JUST THINKING ... Hope
In these days of conferencing where many voices are being heard and many hearts are being lifted up, I believe we need a word of hope. Why hope, because as Emily Dickenson pens, hope never stops.
'Hope' is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops-at all-
And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-
I've heard it in the chillest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb-of Me.
Hope Is The Thing With Feathers - Emily Dickinson
There may be words said that hurt and cause great pain in the days ahead. There might be votes taken that don't fit our way of thinking or the desires of our hearts. We might see the work and prayer we have put into an important issue crushed by others both unintentionally and intentionally. The reality comes to us over and over again, people are different, diverse, unique, not of the same mind and yet each one a child of God.
I disagree with Emily Dickinson. There is one thing hope has asked of us, and that is to never give up. Never give up on hope; hang in there with it through the storms and pains. Believe in hope in the darkest of days and the coldest of nights. Keep hope alive because we are a people of the Cross and an Empty Tomb. We have seen the worst, and hope has come through. We are a people of the wind and flame, and, instead of being tossed and burned, we have been moved to ignite the world with God's mercy, grace, and love.
Keep hope alive, my sisters and brothers, and lift it high before your congregations. All this is is bigger than us, and God is still upon the throne of our hearts if we allow.
Hoping beyond hope,
Dana