When was the last time you stopped to behold beauty? A few nights ago I almost missed my opportunity to stop. I read about it in the news headlines but gave little attention to this event. Late that evening I was doing my duty of placing my recycle bin on the curb for pick-up the next morning. I happened to look up to the sky and saw this beautiful bright moon. I was stopped in my steps by the event I wanted to ignore. It was so radiant that I ran in the house, got my kids out of bed (that was crazy!) and brought them outside to take in this moment.

The moon had a stunning brightness that was difficult to ignore. I waited in anticipation with my kids for a break in the moving clouds. In the patches of clear sky we could see a glow emanating from the moon. There was something striking about the brightness placed in a dark sky that kept us memorized. But I almost missed it.

I wonder how much we miss the opportunity to bring a similar radiant hope in the middle of challenging times? I was recently challenged by a person’s response to a very turbulent time in the world. The person asked themselves: what was is the duty of hope ? That is a powerful question that causes the slumped shoulders to straighten out in strength. In dark and cloudy times what is the response of the advocate of hope? What words are we speaking, what narratives are we sharing, what actions are we taking, what dreams are we casting, what poems are we crafting, what ventures are we initiating, what communities are we nurturing? In turbulent times what is the responsibility of hope?

It is hope’s duty to shine brightest in the darkest and most clouded nights. Hope illuminates a path forward, mesmerizes in the patches of clarity, and proves that darkness will be conquered. Don’t miss the opportunity. The challenges you see may be the backdrop to behold something beautiful.