Hope in Troubled Times

In the past years I've noticed a lot of negative prophecies. In just the past decade I remember predictions of widespread computer failure, world war, pandemic deseases, and several other disasters. Most of these predictions were based on fear and had little or nothing to do with reality.
I think that we hear so many predictions like these because people are losing hope. They don't believe that things will get better, only worse. If we want the world to change for the better, then we need to start by hoping and believing that it will.
Take for example John Paul Jones, an American soldier who fought to free America from England. He found himself in an old, rotting merchant ship face to face with a much larger and stronger Brittish ship. He was out gunned, out manned, and stood almost no chance. He still hoped to win.
He forced the British ship to ram him, tied the two ships together and began to fight. His ship took a beating and began sinking. When the captain of the other ship asked if he would surrender, John Paul Jones refused and answered, "I have not yet begun to fight!"
That is hope. With his ship sinking beneath him, John Paul Jones continued to lead his men in battle until the British captain finally surrendered. All of the men moved to the British ship and watched the victorious ship sink.
Hope is what will get us through the hard times. It may get worse before it gets better, but when we hope for the best and work towards it, not even a sinking ship can keep us from reaching our goals.

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