"Hope dies last," we say proverbially, and we mean that as long as a person is alive, they hope; and this is the wisest thing. Life has twists, surprises, unpredictable factors, and no one can humanly know how things will develop from one moment to the next. Does a person hope and should they hope? This is what Orthodox Christianity teaches. Woe to the person who loses hope. A person who believes in God has every reason to hope! Hope does not "cost." Christ asks from the person trust and hope in His Face, and if sometimes He takes a while to respond, He certainly has His "reasons." Everything happens for our good, which, over time and in eternity—precisely—only the Most High knows.

When hope and peace go hand in hand, then the person "flies" and is "blessed"! Hope can be "disturbed," but it can also be peaceful, "serene." Hope is available to everyone, even if sometimes it hides among the clouds. Let us give it a chance to emerge from the cloudy sky. It takes courage and trust in God for the "long-awaited" hope to be born spontaneously and effortlessly!

...And from serenity and tranquility, to a change of course! Calmness is good, but it also needs a beneficial breeze to lead to renewal, a change of mind, repentance, which will "recharge" hope and strengthen inner peace. We all need a wind of repentance and a change of course, as repentance is the coveted ticket to Paradise, for those who—at least—aspire to it! Despite the times, it is within our will, and in our fighting spirit, with Christ at the "center" and the saints as "companions," to become fearless, courageous, promising, and peace-makers! Let us all strive to acquire and establish serene hope within us! Good fight to us all, with hope deep down inside!