Ten Reasons Why I Am Hopeful
1 Peter 3:15
Buddy
Summers, Christ Church Uniting,
Introduction
Presbyterian Frederick Buechner says, “If preachers decide to preach about hope, let them preach out of what they themselves hope for….let them talk…about their own reasons for hoping… reasons rooted deep in their own day by day experience.”
OK, this is my hope---“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth.” It is my desire and my expectation, not merely my wish. Here is a personal account of the hope if have---Ten Reasons Why I Am Hopeful.
Ten Reasons Why I Have Hope
Reasons # 10, 9, 8 and 7 have to do with the direction of change taking place in our culture, changes which I actively welcome because, in my mind, they have to do with God’s realm being realized in our midst.
Reason for Hope Number Ten
As
In previous years,
we contributed to the St. Anthony’s Food Pantry, fed Habitat for Humanity home
builders, collected items for the
In 2005, we provided Christmas gifts for every child and mother in every abuse shelter on Oahu, gave $10,000 in grants to two Windward helping the homeless programs, provided 1,500 children and adults with a Snow Day/play day holiday respite, supported work in Africa, and helped organize the Family Promise program taking a lead as a host congregation. All that in addition to the things we were already doing, some of which I’ve inadvertently neglected to mention.
Reason for Hope Number Nine
Estelle The marriage. But not just our relationship (which flourishes as it provides a crucible for mutual emotional and spiritual growth) but the many other family, partner, and friendship relationships I see in which there is safe space for shared adventure, the sharing of wisdom and support for one another’s Sabbath rest.
It is so good to see this, and it makes me glad to see signs that in the microcosm of our own church community, we are ready, willing and able to support families, partnerships and friendships of all shapes and sizes.
Reason for Hope Number Eight
Changing attitudes toward health, wholeness and healing. There is greater reliance upon self care and a recognition of the wisdom of time honored practices like yoga, massage, dance, meditation, energy work and even---something with which I was entirely unfamiliar until this year---the healing use of essential oils. And the healers are right here in our midst.
More of you are walking, paying attention to your eating, and controlling your blood pressure. There is increased support, from a variety of directions, for graceful aging. It seems wholesome to me that hospice gives us an option, when that time comes, to pass our remaining hours at home among friends rather than in a hospital surrounded by tubes and technicians.
Attention to wholeness and healing: reason for hope #8.
Reason for Hope Number Seven
The Live 8
Concerts. “Make Poverty History.” Sojourners Magazine. The Katrina Pledge.
A rise in accountability: reason for hope #7.
Reasons for Hope Numbers 6, 5 and 4 reside in you.
You Elders, you past seventy year olds. When you are so deeply grounded and your wisdom lets you be vulnerable but generous, how can I not be filled with hope?
You middle aged and young adults. When you give so freely of your talents and you learn so readily from each other, how can I not be filled with hope?
Look at the children and youth. They are filled with energy, curiosity and promise. How can I not be inspired and ready to believe that the kingdom resides within them?
The Elder, the Adults and the Children: reasons for hope, ## 6, 5, and 4.
Reason
for Hope Number 3
Our communion ritual. Within this ritual dance, as you come forward reaching out to one another, taking the bread and cup, I sense God’s presence in you, the flesh and blood Body of Christ.
In the presence of the Body, how can I not be full of hope? Real Presence: reason for hope #3.
Reason
for Hope Number 2
I am alive. As long as I live there is hope, and, it seems, as long as I have hope, there is life.
I am breathing: reason for hope #2.
The Number One Reason Why I Have Hope
I believe that God hopes in us, that God desires our well being and expects we will rise to the occasion.
God hopes, and is in hope: my number one reason for hope.
Hope is Not for Nothing
Hope knows there is yet work to do. Challenges remain, public as well as personal.
Apart from the three year war in Iraq (which is a challenge in a class all its own), I want to highlight three public episodes of the past year which remain open, which challenge me still, and to which hope invites my attention.
1
The 9.5 earthquake
near the
2
Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita, together with the
Fraud and abuse of the system aside, the national response of people of good will to this tragedy continues to be heartwarming. But profound systemic faults in the way we live and do business in our country have been exposed and need attention---and, of course, I don’t just mean the rebuilding of levees to withstand category five storms.
3
Just before Christmas the Senate passed a federal budget bill that (in the words of Sojourner’s Magazine) cuts “health care, child support, and educational assistance to low-income families while further lowering taxes for the wealthiest Americans and increasing the deficit for our grandchildren.”
The good news is
that because concerned citizens spoke out in such large numbers, Vice President
Cheney had to cut short his diplomatic trip to the Middle East and to return to
The House still has to act this month. I’ve called Representative Case’s office to request as humbly and forthrightly as I know how that he not support the Senate budget bill because of its impact upon those most in need of public care.
Conclusion
There remains work to be done yet I am filled with hope this year. There will be unforeseen obstacles and challenges and yet I have hope.
Maybe some of
these images of hope in the
And, if you find yourself somehow without hope at any given moment, do not despair. Others will hope for you, with you, and through you.
Together, and not alone. Together we will taste the kingdom coming to earth. Together we will experience God’s love in community. This is the way of faith, hope and love.
It will be a good year, a good year for all, a good year for all in hope.
New Year’s Blessings.
