Prisoners of Hope, Cornell West
Meditation
Prophets are not those who tell the future, but who lay bare the iniquities of the present. How many people comprise a prophetic minority? Can one live as a prisoner of hope when the tempting freedom of the armchair spectator is so easy to enjoy? The preservation of decency and dignity requires courage, the courage “to be impatient with evil and patient with people.” How do we cultivate that courage, how sustain both impatience and patience? As a prisoner of hope, where do you find the answer to the cry of despair? When you have the words, prophesy.
Todd Breyfogle, Denver, Colorado