Hopetimism.

As a friend and I were leaving Dunkin' Doughnuts, I made the comment: "I'm an optimistic pessimist." This sparked a conversation [and multiple ones to follow] about the idea of hope. What is it? Where can we find it? How do we acquire it? To get a grasp on the concept of "hopetimism", you have to understand its core of hope. ...something that I've been striving for.

In its verb form, the Merriam - Webster dictionary defines it as "to desire with expectation of obtainment". As a noun, the meaning metamorphose, using the word itself within the definition; "someone or something on which hopes are centered", "something hoped for". As a Christian, my hope is [should be] found in Christ. However, I've been having trouble with that. I recognize that I am, in fact, a human and that means, all too often, I'm blinded by the circumstances in my life. Voluntarily blinded, at times. I find that its easier to live in the squaller of depression that I know than to hold tight to the hope of Christ and have Him lead me into the unknown.

But I digress.

For the sake of argument, my hope is found in Christ. I know that apart from Him, I'd be nothing - a worthless creature, taking up space on this earth, destined for an eternity in hell. However, because of a virgin's miraculous birth, the sinless life and death of the Son, and the resurrection of the LORD, Jesus Christ - I have found hope. The hope of salvation. The hope of a better life. The hope that there is something beyond what I see.

I have hope in His victory. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." [Romans 5:1-5]

I have hope in His sufficiency. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered." [Romans 8:26]

I have hope in His righteousness. "...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." [Ephesians 1:17-21]

I have hope for eternity. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...." [Phillippians 3:20-21]

I have hope that, one day, this will all be worth it. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the future glory that will be revealed in us." [Romans 8:18]

Because I find my faith in Jesus, my views of hope are probably different than that of another typical twenty-somthing. Some of my non-Christian [/religious] friends find there hope in their academics and their futures. They have hope that what they're doing now, in school and in the workforce, will set them up for a decent life. They'll have a place to call their own, a steady income, and someone to share it with. Some of my friends place their hope in their significant other. They hope that their other half will be the one to make their life different. The ladies wait and swoon over their knight in shining armor. The men long to be the one to save the damsel in distress. "Maybe the next relationship will be the one..." Others simply have no hope at all. Ignorant of their own destiny, they wander this place looking for temporal things to satisfy them...but nothing helps.

This is where the idea of hopetimism comes into play. Just as optimism is believing that the world is beautiful and pessimism is believing that reality is essentially evil - hopetimism is the hope that there is hope; that hope is worth fighting for. A hopetimist is generally identified as someone whose life circumstances would beg them to give up. However, despite the possibility of their surrender, they continue to fight. They've seen others give up the fight and give up on hope itself. And because of that, they keep fighting for hope and encourage others to do the same. I'll admit - its a bit of an abstract concept, but so is hope.

I've been on the both sides of the hope spectrum. At times I feel like nothing can stand in my way. Other times I feel like I've hit rock bottom and someone's thrown me a shovel. But to live a life without hope...or even a hope for hope, just flat out sucks. Without a reason life is cold, dark, empty. Without hope, life isn't worth living. But - I have hope. I may not always recognize it or see it shining, but its there.

Hi. I'm Laura and I'm a hopetimist.