Keep hope alive.

One of the best sermons I ever heard was on hope. The minister (whose name, unfortunately, I cannot remember) spoke about how hope is critical for survival and for thriving. The climax of her sermon went something like:

"One can live without friendship, but one can't live without the hope of friendship. One can live without justice, but one can't live without the hope of justice. One can live without peace, but one can't live without the hope of peace. One can live without joy, but one can't live without the hope of joy."

It was such a moving and meaningful message, and, to me, it represents the true meaning of Christmas: hope for a better life, now and forever. I think of that Sunday sermon often, am reminded that we have both hope, and the means to achieve what we hope for.

May this day and each day bring you closer to being the best person you can be! Peace and blessings to you all.

Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out. - Václav Havel (b. 1936), Czech playwright, president.