Hope

 

Helen Wright writes: 

During these uncertain times we want to “hope for the best”, hope that we or our loved ones don’t catch the covid virus, hope the national economy survives, hope the death rate falls.

Does God have a different perspective? Saint Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15 v 13)

Kate McIlhagga, a member of The Iona Community speaks about hope in words I love and can understand in her reflection DANDELION CLOCK.

Hope is a dark elusive child

curled in the womb;

cradled in our arms.

It can be lost,

disappear,

blown on the wind like a dandelion clock.

Its going,

its ebbing away

leaves us

grieving,

empty,

hopeless.

                                                     [But is a hopeful word.]

But,

even as the gossamer

powder-puff

disintegrates,

the seeds are carried

to cling to distant crevices.

As it recedes

it re-seeds

to grow again.

God, giver of peace,

grow hope within and around us.

God of steadfast love,

Never leave us hopeless.