"Hope's home is at the innermost point in us and in all things. It is a quality of aliveness. It does not come at the end, as the feeling that results from a happy outcome, but rather it lies at the beginning, as a pulse that sends us forth. When our innermost being is attuned to this pulse it will send us forth in hope regardless of the physical circumstances. Hope fills us with the strength to stay present to abide in the flow of mercy no matter what outer storms assail us. It is entered always and only through surrender, that is, through the willingness to let go of everything we are presently clinging to and, yet, when we enter it, it enters us, and fills us with its own life - a quiet strength beyond anything we have ever known." ~Cynthia Bourgeault

I think of children being born of hope, they change families forever, the world. They have an inescapable presence and are able to generate energy, curiosity, playfulness, ability to love, forgive, and accept - drafting their own hopeful roadmap. Kids often have a great way of putting all their efforts into feeding their hopefulness.

Unfortunately, at times, we fail them, their environment breaks down, and interrupts the rhythmic pulse that enlivens their experiences, ceasing their power to remain in the present moment. Even in our current time, Zoombombing is a target of children and teachers, an offensive hack on their online learning, during a time of risk taking and self-expression.

This is an example of how people project their pain onto others, especially the most vulnerable, our children. As adults, when we don't have the emotional control we need, which is many of us (at times) we may want to think about looking towards other sources for help. A surrender, a letting go. Another source can help us understand our pain, accept our limitations, renew our ability to respond, to be present, and guide us towards our individual best and within our relationships.

A great role model of hope is Michael Gruenbaum, a child survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, who experienced the extreme darkness of humanity. In, Advice to Students and their Parents from a Holocaust Survivor, he writes, “Your resilience, your persistence, and your personal resolve can overcome the worst life has to offer. Now roll up your sleeves and get to work.”