Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new era in America, as we say goodbye to one President and hello to another. It’s been a tough transition, with lots of anger and accusations from both sides. Sadly, I don’t think that will change any time soon, because so many questions remain unanswered and it’s so difficult to know quite what happened over the past months and who did what to whom.

But if Americans continue to point fingers and shout at one another, the very real problems facing our nation will continue to fester unaddressed. If we continue to demonize those with opposing points of view and squabble endlessly over quotes and tweets, it will be increasingly difficult for us to agree about anything. And if those of us who are disappointed and angry throw up our hands in despair, we won’t be able to bring about positive change.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “we must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Whatever the circumstances, we can always choose to hope that people will ultimately be led by their best instincts, that help will come from unexpected places, and that honest facts will triumph over false impressions, even if that triumph comes later than we’d like.  Every new beginning comes laden with possibilities. If we choose hope, now and in the future, good things must surely follow.