Carol Wood
"Hoping against hope, Abraham believed he would become 'the father of nations,' according to what was said, 'So numerous will your descendents be.'"
To whom do we look in our daily lives for that leadership, that inspiration? Who is our charismatic leader, inspiring us to become our fullest selves, directing us toward our own greatness? With the looming national and local campaigns ahead of us over the next year, some may look to our candidates, although I daresay, the current tone of nastiness in politics makes most of us look elsewhere, and rightly so. Some of us, as students or readers, may look to our teachers or to beloved authors for hope and inspiration, and indeed, there are times when these beloved educators do lead us toward fuller lives. Others look to therapists, doctors, counselors for hope and direction, and again, there are times when these professionals help us and provide us with hope. Some of us may seek hope in our families and friends, looking closer to home, for that unique cause for hope.
There are times, when I find myself looking to the natural world, one of God's greatest gifts, for that sense of hope and often it is there that I find good reason for hope. The other evening, as I drove toward Dawsonville, a sliver of moon lay lazily on its back in the western sky, and brilliant Venus shone right next to it I wanted to stop the car to take a picture, but I knew my iPhone wouldn't quite capture it. As I pondered this view, I wanted to call my family to pop outside to see if it was a lovely in Sandy Springs, in New Jersey, in Daytona, or in Rome. I knew it was unlikely, so I chose to simply savor it for myself, and allow this present to sink in, to inhabit my spirit, to give me assurance of God's love for me in this busy world.
I would pose, nevertheless, that the only persistent, consistent, steadfast cause for hope is the model of love and unconditional acceptance provided by Jesus, not only our best example but also indeed our savior. There are no assurances of lovely sunsets or views across the lake, or of health or wellbeing, or of financial or professional success. Yet, there is always cause for hope -- in love, in both the giving and receiving of love. When our lives can find focus and direction in that call to love, in that mission, we will find the hope we need to be all God wants us to be.
Prayer; Dear God, Help us to keep our focus on you and your model for love, your son, Jesus. Help us to love more fully, so that we may find cause for hope in our lives and in our world. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment