Esperanza

by Adriana Abucha

Esperanza. 

In Spanish hope is translated to Esperanza. 

For me, it sounds like a collision of two words; espera and danza, to wait and to dance. 

Esperanza is like a melody rising with the rhythm of the drum drawing us in with memories of joy, innocence, and carefree laughter. My feet want to get up and dance and feel the freedom underneath the shining stars like I once did in my tia’s finca in Colombia.

What does esperanza sound like to you? 

In our current world, to fully embrace hope feels vulnerable.  Fatigue, uncertainty, death and sickness have been uninvited guests knocking on our doors. The injustices that plague our communities resurface rage and despair. How will things change? 

In the waiting and desperately searching for answers, we can grasp on to the treasures of hope woven throughout time.

Esperanza is the treasure found in the faces of resiliency of our tias y tios, abuelas, the heroes in our village and the ones we’ve only heard about. Those that have sung a soundtrack of peace through the night.  

Esperanza knows that the image of God is portrayed in the smiles of children and in the beauty of our cultures.

Esperanza is an invitation to join in and not give up on the dreams of freedom and joy we have inherited and etched in our hearts.

— by Adriana Abuchar @adri719