This past weekend, I saw the new film, “Sin Nombre,” a very sobering look at the intersection of gang life in Mexico and the flight of immigrants into the U.S. to seek a better life.
I was struck by the tense battle between hope and hopelessness. Living in Southern California and knowing many who have immigrated here, I was nevertheless unprepared for the jarring images of hardship, deprivation and violence.
Hope, however (even, in a perverse way, for the criminals), was the driving force . . . . and the old truism of “Where there’s hope, there’s life” is demonstrated against all odds.
I came to more appreciate the poignancy of that hope in people who have come here to improve their situations and have a chance at a life that works. One cannot help but respect and admire people who are willing to take such huge chances and literally put their lives at risk in the hope of making things better.
I encourage you to see the film to remind us of the fragility – and necessity – of hope in order to accomplish any meaningful result. It doesn’t always work out – and sometimes, life is tragic – but hope can be beautiful.
Do you believe in hope, and do you encourage hope in others – your friends, partners, spouse, family, colleagues? Yet, how often, if at all, have you engaged in hopelessness or something closely resembling it?
What are the best ways you know of to maintain hope?
Copyright 2009. E. B. Hutt Bush and Coaching for Results, Inc.