Hope Part Four

 

We are paying attention to hope this week, we are waking up to how hope hovers and hangs in the air, how we miss moments when hope is softly knocking at the door of our hearts because we are too busy, or the external/internal noise of the world causes us to miss hope’s arrival.

 

Advent invites us to tend hope now and continue to fan the flames of hope throughout the year to come.  However, we don’t do this.  We get tripped up and trapped by thinking that “Hope” is just for this one week…then we move on…then the New Year comes and perhaps hope is packed up with the ornaments. 

 

What if we, you and I, are called to the be tenders of hope?  A brave, bold hope that doesn’t try to dismiss painful reality, but refuses to say that God’s beloved world is too broken for redemption.  A brave, bold hope that doesn’t try to deny the pain, but holds the light of hope for God’s healing presence to enter that pain.  A brave, bold hope that isn’t interested in intellectual platitudes, but keeps singing songs of God grace that guides and ground us toward the light~ especially when we can’t prove it.

 

Hope takes different shapes and forms within each of us.  Hope is expansive and elastic to embrace all God’s creation.  Hope says, “There is no finished line when it comes to hope this side of the Eternal Age.  We journey on toward our deepest desire of connection with the Creator and all of God’s creation.”  Hope becomes the fuel that feeds our lives.  God is the One who conducts, composes and will complete hope.

 

Yet, too often, in the world cynicism won’t go quietly into that good night.  People will keep pointing out why hope is foolish, because deep down they would rather pass on their pain than let hope change them.  People will turn their backs on the sliver, shiny, small flame of flickering hope toward the fear in the dark night because for some reason we tend to trust the naysayers and hope-singers and sharers. 

 

I love the quote by Roberson Davies, “The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.”  We receive only what we can perceive.  So, if all the antenna of our life is tuned to stations telling us to be afraid and that hope won’t work and that you should send them money so they can convince others ~ if we are not brave and bold enough to select another radio station ~ we will be stuck in the muck and mire of despair.

 

Hope still hovers, hums, and holds us right now.

 

Draw as close as you can to your candle of hope.  Feel the warmth.  It is as real as what you just heard on the news.  Hope is here.  Hope longs to make a home in you so together we can share God’s good news and gospel grace medicine with the world hurting and hungry.  Open yourself to hope; listen; pour hope a cup of tea or coffee and sit for a bit together.  Tell each other what is deepest within you.  Then, sing together!  Because the world needs a new song of what is possible by God’s grand entry into our world here and now this Advent season.