Hope

I woke up troubled and down. My head filled with the darkness of man. People dead for the sake of viral weakness and pettiness: political agenda, commercialism, religion, partisanship - all used as justification. Towers of commerce, domestic military base, high school, congressional meet and greet locations and events added to a list of acts of violence that are so horrific that their true numbers fade into one huge litany of despair. Deepening this pit of hopelessness, natural disaster rears up to claim even more souls, yet instead of empathy and condolence, solace and Relief there is internal strife with names called and fingers pointed over bipartisan tendencies.

Hard, ugly hearts needing someone/thing to blame for that which stems from within each of us.

And yet... I turn on the computer to find this story from the AP:

Video: Hockey crowd sings after 8-year-old's national anthem glitch

Elizabeth Hughes, 8, made her debut signing the national anthem at an AHL Norfolk Admirals (the Tampa Bay Lightning's affiliate) game against the Connecticut Whale (New York Rangers' affiliate) last Friday night. Angelic voice, bundle of nerves ... and then after the words "gave proof," her microphone abruptly cut out.

What happened next might be something we've seen before at a sporting event, but that never lacks for inspiration (and maybe a misty eye or two). There's a moment around 1:30 into this clip that gives us hope for humanity: An 8-year-old girl is about to suffer a moment of extreme embarrassment that's not of her creation. A woman in the crowd cackles at this moment; not laughs, cackles. You then hear someone "shoosh" those like her during the brief silence. You then hear the crowd pick up the tune in unison.

Yes, I'm oversensitive to the foibles of mankind and that makes me sucker for sentimentality. But this clip made me happy and for once people gave me hope.

I expend too much energy on trying not to look like a sap. So I see the ugly in everything to be fashionably bleak. Unfortunately unintentional. Habit. Sickening habit. The "cackling woman" threatens the life of this glimmering hope in my heart. I have to fight that. Despair grows of its own volition, I don't need to help it. Sweet little girl, wonderful musical gift, patriotism used to rescue and support - all things more beautiful, unique and special than the gleaning of yet another example of unnecessary ridicule and hateful behavior.

So with a tenuous grip on a very fragile hope for the world I bid you all,

Hook On
C