The Fire that Spreads: On Hope in Chaotic Times || By Kevin Culver, LPCC
I want to begin this blog by sharing a quote I came across this week from a news conference in Utah:
“I’m not optimistic, but I am hopeful. And hope is the virtue that sits between the vices of optimism and pessimism. Hope is the idea that good things are going to happen because we can make them so.”
In my last post, I explored the virtue of kindness. Kindness is powerful because it affirms and celebrates the humanity of others, making it an effective tool and countermeasure to the widespread cruelty of our times. Adjacent to kindness is a similar and equally powerful virtue: the virtue of hope.
Hope in Literature and Films
As a kid in the early 2000s, I grew up with films inspired by classic books such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. I still revisit these films, and each time I watch them, I walk away encouraged and heartened by their underlying message of hope.
Broadly speaking, these stories portray a world that is becoming increasingly dark as a growing evil threatens to overthrow and destroy the world as it is known. As the evil grows, fear spreads and courage becomes rare with most succumbing to feelings of helplessness, despair, and apathy.
Yet, the impact of these stories is found in the struggle of the characters who hold on to a sense of hope – the deeply rooted belief that the world isn’t condemned to darkness and there is still time to redirect the world towards a brighter future.
At times, their hope feels ridiculous and ill-advised, but through the course of the story, their hope is vindicated. The path towards victory was small and hidden, and it was only those with hope that were able to see it and follow it to completion.
Hope in Our Times
Today, there is a growing sentiment that the world is becoming increasingly chaotic, hostile, and unsafe. In such an environment, it can be easy to fall into either pessimistic fatalism, where one feels powerless to alter the course of history, or into naive optimism and the flimsy belief that “things will work out, so I don’t have to do anything.”
Hope, in contrast, requires action – it is an active virtue rooted in reality. It pushes us towards involvement and participation in our historical moment.
I want to return here to the quote I initially shared, particularly the latter part, “Hope is the idea that good things are going to happen because we can make them so.”
This encapsulates the beauty of hope: by having hope, we move toward action, which in turn helps us realize that which we are hoping for. In other words, we are the solution to our despair.
The Fire that Spreads
Hope is often symbolized as a light in the darkness. A single candle can be seen from a great distance on a clear night, and its flame carries the potential to light a thousand more. Hope is contagious and can spread like wildfire – it may start small and in isolation, but can quickly build momentum into collective action and societal change.
In this historical moment, will we dare to hope? Will we dare to envision a better world and actively move towards its creation?
About the Author: Kevin Culver, LPCC, is a professional counselor, published author, and owner of Resilient Kindness Counseling. Kevin has a MA in Mental Health Counseling and a BA in Theological Studies. With a background in spirituality, philosophy, and psychological research, Kevin provides a holistic approach to therapy that seeks to honor each client’s unique personality, worldview, and life aspirations. In his therapeutic work, he helps clients rediscover their humanity and create greater meaning in their lives, work, and relationships. He enjoys working with individuals from all backgrounds, but specializes in working with men’s issues, spirituality, and relationship issues. If you are interested in working with Kevin or learning more about his practice, please visit resilientkindness.com or email him at kevin@resilientkindness.com
