Hope Is a Dangerous Thing... But, Wait

"Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane,"

– Red, Shawshank Redemption.

In the movie Shawshank Redemption, hope is a constant thread that empowers Andy Dufresne to remain alive. Having been wrongly convicted and serving two life terms in prison, Andy becomes a generous and selfless man who helps his fellow inmates to embrace hope. His persistent writing to the Senate to revamp the prison library eventually pays off, thereby providing an avenue for inmates to gain the education that they would have not received had Andy not intervened.

So, is Hope Really a Dangerous Thing?

Throughout the movie, Red is perplexed by Andy's sense of hope, even in the face of crippling odds that are stacked against him. But is hope really a dangerous thing?

Having lost my job in 2012 after deciding to create a restorative justice for at-risk male teens, I have faced years of hopelessness. There were many times I didn't have food, shoes and clothes to wear. My future looked bleak, gloomy and I was a dead man walking. All that remained to be done was my actual burial.

The only thing that kept me alive was hope that one day I would see one boy get reconciled with his family, the police and the people he has wronged and hurt. Though it isn't one of the easiest things I ever done, hope fuels my veins with fresh blood and fills my lungs with pure oxygen.

What Kept My Hope Alive

Hanging on wasn't easy though. However, I had a vision and a mission to fulfill. I also spent my time reading good books such as The Blue Sweater and listening to uplifting music. I avoided negative people who looked down on my vision. The only regret I have is my failure to learn this valuable lesson much earlier. I also had faith that God was going to pull me through. And surely enough, hope kept me alive.

Final Thoughts

Hope isn't dangerous after all. Hope is so powerful that it is able to provide life. Here is what Anne Frank wrote in her diary.

“Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”

Anne Frank faced lots of experiences that can cripple even the most courageous of us. Yet in hope, she felt alive. have you lost hope? I hope that you will find the courage, strength and faith that will fuel your sense of hope. May you remain strong whenever you are faced with difficulties. Soldier on and find someone who can hold your hand.