Hello from the cubicle,
I have writing a lot about the concepts of hope, its importance to our individual wellbeing, as well as to the importance of it for society in general. What happens when there is a lack of hope or a sense of disillusionment to the level of hopelessness. Certainly as we age, we can understand the difference between idealism, an unrealistic hope, the infamous pie-in-the-sky sort of wishfulness or a deep-seated believe that something can change for the better. And yet, we all can buy into the sort of 1 in a hundred million chance for that profound change. The lottery would not be so popular if people did not submit to that unrealistic desire of instant wealth. I think I have played the lottery less than five times in my entire life, and each of those times was when there was a record payout, and my participation was contributing to a pot of about 10 people. In the spirit of disclosure, I have not won a single dollar, not even a penny. And yet I want to believe in the possibility of something changing, of the reality for me that thoughts and prayers, which had a different connotation than it currently does (and for some honest reason) do offer the possibility of the Holy Spirit making a difference.
I believe that hopes and wishes are connected. That the action of doing either can offer some sense of contentment, an efficaciousness that provides some solace when most needed. Physiologically the act of wishing and hoping releases dopamine in our brains, which consequently lower the release of cortisol, lowering stress or anxiety. And that is just the result for our CNS. Additionally it has demonstrated positive results for our cardiovascular health as well as support better respiration (I did some research on this, I did not know all of it, though I had some sense). Likewise it can assist in our body’s ability to heal, and it usually generates healthier habits in general (NIH). On the other hand blind or unrealistic wishing also has physical consequence. Because it is nigh impossible, it can result in exhaustion, disillusionment or burnout. I can imagine Sisyphus might have ended up in this position.
I think at times wishing is somewhat akin to praying. I remember one of my seminary professors, when lecturing on the reality of prayer noted there are three answers: yes, no, and not yet. I had never really considered that as we too often believe the only answer to prayer is the one we want. Perhaps it is our naïveté, perhaps our selfishness. And yet hoping, believing in the power of prayer is significant for those who claim faith or hold that intercession makes a difference. The important of difference is something often overlooked, overshadowed by the difficulties in the moment as well as by our human propensity for impatience. I remember as a child praying a prayer that went something like this. “Please keep me from getting spanked, and I promise I’ll never do it again.” Somehow that prayer was never answered, or more accurately it was answered with a serious no. It’s really quite astounding how quickly we grasp for what we wish or hope. Our desire for instant success, for gratification in the moment.
As I write this, it is Memorial Day weekend. It is the time we remember those who gave their lives in the service of our country, those who leave their family behind as they are deployed across the world. I think of the boot camp experience and those 85 days of processing and training. The hoping that I would survive that experience was more profound than I can ever express. The first phase of boot camp was assimilation, the second was learning about becoming a rifleman and what being an infantry person required, and third phase you begin to believe more than merely hope. Much of my life, from working toward degrees to the academy, there are always levels of achievement. From commencements to tenure votes, from obtaining a position to promotions, the hope for advancement is always on your mind, a weight on your shoulders. It is not merely wishing or hoping for something. It requires much more. It requires confidence; it requires discipline; it requires both optimism and faith in your abilities. Faith in oneself is not an absence of fear nor of failure, but it is quiet daily trust and learning to adapt. There is no need for perfection, but merely the necessity to reframe my humanity, both accepting my limitations while simultaneously pushing them. Where I first learned to push them was through my enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. That 17 year old, barely-making-weight, naive boy (I seriously weighed the minimum I could) cried under his pillow the first two nights of boot camp. Having a Senior Drill Instructor with the name of SSgt. M.D. Blood might have also influenced that fear (you cannot make that up!!). The number of times I struggled to keep going (being labeled Pvt. Chicken Body was a bit of an additional detriment). And yet the pride I felt at graduation had never been equaled in spite of some pretty significant achievements. As I ponder the sacrifices of the previous generations of Americans, I am profoundly aware of their own hopes and wishes for the country, this place called the United States. The belief of those individuals Tom Brokaw called “the greatest generation,” which include those in my parents generation, was that there was nothing impossible; if you hoped it, you wished it, it could happen.
I watched the Memorial Day Service from the Capitol that cannot help, but instill a sense of pride and patriotism that is not misguided, but rather reminds me of the something other, those moments, those events, those times that cause us to dig deep believing in both the possibilities of who we can become, being honest with our shortcomings, but having a deep-seated desire to do better. The number of times tears streamed down my face as I watched the concert are numerous. And yet, I am appropriately humbled and proud to be a veteran, patriotic, but honest with our present difficulties in the world. On this Memorial Day, I give thanks to my family and generations back to the Revolution (according to my cousin). I think that consistent service up to the current generation is something that gives me both pride and awe of what this country can inspire. I am proud to be who I am, an American child.
Thank you as always for reading.
Michael
thewritingprofessor55 