the disappointment of a test or (given the current state of the world economy) the failure of a business. You know this experience if you have had it. It has moved beyond the realm of the literary to something empirical — something real.
What is the key component that saves you in your most dire of moments? Hope: it is the belief that things will improve, you will be successful once again!
The current plight of humanity is remarkable. With our Panglossian, (3) capitalist-driven optimism, we are ill-prepared for the ephemeral nature of life – poorly suited to change, certainly of an economic nature. We still cannot conquer the unconquerable and foresee the unforeseen. People are but tiny leaves buffeted by the celestial waves.
So now what: where will it end?
It is now somewhat easier to place stock in the Apocalypse (4) — in the termination of the world or at least in the cessation of civilization as we know it. I think not, personally. A more important question to ask, however, is will the pandemic allow humanity to become the kinder and gentler species that many philosophers have commented on? (5) If the answer is yes, we will return to a better and more improved version of our species. If not, if unchecked greed and economic avarice are allowed to continue unabated, bad things will most certainly come our way. It is now up to us as a people, to a very large extent.
We are naturally happy, intrinsically loving; demonstrably peaceful; ceaselessly seeking and always communal – we want to help our fellow man. These basic values have been sorely tested since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. (6) Now, let us stand up and seize the mantel of hope and optimism and build a better future – each in his own small way. Let us finally love our selves and love others. Let us reflect and change. We all must ask the question: what is really important in my life? Finally, we can learn to think critically and to value time. When we do, hope will naturally present herself.
Paul the Apostle (5-67 AD) in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 leaves us with a thought: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
A closing thought: I am not naïve. We will not change our society overnight. But everything begins with one small step. If we don’t base our life simply on the acquisition of money and power, we will begin to change. Young people are already in a different “frame of mind.” They do not want to struggle at school just to get a mediocre job, meet Mr. or Mrs. almost Right, make lots of money, retire and die. They want something more out of their “piece of life.” (7) They don’t know what it is? But, they know it is there.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about hope and where it will take us.
To be noted: Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.
Just for fun:Pyotr Tchaikovsky
For reflection: John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
This week, please reflect on how you view the future: do your part to improve it.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: As long as I awake, there is hope for a better, more beautiful, and kinder world.
Footnotes:
2) What it means to be your authentic self
3) Pangloss
4) The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse