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Perspectives on Hope
Hope During Crisis
By Ziyad Alawneh
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Natural disasters, insecurity, occupation and the feeling of being
isolated cause deep hurt to people and can cripple societies. But human
beings armed with hope are never helpless. People with hope are the
strongest agents of change. Hope is as essential to life as food and
water. Faith in ourselves and the future helps us go on in the face of
disasters and conflicts.
As a Muslim, living in the Middle East, a region boiling with
instability and much prejudice and hatred, there is still ample life and
love. This is due to a cultural perspective which stems from the belief
that we are tested in life through various kinds of difficulties.
Culturally, Muslims accept what happens to them and thank God for all
that happens, considering it God's will--an opportunity for us to
examine ourselves and develop patience, in the knowledge that one's
suffering could always be greater.
In the face of disaster one can either remain angry and bitter or
exercise patience or acceptance or, the highest and most faithful
response, gratitude or appreciation. Without this strong faith, one is
more easily overwhelmed and unable to bring forth the hope necessary to
change life and bring light to the world. What happens in our crazy
world should not cause us to lose hope; rather it should spur us to
create a just and fair world; a world free of selfishness.
Life in our world is always worth living, and there are many things that
make us happy even in the most difficult conditions. In today's world
full of agony and pain, we have no choice but to equip ourselves with
the patience and hope that will see us to the safest shore of the lake.
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Ziyad Alawneh is a Jordanian sustainable development specialist and
environmental activist. He is currently coordinator of the Jordanian
government's Integrated Watershed Management Project. |
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