A New, New Hope

I know fiction can seem like an odd place to find ‘real’ hope, but any source of hope is worth tapping, is it not? My family has been watching Andor, the Star Wars spinoff series. If you’re not familiar, it tells the story of some of the people and events that led up to the Star Wars movies of the 70s & 80s, where a bunch of ragtag rebels defeated a giant empire. A story I think we can all get behind.

In a story that mirrors events on our world in the 1930s, who would have thought one could find similarities with events in our timeline, but here we are. More than once this sci-fi drama eerily echoes our reality.

Every culture has a tradition of storytelling, to entertain and to teach. Star Wars is obviously entertaining to geeks like me, but what can we learn from spaceships, robots, and a galaxy far, far away? Turns out, there’s more than one answer, but today let’s focus on hope.

I wanted to share these words with you. This is an excerpt from a character’s diary (no spoilers), and it hit my heart so powerfully that I had to share.

There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone. Unsure. Dwarfed by the scale of the enemy…

Remember this: Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies — battalions — that have no idea that they've already enlisted in the cause. Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward. And then remember this: The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that. And know this: The day will come when all these skirmishes and battles — these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire's authority. And then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege.

Remember this. Try.

Yes, try. A brilliant battle cry. A tiny, little word filled with so much inspiration.

Everything you do matters. It makes a difference, it sends out ripples, it inspires change. We are a part of something so big that none of us will ever know the full reaches, or every act of bravery. We may never know what final, single act will be the empire’s undoing. We do know this - we are a part of it.

"Even the darkest nights will end when the sun rises again." -Victor Hugo

Take a deep breath with me. In. Out. Know this, good will win. Decency will prevail. It is our job to add to the growing resistance, to add our acts to the collective force that is pushing back. And it is also our job to find peace and joy along the way, for they are not luxuries, but necessities - an integral part of the world we are building together. What is a world without joy?

Try. Act. Rest. Repeat.

Practice makes progress.

Hope and hugs,
Heather and Amy