HOPE

“Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is  able to see a tomorrow. Hope is the door that opens the future. Hope is a humble, hidden seed of life that, with time, will develop into a large tree –A tiny flicker of light that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness. A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be “you.” And then there will be another “you” and another “you” and it turns into an “us.” And so, does hope begin when we have an “us?”  No. Hope begins with one “you.” When there is an “us,” there begins a revolution.”  FRANCIS

COMMENT/ Hugh S.

There is so much power and wisdom in this short quote from Pope Francis. I was struck the first time I moved through line after line of this powerful tribute to hope. The analogy of hope to a large tree, a hidden seed, a flicker of light, a door that opens to the future, all symbols of possibility and of growth.

I believe that each one, like the desert nomad,   starts out seeking hope as  individuals, alone, seeking  a way out of the  desolation that   dries up a thirst for a living water — these were   the pills, the next  therapy, those spiraling negative thoughts, all  mirages, dark phantoms.  Hope was evasive.

Today, my solution for creating hope as one person is to continue sharing how the ” shield of darkness” was pierced by that “flicker of light,” the light manifesting in a hope, a belief, like a seed giving me an individual growth spurt, empowered me to go through that door that “opens to a future.”

Hope is “enough to exist in a single individual” and for hope to exist in “you,” and then in another “you” and this turns out into an “us.” 

Francis asks “does hope begin when we have an “us.?” No. Hope begins with one “you.” When there is an “us” there begins a revolution.”

Like all of us who now have hope,  thanks to  the   spiritual principles of the 12 Steps  plus “having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry the message to the depressed, and to practice these principles in all of our affairs. Step Twelve of Depressed Anonymous.

The revolution started when this “you” (Bill. W) and then another “you “(Dr. Bob)” –shared their recovery with another –they became an “us” and  provided hope to the hopeless and the helpless.

Depressed Anonymous is another “us” who this very day is  providing  a door   opening  to a future, that tiny flicker of light that  shatters  the shield of darkness, and that  humble and hidden seed, that with time will develop into a large tree.” This tree represents all those groups (“us” ) branches if you will, that support so many of the alone and solitary people, who are seeking hope, serenity and community[email protected].

For more information on how YOU can find hope and join our revolution, please go to www.depressedamnon.com.

(c) Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Ky.     This work can be ordered online.

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