The most radical act anyone can perform in difficult times is to have unwavering faith that things can get better.
The sports team that's far behind in the standings can still believe the postseason is possible. The woman struggling to make ends meet today can envision more prosperous times ahead. The immigrant in a hostile land can believe they can not only survive, but thrive. The civilian in a war-torn country, hiding in the rubble of a world gone mad, can still believe that peace is possible.
The cynic will tell them they're wrong -- that their efforts, in the grand scheme of life, are futile and insignificant. That the universe is callous, not because it's inherently evil, but because it's indifferent. That hope for a brighter future can look very dim from this vantage point.
And so, on the road ahead, we find two paths winding through the same hills and valleys. We can retreat into cynicism and wait to be counted among the fortunate few. Or we can choose to work toward creating the kind of world we want to live in, even when others say it's a waste of time.
This year has been a tough one, full of loss and missed opportunities. The coming year promises its own challenges -- some new, some all too familiar. But every obstacle we face brings with it a chance to do something radical: to believe that a better, more just world is possible, as long as we're willing to work for it.
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!