Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness Desmond Tutu
Introduction
Hope is the light we carry even when the road is invisible. It doesn’t promise a guarantee, but it kindles a possibility. While faith is rooted in surrender, hope is rooted in resilience. And in our time, one person who embodies this quiet yet powerful hope is Jane Goodall.
Just One Verse
Verse: Bhagavad Gita 18.66
“sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhuchaḥ”
> Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.
In the Gita, Krishna reminds Arjuna that surrender — letting go of the burden of trying to control everything — leads to liberation. The last line of this verse, “mā śhuchaḥ” — “Do not grieve” — offers not just comfort, but an invitation to hope.
A Story of Hope: Jane at 90
At 90, Jane Goodall continues to travel, speak, and advocate for the planet with unwavering hope. She knows the facts — climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution — yet she chooses to believe in the possibility of change. When asked how she keeps going, she once said:
“Hope is about action. Without hope, we fall into apathy.”
Jane’s hope is grounded in observation and effort, not in naive optimism. She sees how young people rise up, how communities regenerate forests, how animals rebound when protected. Her hope doesn’t deny the darkness — it works in spite of it.
Reflection
Jane’s life invites us to act with hope even when the outcome isn’t certain. Her hope lives in the tension between the world as it is and the world as it could be. For those of us navigating uncertainties, this Gita verse becomes a quiet assurance — even if you don’t know the full way, surrender your anxiety. Do not grieve. Do not lose hope.
Call to Action
Are you feeling a flicker of hope today — however small?
Take a moment to notice one thing in your world that is worth acting for. Let Jane's example remind us: Hope is not waiting. Hope is doing.
What does hope mean to you today?
Share your thoughts or a story in the comments.
And if you know someone who needs encouragement, send this their way — it might be the light they need.
🙏 With love,
Suresh Srinivas
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📖 Learn More: Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.20
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