Hope and courage

Recently, at a formation program, we were led in a guided meditation on the virtues of faith, hope, love, justice, wisdom, courage. I felt led to focus on two: hope and courage. In prayer, I asked the Lord to show me what hope might mean in concrete circumstances of life. I have always been a realistic person, who does not want to be over optimistic; preferring to be in the know about the different possibilities. Does that mean that I am not 'hopeful'? The opposite of hope is despair, and I know that my realism has never led to despair. It has led to sadness and to grieving but never have I lost hope in God. It became clear then to me that we can wish for many things and even hope for them to come about, but in the final analysis our hope is in God, in a Person who relates to us out of his lovingkindness (hesed). To grow in hope is to grow in a relationship of trust in the Lord, whether we see clearly or not and whether the things we hope for materialize as we would like them to. I am grateful that I am growing in hope, even though I am not the 'think positive' breezy, laid back type of person.

Courage was something I was surprised to be drawn to. I have thought that being an introvert, I might not be as courageous in certain things as are extroverts. Yet, as I stayed with my desire for courage, it became clear that the Lord was asking me to be courageous in 'being myself', in embracing my spiritual journey as a unique one, not having to 'defend' my spiritual path to those who are walking a different one. I realized that I have often lacked courage in this - worrying about how I measure up to the views of other evangelical Christians. I do need courage - not so much to do great and spectacular things for the Lord, but to accept the unique path he leads me.

Today at the evening service I was reminded that this is already the fifth week of Lent. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. We were reminded by the preacher that Jesus did not fit into the expectations of a Messiah for his people. His popularity turned once the fickle crowds realized he was not going to overthrow the Roman powers by violence. I can see how Jesus 'hoped' in his Father, not in the crowd's adulation. His courage involved enduring the Cross, rather than conquering with violence.