My friend Big Adam shared this poem with me. His poem reminds me of this article from Henri Nouven about how hope so fundamentally differs from optimism. Nouven says “the person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands” and “hope is the trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom.” I also find this hope expressed in the verse of the long form of the Serenity Prayer which challenges us with “accepting hardships as the pathway to peace”.
Included in the Nouven article is this short reflection below about hope which I believe fits so nicely with what Adam’s poem expresses – Bruce M.
Hope is not wishing.
Hope is not wanting…
Hope is a choice.
It is CHOOSING TO Trust in the Mysterious Presence
we know by oh so many different names.
Hope is Trusting that the Divine, Mysterious Presence is Good and it is Love
and that it imbues all of creation all of the time.
and Hope is Trusting that Divine Presence is there in the good times
and in the times that we are suffering….
Hope is trusting in the Ultimate Goodness of the Divine and
that is what we call Faith.
Holding Hope Close By Adam M.
