Hope

"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with... the worries of this life." Luke 21. 29 - 38

As one who suffers from full fledged "worry wartness," this passage from the lesson appointed for today speaks volumes. Worrying weighs you down literally and figuratively, reducing the worrier to a puddle of muck. Those of you who are worriers know of what I speak! Hope is often the only lifeline for relief from the muck of worry.

In today's meditation for Forward Day by Day, Bishop Deon Johnson tells one of the best stories about Hope I might have ever heard. I have to share it for those of you who don't read Forward!

There is a fun story of an overly optimistic boy who wakes up on his birthday to find a pile of manure outside his bedroom window. He runs downstairs with a smile on his face, grabs a shovel, and starts whistling and digging. One of his friends asks, “What are you doing?” The boy looks up and says, “I’m sure there’s a pony in here somewhere!”

As I finish my morning meditation, I set out in search of that pony...more convinced than ever that I will find it even in a pile of manure. In the same way, we will see the Light in this season of darkness. The attached song Inscription of Hope is a fitting song for this morning.

Advent Blessings, my friends.

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining

And I believe in love, even when there's no one there

And I believe in God, even when He is silent

I believe through any trial, there is always a way

But sometimes in this suffering and hopeless despair

My heart cries for shelter, to know someones there

But a voice rises within me, saying 'hold on my child'

I'll give you strength I'll give you hope, just stay a little while

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining

And I believe in love, even when there's no one there

And I believe in God, even when he is silent

I believe through any trial, there is always a way

May there someday be sunshine

May there someday be happiness

May there someday be love

May there someday be peace

By Z. Randall Stroope