hope is...

Hope is a such a precarious thing.

It depends on so much. It is birthed in expectation of something more. For something better. For something good. Hope requires risk. Hope requires effort. Hope often requires the experience of pain. Hope unfulfilled will leave you sick and heartbroken.

It is often conceived by the intangible imagination. It is the beginning, the very foundation and stuff that dreams are made of. And I'm afraid, it is one of the greatest of all things. For without hope, we die. Without hope we have no reason to live. Or at least life becomes meaningless, empty, dry.

I find hope in the small things. The meeting of eyes with a child who passes me by. A sweet smelling flower, although it's gone in the mere passing of hours. I find hope in a hand written letter from a far away place, and a dear friend as the sender. I find hope in a new song, telling the old expression of love, over and over again. I find hope in the rising and falling climax of a personal story. I find hope in a friend's forgiveness, when I've been stupid and blown it and can't seem to get it right.

But all these things are only glimpses of something much greater. Something that lasts, something that cannot and will not disappoint. When all else fails, when the things I've found hope in have long passed, have lost their wonder and faded into the background. When those dreams have been dashed and broken into pieces that won't repair... there is still something that will not let me down.

It's unfailing love. This is where Hope is Alive.

It's a love that gives when I cannot give back. And 'gives' is an understatement. It gives unto death and a horrible, ugly death at that. It's a love that is not dependent on me and what I do, it's a love that just is. It's waiting for me at all times. It only needs to be recognized. The Giver and Source of this love wants to be seen. This Giver will never disappoint. The Giver of hope beyond all hope is Jesus.

...Over the summer I was browsing the internet, or rather I was browsing the website of Compassion International... It didn't take long before I found the picture of child, whose name was written in the description as "Naomi from Kenya"...

You see for several years now I've wanted to go to Kenya...I've dreamed of doing some heroic thing. Maybe working with orphans. Maybe helping women start businesses through micro-loans. (These dreams are pregnant with hope and bringing hope to others!!) When I saw this picture of this 8-year-old darling with whom I share the same name, I was immediately bursting with love. Hope was in her eyes. I gave in (with not even a hint of reluctance...) and now we both share the hope of one day meeting each other. While I know I will probably fail her in some way... I at least hope to bring her more hope and point her in the direction of the Hope that is and always will be alive...

Hope lives!