It’s All About Hope

{3 minutes to read}  Hope … Such a simple and yet powerful word. Wikipedia defines it like this:

Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: “to expect with confidence” and “to cherish a desire with anticipation.” 

The Oxford dictionary gives us three definitions of Hope:

1. A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
2. Grounds for believing that something good may happen.
3. A feeling of trust.

Saint Paul summarizes hope like this, “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:24-25)

The 2020 celebrations/gatherings are different in light of the uncertainties and losses due to COVID-19. Many among us may be searching for answers. Whether you are affiliated with or subscribe to any faith-based groups, my guess is that you, too, are hoping this unwelcome interruption from COVID-19 will end sooner rather than later. Though difficult to believe right now, something good may yet come out of this pandemic.    

I hope you continue to be well in light of the coronavirus. My sincere condolences to those among us who have lost loved ones and may have been robbed of the opportunity to hear the last words of those loved ones, or were not able to see the last breath those loved ones took.

Though we cannot see the end, may we find new strength and practice self-care as we wait patiently for our hopes to come true. Let’s be gentle with ourselves — and manage our intake of the news we digest across all the various information platforms.

Before I close, I want to acknowledge that there is another side of hope, not yet discussed, yet we often experience it. That is hope deferred. In the good book, the wise King Solomon penned it like this in Proverbs 13:12, “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Many of us are feeling sick in our hearts and our consciences ache due to cruelty we sometimes imposed on another; one is the death of George Floyd. Let us take comfort knowing God sees. Let’s remain hopeful, trusting that there is an aspirational good that will manifest out of this intense cruelty. 

In closing, though certain life-changing experiences are better understood in retrospect, yet, 

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu. 

Here is how  Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned it: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”  

Remember…hope is still a good thing, maybe the best of things.

I remain hope-filled and I hope you do, also. 

Be encouraged,

Nadine 

Nadine Riley, CPA
Founder, Masterpiece Accounting Group
Phone: (212) 966-9301
Email: info@mpagroupllc.com