I am currently reading Mistborn, a book my son suggested. Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn is a high fantasy novel set in a dystopian world ruled by the immortal Lord Ruler, where ash falls from the sky and plants struggle to grow. The story follows Vin, a street urchin with latent magical powers, who joins a group of rebels led by the enigmatic Kelsier to overthrow an oppressive regime. Their weapon? Allomancy, a unique magic system where individuals gain extraordinary abilities by ingesting and “burning” specific metals. The novel delves into profound themes like betrayal, hope, friendship, leadership, and the weight of prophecy.
I have never been a fan of the fantasy genre, but I decided to give it a try after coming across this C.S. Lewis quote that kept appearing in my feed:
“When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
At this stage of my life, I’m reflecting on reconnecting with my younger self—embracing a sense of wonder and relying a bit less on purely rational, humanly skills. I want to be more hopeful, like a child eagerly looking forward to a Christmas morning.
Taking a chance on a genre outside my comfort zone led me to a passage in Mistborn that deeply resonated with me:
“Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope.”
Hope is the expectation that something good or desirable will happen in the future. It is the spirit that provides fuel to go through challenges. But it’s not about positive thinking or simply trying to manifest outcomes. Hope is something deeper and more enduring. Emily Dickinson captures this beautifully in her poem:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
From a theological perspective, hope is a virtue that directs man toward God, sustaining faith and trust in His promises. Even Nietzsche, often regarded as a staunch critic of Christianity, suggests a kind of hope tied to self-overcoming and embracing life’s challenges.
The essence of hope is that it often becomes most evident in dire circumstances—moments of death, failure, or loss. When we’re only worried or anxious about a potential challenge, hope feels like a mere mental vision. But true hope, as Mistborn and Dickinson remind us, carries a profound peace in the heart. It is in the storms of life, when everything seems lost, that hope takes flight, revealing its strength and grace.
