Hope...

Can you give hope? Given the season it is a topic in the air. From what I can see the answer is No. If we look to the story of Pandora (who was framned I am sure), after all the ills in the world left all was left in the box was Hope.

Pandora held to the box or hope, still it was only significant as long as she held it. She could drop it or give it out, making it a very nice box (although no descriptions actually exist), so worthless. It is only valuable or usefull as long as she helds to it.

So hope seems to be more of a personal/individual state of mind, therefore you can find it in places (like a concentration camp) where against all reason it is there. You have to "buy" its premise.

What you can do is help enable it, removing stress on someone so they can deal with the ugly aspects of life. Religions serve that purpose in part, you put your faith in something external that will fix things. It is also not dependant on a religion, it is again a personal belief, based on irrational conclusions that keeps you alive, its source may be deep into our reptilian brain, then we put a nice coat of rationality to explain it.

Yet it all goes back to the individual, as long as you hold the box, you can believe you will be fine.

So despite all, it is always good to keep that box. Thank you Pandora for keeping it safe.