Hope…

In the 1732 poem, An Essay on Man, it was written: 

Hope springs eternal. 

Alexander Pope 

Literally centuries before college football or the formation of the National Football League, Pope captured the sentiments that move to the forefront this exact time of year.  You see… it’s football season!  Yay! 

Exceeded only by we Die Hard, Cubs fans, NFL, college, high school, and fantasy football fans are the epitome of Pope’s description of hope.  Except at my Alma Mater.  Even though Knox College is undefeated in the head-to-head match against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (winning 12 to 5 in 1902), our football program in this century sucks.  

Jean Kerr tries to soften our despair: 

Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent. 

Even so, there’s no hope for college football in Galesburg, IL this year.  But for our other teams we have great anticipation.  We sport our team’s logo-wear proudly and hope for a successful season.  More important than even football (if that’s possible), we fill each day with promise: 

Every day that we wake up is a good day.  Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day.  Every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good. 

Walter Mosley 

So, if our team falters this season, don’t despair.  Hope will spring again in 2027.  295 years after Alexander Pope’s eternal sentiments. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.