abandon hope all ye who enter

“abandon hope all ye who enter here” – Dante

Ok.

Above the entrance to hell (Inferno) in Dante’s  Divine Comedy lies the words “abandon hope all ye who enter here.”

Just to keep you updated on the story … Dante passes through the gate of Hell with this inscription which is the ninth (and final) line <“Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate”> … “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”

Before me things create were none, save things

Eternal, and eternal I endure.

All hope abandon ye who enter here.

Ah.

And as another reminder of the tale … before entering hell, Dante and his guide (Virgil) see the Uncommitted. The uncommitted represent the souls of people who did nothing in Life. Yup. Nothing … neither for good nor evil. Just nothing.

(I will get back to that)

No.

I am not going to suggest everyone read Dante’s Divine Comedy (a tough read no matter who anyone is).

But I am going to talk about hope (or the lack thereof). And uncommitted.

I imagine lack of hope is kind of like entering a personal hell.

Which isn’t good for anyone. So the corollary to that is that I imagine those of us with hope to give should share it whenever we can.

But.

Take a minute and think about the youth of the world (currently growing up in a nifty time of unrest) and our <adult> responsibility to the young people today.

Set aside whether you do actually have any hope within you (or maybe better said you worry about having too much hope).

Because this isn’t about you and your hope (but it is about you and being committed).

Think about young people … who are watching us … and listening to us.

Our responsibility?

If we fail to provide hope to our young people … are we not simply encouraging them to enter the gate of hell?

And if we do nothing for our youth do we not run the risk of becoming one of the Uncommitted?

Dante was a smart guy. Gave us a lot to think about.

That’s it.

I just wanted everyone to think about our responsibility <commitment> to the young people of today’s world.

Give them hope.

For if they have no hope it is quite possible our future is destined to walk thru the gate of hell.