'Freedays' are the 'gather our thoughts' days;
Q&As; a general review of the week so far…
This
coming Sunday is the first in Advent, the period of recognition of the birth of
Jesus Christ. The announcement of the imminent arrival of the Messiah to the
Eastern Magi and the Shepherds (and by default, all followers of Christ through
to the modern age) generated HOPE. This is signified in the first candle of the
Advent crown many households will light this weekend.
Hope
is not merely wishful thinking. To say that one hopes for something, but with
only a hankering in the heart rather than an anchored ideal is to be wishing.
Hope is strong. It is affirmative. It lifts the inner being of those who have
found something to which they can attach some degree of trust and anticipation
for an improvement upon whatever circumstance prevails currently. In times of
great sorrow, those with hope in their hearts will suffer less. Those with hope
will have a solid goal or ideal to which they can turn their eyes, hearts and
minds in the times when they are not preoccupied with acting in life. Indeed,
hope will inform their actions, for such actions will surely be for the
furtherance of the hopeful one and will contain the hope in their completion.
Hope
heals. Hope is a prayer. Hope encourages. Hope motivates. Hope ensures one foot
is put in front of another and urges us to keep on keeping on. If the goal is
our anchor, hope is the chain which ties us to it. Hope presides where faith
fails. When all is let loose in the world, hope remains.
Take
time this week to contemplate...