Hope....

Here we go again,

who are you O Lord,

and who am I?

Can words contain you,

as we enter into this season of hope,

filled with anticipation…

lights are going up on my neighbours homes,

and I am resisting,

I am not ready for lights,

yesterday I sat at the side of a dying woman,

whose story holds many stories,

whose faith was strong,

and who had hope,

has hope still….

but what are we hoping for?

Something to follow this earthly existence,

or that this earthly existence might be filled with meaning…

+

Where is our hope?

+

Israel hoped for a Messiah,

but couldn’t see him,

God’s ways too strange, too gentle, and too challenging,

No armour required, no uprising except for the uprising of hearts,

hearts set on peace, justice and mercy,

I think that’s why we miss him still…

+

Where is our hope?

+

We prepare for the babe in the manger,

and go on to make him a king, but he was never a worldly king,

and the kingdom he points to is un-boundaried, inclusive and filled with love…

too often we prefer to build ramparts to keep “the others” out…

+

Where is our hope?

+

I hear the call to justice, to mercy, peace and love,

and I long to live into it,

but I don’t know how,

I haven’t the courage for the grand gesture,

and I don’t know what it should be…

+

Where is my hope?

+

I will pour out my heart, and perhaps

at last at the end of my anguish

at the drying up of my questions,

at the bottom of my self criticism and doubt

I will hear you again…

+

Where is my hope?

+

I am known,

I am loved,

I am included,

even celebrated….

and I am held

blessed to be a blessing,

to go,

to share,

to live in hope…

+

All shall be well,

and all shall be well

and all manner of things shall be well

+

This is my hope…