A Pearl of Wisdom

On the Jukebox: "All Good Things" by Sissel
Quote: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all." ~ Emily Dickinson
Flair: A Gift of the Spirit


I’ve been on a Charles Dickens kick lately. Perhaps it was because he too was a writer who did serial installments in a newspaper column. I find his work inspiring on many levels but especially for his rhythmic prose, intricate plots, and life altering transformation of characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge. In one of his better known works, “A Tale of Two Cities” he wrote an opening line that even those who haven’t read it may recognize:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way."

Was Charles Dickens speaking of his time or ours? Considering our modern marvels and better living conditions it appears at first glance as though 2010 has very little in common with Victorian England. Yet we are in a recession and many are out of work and worry about their family’s needs and what the future may bring. How timeless is the human condition of opposition! How wonderful and terrible it is to have duality in our lives. We must know the bitter to appreciate the sweet.

As a child I was taught that faith and doubt cannot dwell in the same place. So it is with hope and despair. Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness and peace. Hope is a gift of the spirit. The Apostle Paul speaks of the importance of faith, hope, and charity in our lives. My favorite Book of Mormon prophet Moroni was the last of his people yet he believed in hope, even after witnessing the complete destruction of his civilization.

Storms of opposition may surround us but the things we have hope in can sustain us. Even Jesus Christ, who was perfect, experienced discouragement and difficulty. These are the most powerful tools of the adversary. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult times. There may be times when we must make a courageous decision to hope even when everything around us contradicts this hope. Faith, hope, and charity complement each other, and as one increases, the others grow as well. These lead us to abound in good works and in peace and happiness.”

We are standing at the beginning of not only a new year but a new decade… one fresh and filled with hope. Remember when you feel discouraged, worried, or lonely to never give in. The winter of despair is over it’s time to embrace the spring of hope. For those who make New Year’s resolutions, resolve to have more hope. Take a bright outlook on things. The power of positive thinking will do wonders. Of that I am positive!