Hope: A Brief Reflection

Denise and I took a walk in our new neighborhood yesterday. We were on a break from unpacking and continuing the slow process of moving from the apartment we have been renting for the past two years to our home. Each time we walk in the new neighborhood, we see so many beautiful and wonderful things. There are so many examples of faith, hope, and love that my soul sorely needs to see and experience.

The Indian Hawthorn above spoke to me of the tenacity of hope in times of crisis and division. The “Love Is Inclusion” sign reminds me of the stubborn strength of love, rooted and grounded in faith. Such a faith does not give up when the storm clouds of insanity arise in the social and political landscape.

For years I have lived with moderate depression and anxiety. Far too often this can lead to hopelessness, anger, and fear. Social media and the 24-hour “news” cycle too often fuel these feelings within my heart and soul. If I allow myself to sink into the depths of despair, I end up having little to offer to myself, my family, and others as a Christ-follower. God knows that another way needs to be actively engaged as an alternative to the ugliness of christian nationalism that continues its rise in this nation.

This short, yet powerful quote from the late Father Daniel Berrigan, a Jesuit priest and peace activist, offers us a way to be the difference in this world. The gift we can offer others is so simple a thing as hope.—Daniel Berrigan (1988) (Daniel Berrigan: Poetry, Drama, Prose)

Perhaps, dear reader, we can offer this gift of hope and make a difference in this world.