I want to first thank everyone who reads these blogs and takes
the time to email me, call me, and speak to me in person about them. I
had no idea they were read by so many, and I'm honored that people take
the time to sit down and read my thoughts. Now I feel so much pressure!
Kidding.... I don't.
Here we are again: the beautiful season of Advent; Christmastime; the season of Hope, Life, and Joy. I have been looking forward to it for weeks, and have been thinking about this blog just as long. Last year, I wrote about the reality that, although one door may slam in our face, another will open eventually. I acknowledged that these two events may not (and mostly do not ever) occur in a smooth and steady progression from one day to the next. Usually, we have to endure a period of sorrow and pain while we wait for the sun to rise again.
As we enter Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year, it's a good time to stand back and evaluate where and who you are right now. It is difficult to accept that we have to be completely determined to change our own lives. The work and dedication involved in becoming a better human being is overwhelming, and I believe this is why so many people settle into being stunted caricatures of who they have the potential to become. You can believe all day long in becoming a better person and helping others, or embracing wisdom and hope, etc, but until you actually put those beliefs into practice, they are meaningless. A.W. Tozer wrote, "...if you do not believe something to the extent that you appropriate it in your life, do you really believe it?"
So, back to Hope. Advent, the season of Hope, presents unique challenges to the ailing soul. Proverbs 13:12 comes to mind: Hope deferred makes the heart sick. The aching heart understands the impact and truth of these words very well. But, I circle back to the words of Hemingway (who I love more and more): "It is silly not to hope." It's so hard though, to actually, truly HOPE when our days are filled with stress, fear, pain, and longing. But there is a way to truly believe in Hope, and thus, experience it.
Where there is Hope, there is Love. One way to practice the act of hoping is to practice the act of loving.
And there we have it:
Here we are again: the beautiful season of Advent; Christmastime; the season of Hope, Life, and Joy. I have been looking forward to it for weeks, and have been thinking about this blog just as long. Last year, I wrote about the reality that, although one door may slam in our face, another will open eventually. I acknowledged that these two events may not (and mostly do not ever) occur in a smooth and steady progression from one day to the next. Usually, we have to endure a period of sorrow and pain while we wait for the sun to rise again.
As we enter Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year, it's a good time to stand back and evaluate where and who you are right now. It is difficult to accept that we have to be completely determined to change our own lives. The work and dedication involved in becoming a better human being is overwhelming, and I believe this is why so many people settle into being stunted caricatures of who they have the potential to become. You can believe all day long in becoming a better person and helping others, or embracing wisdom and hope, etc, but until you actually put those beliefs into practice, they are meaningless. A.W. Tozer wrote, "...if you do not believe something to the extent that you appropriate it in your life, do you really believe it?"
So, back to Hope. Advent, the season of Hope, presents unique challenges to the ailing soul. Proverbs 13:12 comes to mind: Hope deferred makes the heart sick. The aching heart understands the impact and truth of these words very well. But, I circle back to the words of Hemingway (who I love more and more): "It is silly not to hope." It's so hard though, to actually, truly HOPE when our days are filled with stress, fear, pain, and longing. But there is a way to truly believe in Hope, and thus, experience it.
Where there is Hope, there is Love. One way to practice the act of hoping is to practice the act of loving.
And there we have it:
This
Christmas, if you wish to experience Hope in a real way, one
thing I can tell you is that if you practice acts of Love, you will be a
few steps closer to feeling the peace of Hope in your life. You will
not meet one person who does not need to experience love in some way. If
you put yourself out there, and show love to others, you will see that,
at the end of each day, you've experienced new Hope.
May everyone find true joy this season. And may new Hope surround you in a new way which will carry you through the upcoming year.
