Without Hope, What is Left?
My hope is in my Abba. However, being a mere human becoming, I still have moments of indecision, insecurity, and insomnia.
Don't we all?
This all started when I found Ashton, Becker, Dente's "Along the Road" on youtube.com. As usual, it was found when I was looking for something else.
If you are going "Huh?" about the previous paragraph, bear with me.
The album/CD named above was released in 1994. It combined the talents of three the best known ladies from Contemporary Christian Music of that time: Susan, Ashton, Margaret Becker, and Christine Denté.
The album was produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick who wrote the song that started all of this: "Song of Reconciliation."
If you checkout their page on wikipedia, you will see a boatload of the best talent in entertainment at that time involved in this album. The album was released by Sparrow and is still available on youtube.com (obviously) as well as through various vendors online.
As I started listening to these "dear friends from my past," I realized just how uplifting these three were and are together. But, hearing "Song of Reconciliation" again just blew me away.
Before we go any further, I think everyone need's the opportunity to hear this song:
Uplifting, isn't it?
Did you happen to notice the three parts to the song? Faith, hope, and love? Each one are very nice to have, but to have all three? Wowza!
Everyone knows the verse 1 Corinthians 13;13 right?
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." English Standard Version
While I am not now, nor would I ever try to lessen or negate the power and importance of faith and love, I do believe that hope is in short supply these days. Or, at least, it certainly seems that way.
Look at the rise in suicides.
Look at the protests and riots.
Look at the destruction of property and businesses.
Look at the hatred spewed on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook every day, all day.
I truly believe the missing ingredient at this time is hope. I still see signs of love. I still see signs of faith. But, hope? Not so much.
I am a fan of the saying "Plan for the worst, hope for the best."
I have found that, even with me, that is becoming more challenging day-by-day.
And, I don't like that. Not at ALL!
Abba equips us to deal with things like this. We often forget that. We have His amazing book, the Bible. It contains how-to's, training, words, examples, and so much more.
But, unless we make the effort to actually use it, what good does His Word do us?
Well, there it is right there: it's up to us. We have to make an effort. We have to reach out. We have to hope!
Believe it or not, it is a choice. On our part. And, only we can make it.
It's like waking up in the morning and finding yourself mad at the world. No reason. Just ready to knock the snot out of someone; anyone.
Right?
You've been there, too, so don't even try to deny.
As silly as it sounds, the first step is plastering a smile on your face. Then convincing that smile to travel as far south as your heart.
Pretty soon, that smile is genuine and we are in love with the world again.
It may still be dark as night outside, but if we have the Light of Hope in our hearts, we can become a light for those around us.
Wouldn't that be awesome? Don't believe for a New York minute that you have not already done that or been that. Multiple times, in fact.
So, why stop not.
I say, let's not. We can do this. We can be the beginning of change starting with ourselves and sharing it with those around us.
Just remember, fire starts with the tiniest spark. We can do this. YOU can do this.
And, just watch and see -- pretty soon, there will be an increase around us of faith, hope, and love.
The world will look cleaner, brighter, and lots friendlier.
Don't you want that? I do. So, who is onboard with me?
