Finding hope in times of darkness

A personal reflection from Executive Director Katy Lunardelli

We had a massive storm recently in the Northeast of the United States, knocking out power lines and flooding our streets. Our home was dark and my son was not feeling well, letting me know he was cold. As I tried warming him up, I watched the massive trees in our yard bending with the strong winds and I worried one of them would crash down as had happened a few months ago.   

This was a perfect time for prayer, which is the foundation of my peace practice. I sat in silence as I try to do each day, honoring the stillness that holds us all, grateful for the quiet. I knew that this time of relative darkness and unease would soon pass and that gave me hope and reassurance. My prayers went to our community members around the world who are experiencing darkness in different forms. Many in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan are in dire situations, and darkness seems to blanket so many regions right now. How does one hold onto hope when you don’t know when the light will come, you can’t provide warmth or food for your child, or you can not be with loved ones?

We may be tempted to think that being hopeful is turning a blind eye to the reality of the suffering in our world. I find inspiration in the words of Sharon Brous who gives insight into the importance of hope. She says, “Hope is not naive, and hope is not an opiate. Hope may be the single greatest act of defiance against a politics of pessimism and against a culture of despair.” When so much is pointing to darkness and despair, we have an opportunity to remain hopeful. Hope is not an empty promise, rather, hope gives us the energy and resolve to envision a more peaceful world and take steps towards that in our lives.  

For over a decade, Euphrates has looked to visionaries to illuminate our path during challenging times. Our conversation with some of these extraordinary visionaries highlights the importance of hope, even at the darkest of times. Sami Awad, Founder of Holy Land Trust, shared that his hope is in his ability to remain open hearted and continue to love his enemies, even those fighting against him. Ahmad, Founder of Afghanistan Youth Empowerment and Peace-Building Organization (AYEPO), shared that hope of a new future for Afghanistan is what keeps him going. Sami, Ahmad, and our other Visionaries have seen the worst of humanity and yet hope is carrying them forward.  

As I look to 2024, the growing interest in peace leadership is giving me hope. Euphrates had nearly 400 applications from over 30 countries for the 2024 Peace Practice Alliance program. New and experienced peacebuilders are seeking ways to connect across borders, share their wisdom with other peacebuilders, and learn new tools to bring peace to their communities. These peacebuilders will, undoubtedly, bring transformative peace initiatives to their communities, as the past cohorts have done so beautifully. And, this program is possible because so many of you contributed to Euphrates – which also gives me tremendous hope.

With the new year upon us, may this be a time of reflection and a time for embracing the hope of a more peaceful world. Let the darkness be what enables us to see the light more clearly. We all have a role to play in creating a more peaceful world.