A Thrill of Hope

 Bleak and getting bleaker (if that’s even a word).

The condition of my friend’s mother was getting worse and worse by the day.  She could not eat and her mind seemed to be fading fast.  Every call from home brought only more bad news.  As he was preparing to drive back home again to see her for what he feared would be the final time, another call came from his brother.  He dropped his head and stared at the phone, imagining the worst news would follow the moment he answered it.  He hit “accept”, walked down the hall and said “Mornin’, bro. How’s mom?”

A few minutes later my friend runs back to me.  His eyes full of tears and his voice trembling, but with a look of joy.  He struggled to find the words but said, “Kevin…they say mom is going to be OK.  She’s had some undiagnosed virus or something that they can easily treat now. She’ll need some time to recover, but she’s going to live!”

A thrill of hope.

A Season of Reflection

Hopefully, this doesn’t come as a shock to you, but…Jesus’ birthday isn’t December 25.  That’s OK, though.  That the date was selected a couple thousand years ago in an attempt to replace pagan celebrations held at the same time shouldn’t be that important to you today.  The point is that He had a birthday at all. 

So, the season traditionally set aside to remember the birth of "the one who was to reconcile man to God" seems like an appropriate time to reflect.  Reflect on who we are, where we are in our journey, and what our relationship is with the Savior of the World.

The last couple of years we have all been bombarded with images, slogans and experiences purposed to bring about fear, isolation and hopelessness.  Waging our own war against these enemies can leave us weary.  All the more reason to take time to contemplate on the condition of our soul and our spiritual health. 

This assault we’ve seen on mankind is certainly something we can’t ignore as we ponder the questions of who we are and where we are.  Of course, also in the blend will be the circumstances of our own specific situation: uncertain futures, the constant of change, family, health, relationships, etc. 

Our daily struggles, especially when viewed alongside the state of the world, can mount up against us.  Setting aside time to re-establish our foundation and recover our vision can help put our lives and our circumstances back in proper perspective. Our outlook on our lives and ourselves will depend greatly upon what we choose to focus.  Having the discipline of focus is much easier when we know who we truly are in the first place. 

From a practical standpoint, remember that you are important.  You are here for a purpose.  Even if you aren’t really sure what that purpose is, don’t give up on it.  Keep seeking.  

Know that everybody (not just you) is fighting a battle nobody else may know about.  You are not alone in your fight or in your fighting.  Don’t believe the lie that you are on your own.  Look for the victory when the battle is all you see.  Remembering who you are in the middle of the fight can be the thrill of hope you need to reset your vision and refresh your courage.

This season is also a time to reflect on where we are in relation to Jesus.  Not where we are in relation to the church (good or bad) or our past (good or bad).  He’s strong enough and compassionate enough to love you where you are.  For the believer or unbeliever, Jesus’ love can’t be swayed by our doubts, our failures, or even our dismissal of Him.  Unconditional love is the essence of a thrill of hope.

You Never Know

I’ve found that one of the best ways to find hope in my own life is to try to help direct others towards it in theirs.  This is something I need to remember and practice much more often.

A thrill of hope can shine into someone’s life in many (some even unexpected) ways.  An intentional and sincere word of encouragement, for example, can be a way to bring hope to someone who we know is in need of it. 

Being used as a messenger of hope when we don’t even realize it can be just as important.  I had a friend tell me about a conversation we had 20 years ago and that it changed his life.  I have no recollection of that conversation at all and, quite frankly, when he reminded me of it, it didn’t seem all that important to me.  However, it was meaningful to him and brought hope to him at a time when he needed it.  That is what matters.  That I couldn’t “take a bow” for it is all the better.

Forgiving when it may not seem deserving, or loving when someone isn’t easy to love are rare and heroic ways to deliver hope.  And the undeserving and the unlovable are in as much need for a thrill of hope as anyone (and haven’t we all been the "undeserving" and the "unlovable" at some point our own selves).

Hope springs from the simple things, too.  A smile.  A hug.  An “I love you” or an “I believe in you”.  All are keys that can unlock hope in another. 

I believe these things are true all the time, but especially so this time of year.  People do reflect a lot during the holidays.  Sometimes those reflections veer down a dark road and can get us stuck in a ditch of hurt, comparison, or disappointment.  By purposefully being more open and outward-focused in our hearts we can sense who, when, and how someone in our lives may need a little hope and encouragement.

My heart is that you know how important and how loved you are during the holidays and the year through. And also, that you will see and share the Love, the Peace and the Hope of the Christmas season.

Thank you to The Wife.  She is the greatest source of hope to me that I know in this world.