Foolish Games

Hope

1. Hope = Certain hope. Where something is assured, and one lives in hope of the time when it is fulfilled = God's promises. Bear in mind that God's promise that those who accept Christ will be with Him in eternity, and His promise to be with us always, means there is certain hope for believers to look forward to through whatever circumstances they may face. Simplistically, this sort of hope is hope of deliverance from our present troubles - which is certain, in that it will not last forever, but not certain in the sense that God does not promise us, for example, that we will recover from a malaise in time to play tennis next week, or that it will not rain on your wedding day.

2. Hope = Uncertain hope. Where the future outcome is uncertain, where the positive outcome(s) is a possibility, but not a certainty. Hope is present under such a circumstance where the person has at least a minimal level of optimism, as hope connotes a certain inclination of the mind and spirit to believe that a positive outcome may result, and the heart holds onto this as strength to persevere.

3. Hope = Vain hope. Where there is little or no possibility of a positive outcome, or a person believes there is little or no possibility of a positive outcome. This is not hope at all, but a state of mind where the person is clutching at straws that they believe are not realistic for something positive. Alternatively, it is a depressed state of mind, where positive outcomes are probable, but in the mind of the person hold no uplifting value.

4. Hope = Expression of desire, of wishes. For example, "I hope that things turn out well for you!"

The fourth definition is a different aspect of the word, and is usually tied in with the second definition, in that you desire a certain outcome for someone, but the outlook for the outcome eventuating is uncertain and requires a certain amount of optimism as well.

The second definition is the meaning used most often, and the one of which I will ask the question:
"Is it better to hold uncertain hope, and then to have that hope taken away (either by the uncertainty of possibilities superceded by events, or by other means), OR is it better to have not held hope from the beginning, such that there is no hope present to be quashed?"

A related question is:
"Is it better to live in (uncertain) hope, or despair in certainty?" The example that comes to mind is a student awaiting his/her exam results, either hoping to pass or get a good mark. Is it better for her/him to know that he/she got a poor result?

My view of the second question is fairly straight-forward. I've always hated waiting for a result, where there's nothing you can do but wait. Fortunately I've never failed an exam, so I can't give you the perspective of someone who agonised over a result, and then despaired over it (I was disappointed with some of my results, but passing was the most important part). For me, I'd rather live in certainty, and find out the outcome of something as soon as possible. Perhaps this is just an indication of impatience. I guess for me the uncertainty and waiting provides fuel for anxiety, worry or fear, whereas some people are better able to put things aside and deal with what's happening in the meantime (but no, it doesn't have a great effect on me to wait for exam results, but I definitely prefer to know than to be "blissfully ignorant"). However, if the situation is of awaiting the outcome of something of a greater magnitude of significance than an exam result, I think there would be fewer people able to lay aside their anxieties, worries and fears.

Now, back to the first question, to which I hold a certain ambivalence. There is a common axiom I can appreciate stating that it is better to not expect anything and be pleasantly surprised, than to expect something and then be disappointed. However, while this point is germaine, one cannot and should not confuse expectation with hope. Expectation is conviction in one's foreknowledge of an outcome. Expectation is anticipation of a desired result - either because of the perceived high likelihood of a positive outcome, or because doubt was never attached to the occurrence of the event, or just plain confidence that what was planned will come about. Hope is from the soul - something that stirs you to keep going in uncertainty. Hope is a more humble frame of mind than expectation.

(Note: I realise at this point that this dissertation needs editing to achieve a more cogent state, and that I've glossed over a few things that require further explanation. However, I just don't feel like going back over something that isn't a story.)

I am not sure of my position in regards to this question. On the one hand, it is painful to lose hope. On the other hand, it is a dark place to not have hope at all. Fortunately there is the certain hope that God offers us. Still, I find this question a curious one to ponder. The practical side of me says it is better to not hope at all, advocating a somewhat perpetual numb state of consciousness over the more turbulent alternative, where the loss of hope can be a crushing blow dealt to the psyche. The non-practical side of me (don't know what it is - whether non-sensical, impractical, intuitive or whatever) says that the avoidance of pain also is the avoidance of living. Now that I think about it, perhaps this is where I stand, because I can even appreciate how painful emotions and experiences make me feel alive. No, it's not pleasant, but having spent a lot of time experiencing the numb, emptiness of the heart, it's almost desirable to be hurt. Sounds rather masochistic doesn't it?

Do I even make sense? Well, maybe this will help. One view is a flatline, and the other is like one of those machines that measures earthquakes (during an earthquake that is). A flatline, deadpan experience of life has no highs, and no lows. Would you give up the highs to avoid the lows? Well, no, I would rather experience the highs, even if I have to take the lows as well. But, what if the lows significantly outweigh the highs? Would you swap this situation for the flatline one? Again, my answer is no. The problem here though is that it crushes the spirit, and can leave you broken. On further consideration, I think the flatline approach has a similar result, because the flatline approach invariably is a downwardly trending situation - such a situation can feel as if your essence is slowly seeping out of you, leaving a shell of the person that you were before. It doesn't happen overnight, but it will happen.

So, where does that leave us? What is the solution? What on earth is the point of this post?

I'm not smart enough to really answer these questions, but I'd suggest that if there is anyone caught in a (downwardly) trending flatline, or is experiencing a period of overwhelming downs in their life, then they need love. They need the love of those around them, whether it be their family or friends. They need the support and encouragement of those around them, and to be shown what is above the pit that is before them. Most of all, they need to know the love of God, to know that His strength is sufficient, even when theirs fails them. They need to know that Jesus knows their pain, and has delivered them from death into life.

posted by Son @ 17:39