The thing that is left
“As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.” —E. B. White
E. B. White wrote this letter in 1973, but it’s more relevant today than ever. Just as his children’s books became timeless classics, so his words of wisdom have stood the test of time. So let’s wind our clocks, whether figuratively or literally, and hang onto our hope. When sunrises are consistently so glorious, it’s hard to sink into despair as long as we continue to be granted fresh new days. Tomorrow is another day indeed, and for that I thank God every morning when I awaken, and the last thing before I go to sleep.
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Defeat Despair 
Julia,
Amen! We should all be thankful, with grateful hearts!
That’s a beautiful picture of your sunrise. It reminds me of another “sailor’s expression” about weather: ‘red sky morning, sailors’ warning; red sky night, sailors’ delight.’ 😊
I tend to agree with E.B. White’s assessment. In bad times, hope is all that might be left. As you suggest, we should hang onto our hope.
I’ve always liked the Apostle Paul’s take on hope in Romans. …but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope! And hope does not disappoint. Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
I believe it is through our faith that we are given hope. And because of this hope, the love of Christ has been poured into our hearts. Have a joyful day!
Thank you Chris. Don’t you just love Paul? He went through almost everything we can imagine, and did it (mostly) rejoicing. I’m enjoying springtime and hope you and your family are too!