As a young, first-time pastor, I thought that hope was positivity. I thought that hope was faith that was put into action. I thought that hope was something that you hung up during Advent proclaiming the good news that the Messiah is coming.
After years of pastoring, I’ve discovered hope is something that you hang onto with all your might. Something that you cling to in the midst of the most devastating times of life. Hope is faith that what we are currently experiencing is not the whole story and that the Divine is among moving and speaking. Hope is our biggest dreams and our deepest fears wrapped into one. Hope is what keeps us up at night and what wakes us in the morning light.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
Hope is sustaining me, holding me, and urging me to keep going.