Aren't Hope and Optimism the Same Thing?
While alive Henri Nouwen, a popular spiritual director, fought long periods of depression. One day he was asked, “Are you an optimist?” His reply was, “No, not naturally, but that isn’t important. I live in hope, not optimism.” Then he was asked, “Aren’t optimism and hope the same thing?” Nouwen’s swift reply was, “Indeed, not”
Nouwen’s rapid reply was spot on. Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes, but often confused. Optimism is the expectation that things such as the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation, and so on, will get better. While hope is the trust that God will fulfill his promises to us in a way that keeps us faith filled.
Optimism often expresses concrete changes in the future. While hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands. Hope filled popular standouts such as Moses, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Mother Teresa, and King David.
They all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them toward the future without the need to know exactly what that future would look like. They trusted and that trust spawned hope. Each lived with hope, and each refused to give up on the future.
You might ask: “How does hope work?” When we face difficult moments filled with darkness and anxiety, we often lose hope and become dissatisfied with life. Hope is not simply having a positive attitude. Nor is hope being optimistic or placing hope in worldly things, such as our work or charitable projects, thinking they will bring needed happiness.
Pope Francis explains that true hope is not built on human words or assurances, but on God’s Word and promise of salvation and eternal life. Hope is built on Jesus’ Resurrection.
At Easter we reflect on the effects of Jesus’ Resurrection, and how it opened heaven for all creation changing humanity’s destiny. Easter also links hope with joy adding the meaning that lifts joy to the level of eternal happiness brought upon us by Jesus’ gift of salvation.
Why is hope needed to grow spiritually?
Hope keeps us from discouragement;
Hope sustains us during times of rejection;
Hope plants the seeds of expectation for eternal happiness in our hearts.
Sustained by hope, we are preserved from selfishness.
Hope leads to the happiness that flows from service to others.
St. Paul writes: “Abraham believed, hoping against hope, that he would become ‘the father of many nations,’ according to what was said. Abraham trusted in God’s word and had faith in his creative power to do what appeared to be absolutely impossible. His trust was not based on human assurances but on God’s word.”
Pope Francis, commenting on Abraham’s hope, states, “His great hope is rooted in faith, and it is precisely for this reason that it is able to go beyond all hope.
Why? As Nouwen maintains: Hope is based not on our word, but on the Word of God.”
