Finding Hope
I have been here on my couch, staring at my computer for way too long, not knowing what to write. I just realized why I am so stuck. When I sat down to reflect, my first instinct was to write something optimistic, yet I am feeling tired and heavy-hearted. The uncertainty of the months ahead and the sadness for so many people’s health, grief, and finances can sometimes feel overwhelming and exhausting. As I slowly breathe out a long sigh, I find my heart shifting from optimism toward hope. Something settles in me as I take heart in knowing that true hope - the kind that is grounded in a belief in God - has nothing to do with optimism.
What is Hope?
Hope is one of the Christian theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. When you believe in hope as a virtue, you can take heart that no matter how dark or scary your situation is, God is right in the middle of it providing a pathway of strength and comfort for you to be able to walk through anything. Hope is not about knowing for certain that, “everything will be okay.” Hope is not being naive. Hope is not convincing yourself of a certain outcome.
Henri J.M. Nouwen speaks to this true hope in his book, “Bread for the Journey.”
Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things---the weather, human relationship, the economy, the political situation, and so on---will get better. Hope is trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.
Author Richard Rohr, OFM calls this kind of hope, “mystical hope” in one of his recent daily meditations.
It has something to do with presence—not a future good outcome, but the immediate experience of being met, held in communion, by something intimately at hand.
Hope is Made of Memories
When I start to spiral, I remind myself of God’s presence in the middle of my worst moments in life. I remember feeling God’s grace while in the hospital with my son and I recall all of the comforting people God continues to send me. Thinking back to that time gives me hope. It reminds me how God has been there for me in the past and will be there for me in the future. Hope is made of memories, says Joan Chittister, OSB, in her Vision and Viewpoint weekly newsletter dated December 9, 2019.
Hope reminds us that there is nothing in life we have not faced that we did not, through God’s gifts and graces—however unrecognized at the time—survive. Hope is the recall of good in the past, on which we base our expectation of good in the future, however bad the present. It digs in the rubble of the heart for memory of God’s promise to bring good out of evil and joy out of sadness and, on the basis of those memories of the past, takes new hope for the future. Even in the face of death. Even in the fear of loss. Even when our own private little worlds go to dust, as sooner or later, they always do.
It is during these troubling times that we can truly understand the meaning of hope, and grow through the process. I invite you to take a few prayerful moments to reflect on Romans 5:1-5.
Therefore since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Reasons for Hope
I take this scripture verse as a reminder to open my heart to God’s grace all around me. The more I do this, the more I find reasons for hope, and the more I notice that, God’s love has been poured out into (my) heart through the Holy Spirit in so many ways.
I find hope remembering my walk this past week seeing California members of the West Coast Ravens RV Formation team drawing aerial smoke hearts above our nearby hospitals as a way to thank health care workers and first responders. Looking up at the sky, I cried over the reminder that there is so much love around.
I find hope when I think about a recent conversation with a friend and her telling me about all of the amazing people stepping up to volunteer at local food banks. I am reminded that generosity is overflowing during this time.
I find hope when I sit outside in my backyard and watch the progress of my lavender blooming and starting to give off my favorite scent. Observing the seasonal changes in nature is an invitation to remember “for everything there is a season...”
I find hope as I laugh and remember my favorite 80’s music playing at the grocery store this morning while I was walking down the aisles in my mask and wondering what kind of world we are living in. The fun music reminded me of times past and told me there will be fun and light times in my future.
I find hope when I pause and notice some unhealthy patterns in myself during this pandemic. This slower paced life is giving me the time to go deeper within. I know I will come out of this shelter-in-place having evolved a little more in my journey towards knowing myself and knowing God.
I find hope when I read about all of the innovative minds testing new medicines and creating new technology that can help us live outside of our homes with the Covid-19 still present. I am reminded that God’s gifts are overflowing in this world.
I find hope in all of the beautiful poems and prayers created for this unprecedented time. Writers, poets, and artists are giving us grace-filled moments to reflect from a bird’s eye view, which puts everything in perspective. The following prayer is a perfect example.
When this is over
By Laura Kelly Fanucci
When this is over,
may we never again
take for granted
A handshake with a stranger
Full shelves at the store
Conversations with neighbors
A crowded theatre
Friday night out
The taste of communion
A routine checkup
The school rush each morning
Coffee with a friend
The stadium roaring
Each deep breath
A boring Tuesday Life itself.
When this ends,
may we find
that we have become
more like the people we wanted to be
we were called to be
we hoped to be
and may we stay
that way-better for each other
because of the worst.
May you create time in your day to be open to the small moments of grace that can give you reasons to be hopeful.
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What are your sources of hope? I’d love to hear about an ordinary moment that gave you reason to be hopeful this week.