I Hope

I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.
I hope.

Ellis Boy "Red" Redding

 If we spend any time these days keeping up with whats going on in the world, no one would blame us if we had a hard time mustering up any hope.  Racism, religious persecution, terrorism, nuclear war, class and economic inequality, the rise of the 'nones', the continued assault on our religious freedom...just a few of the topics that blend together to paint a picture of doom and gloom in our Post-Christian world of today.

Against this backdrop where do we as believers find hope to carry on?


 The quote above is from the movie "The Shawshank Redemption,"  one of the greatest movies of all time, in my humble opinion.  For those not familiar with the film Red, whose thoughts we glimpse in the quote above, is on parole from prison. As a young man he murdered someone, and has payed his debt to society, finally gaining his freedom as an old man.  Through 50+ years of  incarceration he endures continuous barbarian treatment, physiological torture and inhumane management, watching as friends are punished for seeking truth and trying to be kind and helpful to others.  Upon his release he is finding it difficult to live outside the prison walls.  His prison experiences have drained him of hope, as it would for any one of us.  His is enslaved to his fear and he lacks the courage to carry on.  Then he finds a letter from an old friend that reminds him of one important truth...

Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies
Andy Dufresne

 Red's story is similar to ours, to mine.  If we allow it to, the world will consume our hope and feed on our fears, as we endure the continuous bombardment of all things low and base, beneath our dignity as children of God.  This is where we should place our Hope - in our loving Father, who calls us His children, sanctifies us as members of His family, fortifies us with His strength and, if we listen intently, guides our footsteps around the landmines of this world as He leads us to His banquet table.

If we follow Him along this path He does not promise comfort, or ease, or certainty or a road well traveled - no, as the cross of Jesus clearly illustrates, the way will involve suffering and disappointment.  But the freedom found in breaking through our fears and basking in His light brings true freedom and a peace unsurpassed in this life.

I have tasted this peace, this freedom, and recognize it in Reds words, and in the song below - it is a longing for the things of God, and it breaks the chains of fear and finds life in the Hope promised to us as children of God...

May we know this freedom, and may it fill our hearts with hope...