Hope is being able to see that
there is light despite all of the darkness.
Desmond Tutu
Trying to make sense out of this season,
for me personally and for all
that's swirling around us.
It can be hard to wrestle with all the
thoughts that fly at us in a day.
I was reading a book by Henri Nouwen
and identified one of the swirling thoughts.
A friend had asked him if he thought
humanity would survive the century.
A question certainly relevant today.
"But important for me is not if
our civilization will survive or not
but if we can continue to live with hope."
He went on to say that because the Lord
promised to stay with us at all times,
we must always live with hope.
And in spite of all the chaos that surrounds us,
we have to avoid the temptation of despair,
becoming more aware that God is present.
And I realized how easily I let go of hope.
In spite of all "the chaos that surrounds us,"
all the challenges I face personally,
all the things I can't seem to fix,
all that seems wrong in this nation,
all the scandals, lies, vitriol rhetoric,
division, hatred, and fear based accusations--
we must remember a bigger perspective.
So, we look up instead of down,
up instead of out there, up instead of in here.
Whatever we face personally or
what we face as a nation.
He is with us. Every single day.
Our hope matters.
