Steve Bogner on Hope

Read it.

Why?

He understands. He expresses his understanding beautifully.

His restraint underscores his message: Hope carries us all.

Hope emerging from God bears us through.

Take a look:

Advent is the season of hope. We count down the weeks and the days until Christmas. We read scriptures that announce the arrival of the Messiah, the one who will be God Among Us. It’s all focused on how the ages have looked forward to – have hoped for – the coming of Christ, the Incarnation.

And what do we really have at all, if not hope?

Looking around, I can see all the human-ness of drudgery, expectations, duty, routine, weariness, brokenness, healing, triumph and persistence. We go through these things every day, and we keep coming back for more - even when it’s painful, when we are fairly sure we will be disappointed, again. There are times when we feel like giving up, when we just don’t want to try any more, but most people, most of the time, keep on going. And I blame that on hope.

Now go read the rest.

Hope.
Our assurance he comes through for us,
while the world laughs and laughs.

Hope,
Our last restraint
from the screaming nihilism all around.

Hope,
our foretaste of eternity
in the midst of Love and ruin.

Hope.
God's whispered encouragement
through the witness of his saints among us.