The Necessity of Hope

Much is being made of the Iraqi soccer victory. Some suggest that this will heal a broken country.

I know soccer is important in many countries of the world, but I doubt it has the power to erase the ravages of war. It's not that potent. The victory does, however, bring hope.

All human beings need hope. Without it, we can cease to function. We need to be able to look for a better day, a better future. We can tolerate brief periods of bleakness, but not an everlasting hopelessness.

Hope can be found on many different levels of life. It may be as simple as seeing a bird or a flower, or seeing a rainbow after a storm. It could be dramatic, such as the arrival of a new baby. Hope happens every day in many different ways. Often we're too busy to recognize the gift.

Soccer can't end a war or stop the suffering of a people. But a victory can bring hope to a people who have been oppressed for many years. And hope can take root.