I once read an article in the Wall Street Journal about a young man named Moshe. In 1948 when he was only a child, Moshe was forced to flee his home in war torn Romania. He lost his parents to the fascist Iron Guard. He thought he’d lost forever any future in the country of his birth to its new communist regime. He was an orphan of Hitler’s war on the Jews and he needed a place of refuge. That place was Israel.
Forty five years later Moshe left Israel. He returned to Romania to visit his mother’s grave. When he arrived, something entirely unexpected happened. In the process of coming to grips with his past, Moshe claimed his future. He saw an opportunity, borrowed money from his kibbutz and began producing and marketing their product in Romania. Before you know it others who had been misplaced by the war returned to Romania as well. An entire generation began contributing to the recovery of their birth country’s lagging economy.
It wasn’t something he had planned. When he returned to Romania, Moshe thought he would honor his mother’s death. Instead, he found a way to more fully celebrate the life his mother had given him. When old issues are resolved, our hearts are freed to connect with new opportunities. Hope grows when our hearts are pure. That simply means that letting go of old pain, anger, or even grief, provides room in your heart to dream and hope again. New possibilities emerge and life can change for the better.
Want some hope? Let it go! Let go of the old grudge, the loss of your loved one, or even your righteous anger against those who have harmed you. Recognize the good in those who have contributed to your life and forgive those who haven’t. You won’t be sorry. Sometimes, hope for the future lies in settling the sting of your past.