December 23, 2024 Weekly Update
Yesterday we reflected on the way Mary and Joseph expressed hope in their lives. Mary proclaimed hope. Joseph acted with hope. Both of them trusted God with radical determination. Their lives remind us that hope is strong and resilient, and when we practice hope like a spiritual practice – over and over again trusting that God is working through it – hope will help us experience and share God’s love with others.
Remember that hope is so different from optimism. As Dana McKibben writes, “Optimism relies on external circumstances lining up in a certain way.” But hope is different. Hope believes that God is at work in the world. Hope helps us be resilient enough to take risks that don’t seem logical or possible. Hope dreams of the future as God desires it to be. When we love others, hope is worth the risk.
The following poem is a beautiful visualization of what hope can look like in our world. Ponder these words as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas Eve.
Advent Blessings,
Pastor Jared