Can you imagine hope fulfilled? What about a place where hope is found? I think if we are honest with ourselves, hope in itself is more promising than having it be fulfilled. Am I right? One thing we know for certain about hope is that it will always be there. I guess you can say hope is hopeful of hope. It is human nature to hope but so is experiencing it fulfilled.
Now that I have said “hope” eight times (and now nine), why am I trying to cram this word in your head? It is because many of us, me included, feel hopeless most of the time, and yet we return to hope time after time.
I have always wanted to be liked by others. I wanted to be a successful athlete. I wanted to be smart. I desired for a loving marriage. I desired to be a dad. I wanted to know my dad as a white-haired man. But the reality is people liking me did not make me happy. My athleticism was contingent on age, genetics, and stage of life. My intelligence was not hinged on my grades. My marriage was self-centered. Reproduction was futile. And my dad – well he has passed away.
You see, for me, I was hopeful that these things would make me happy, fulfill me, and complete me, but the reality was that they were out of my control and fleeting. Sure, I can do my part, but either way none of them were satisfying even if they went the way I wanted. I felt complete once my hope shifted from my own efforts to Jesus.
At Christ Community Chapel, you can find this hope in various ways, but I invite you to experience it on December 6 at Remembrance and Hope where you can openly grieve the loss of loved ones while reflecting on the influence they had on your life. We also will be starting Advent during our weekend services in December.
We understand the hurt and pain that comes with this year because we have experienced it too. But know this – you do not have to stay in this hurt. It does not define you; you can give it to Jesus. He is the hope that seeks you out. You only need to be willing to be found. Will you?
Tom Chamberlin – Center for Care Director