Hope

From The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien:

Sam: [Both are overcome by exhaustion] Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It'll be spring soon. And the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields... and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?
Frodo: No, Sam. I can't recall the taste of food... nor the sound of water... nor the touch of grass. I'm... naked in the dark, with nothing, no veil... between me... and the wheel of fire! I can see him... with my waking eyes!
Sam: Then let us be rid of it... once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you!  

Frodo's burden is causing him to lose hope.  But Sam won't let him.  Sam's memories of the Shire sustain him through his dark times, but Frodo's burden is too great.  Fortunately, he has Sam to carry him.

Thich Nhat Hanh has said that he thinks the concept of "hope" has a touch of sadness to it.  He thinks it means that we are no longer living in the present moment, but are just hoping that things will get better at some point in the future.  I agree with him and work hard to find beauty and happiness in the present.  But there are times for most people when life overwhelms us and the best we can do is maintain hope for the future.  At those times, it is important to remember our inner Samwise Gamgee.