Hope thrives in despair: Like Jeremiah, find gritty hope in hopeless times.

The Rev. Kali Cawthon-Freels, a pastoral resident at Williamsburg Baptist Church, authored a column discussing finding hope in difficult times by comparing the musical “Hadestown” and the biblical book of Jeremiah. She argues that both stories illustrate repeating cycles of tragedy but also a commitment to continue (“sing it anyway”) despite knowing the outcome. Cawthon-Freels highlights the concept of “feral hope,” distinct from fragile optimism, which she argues can thrive in despair and is seen in Jeremiah’s persistence despite setbacks, offering a vision of how the world could be.