Hope

I've always been in love with the idea of Hope
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor. 13:13)
I know it says Love is the greatest.
But Hope
Is among the three greatest
I just can't imagine anything having any purpose without Hope
You know what I mean?
In everything, there is Hope
In a basketball game, there is hope that the other team will have a flaw, that your own teammates will hit a fluke and play really good, that the ref will be on your side
And none of these things can be counted on, none can be mapped out
But all these things will make you play better, give you more purpose
There is hope in a business endeavor, that the CEO's hearing your idea will be having a good idea and that they will be kind, that they will see what you're trying to say, in the way that you're meaning to say it.
Now, again, none of these are really "scientific" things, none can really be expectations
But they give a light-heartedness, a sense of well being that preparation can never give
I think that is my favorite bit about Hope
There's no explanation for it, it just is
And, of course, it is made sweeter because it is not compulsory
It's voluntary
You don't HAVE to be hopeful
But as with anything else that is as potent, the option makes the choice sweeter yet more difficult to make
Take love
If Love was compulsory, and sometimes it it, it wouldn't exist
Love is intentionally looking past people's faults, ignoring their annoying factors and looking out for their UTTER well being, no matter what they or anyone else says
If it were forced, we would do it like robots, to check our names off a list
But it isn't
And that's why it is such a great force, so powerful a thing
Hope is like that
You can choose to look past today's rain-clouds to see tomorrow's sun
And no, it is not the same sun that rose today
It is always a new one, always different, ready to shine down on new circumstances, and a new day
Doesn't that just sound, great?
Hopeful?
You could say " John, you are way too optimistic. Life is a lot more grim than sunshine and butterflies. Grow up."
But I would reply this
Why, with all the obvious terror, fear and despair, roll around in the muck of the world?
Why focus on the terrible?
It's not changing
So why think about it?
Why not, instead of being "realistic" and worrying about things you cannot change, look at what could be?
And I'm not talking unrealistic, foolish, pipedreams that are never going to happen
But I'm talking
A promotion at work
A glance from your lover
A letter from your friend across the world
A skype call from your parents
An A on your heartfelt, but poorly defended final paper
None are certain
None can be planned
But they all can happen
And things like these happen all the time, to people all over the world, in all different walks of life and social statuses
And it's good
Hope is like God's gift to a hurting world
He may have banished us from His presence, because of our brokenness, and taken eternal life from us
But He left us Hope
In the form of Joshua Messiah
That's the literal Hebrew
Just a regular guy, albeit of divine birth, without special facial features or big biceps
Just a guy who Hoped
Hoped for his return to his father's side
And for the reunion, someday, between humans and his Dad
And with this life that he lived, the death that he died, and the resurrection that he achieved
He obtained Hope for all people to come after him
A Hope of rebirth, renewal, and an unending life in paradise in the presence of the All-Everything God and Father
So when life is getting you into a rut, when Satan is playing his cards real well in your life
Hope
:)
Simplicity is beautiful, aye?
Just think about tomorrow
And if tomorrow holds nothing, think about next week
or next month
You see what I mean?
It isn't easy
But, heck, it is so worth it :)

ALWAYS Hope, Love Regardless and Peace Out
                                                                                           JH