Hope springs eternal
It seems like such an understatement, but I
am thankful for "hope". The reason it seems odd to say is
that I can’t imagine life without hope, and I hope I never can.
There are days when I have no hope of getting all my work done, but
that is a short term problem which tends to go away. The thought of
having no hope that things are going to get better is very
distressing. Unfortunately, there are folks in that position, and as
we are reminded about this time each year, the holidays seem to
amplify our emotions; the happy get happier and those with hope
problems slip toward hopelessness.
Why do we celebrate holidays and birthdays
and anniversaries? Is it really because of what happened years ago, or
because of what that event may represent for the future? Are we
thankful for our turkey and pumpkin pie because of some pilgrims
surviving the winter, or because it strengthens our hope that
deliverance will come our way should we need it? Does Christmas have
more to do with the birth of the Christ child, or our hope for His
return? And on a far more material level, the way we celebrate with
Santa Claus and gifts and waiting to open presents seems to me to be a
very obvious way of creating that feeling that hope brings as we
anticipate our new stuff. Then don’t we all experience a bit of a
let down when the last package is open and the anticipation--the
hope--is over. Isn’t the whole New Year’s thing about the hope of
good things to come? And don’t we want to stay for the whole game,
not leave in the third quarter, just in case the Colts can pull it out
at the end?
Yes, Virginia, there IS hope. And it comes in
all sizes.
Here at the office I remain hopeful that our
current legal initiative is successful and we can actually reduce
rates in the next year or so. That’s a big hope. I also hope that
light blinking on the front of my computer doesn’t mean my hard
drive is about to crash. That seems like a big deal, but in an hour
I’ll probably forget all about it (I hope). And I hope that when I
check my email on the Internet that it isn’t all cluttered up with
junk mail, but that’s starting to approach hopelessness.
At home, I hope my daughter leaving for the
army yesterday was a good thing (if I didn’t I would be even more of
a mess about it than I am). I hope the next 23 years with my high
school sweetheart is better than the first 23 years (I hope my wife
doesn’t take that the wrong way). And last month when I was helping
carry my 99 year-old grandmother to her final resting place in Estill
County, Kentucky, I knew she was in a better place and
that I would see her again. Sometimes hope just isn’t enough,
so we have to know. A far better way of saying that is,
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see." (Heb. 1:1)
So, as we approach the Thanksgiving season,
do not underestimate hope. And do not keep it to yourself. There is no
greater celebration than that which follows the giving--and the
receiving--of hope.
10/05/97
