Hope for Now

​‘You are what gives me hope for the future,’ the anguished war photographer proclaimed to her teenage daughter, who had recently identified with her mum’s cause. The movie, A Thousand Times Good Night, relates the tale of the mother’s choice between her two passions – her dangerous work that gives hope to the lives of so many voiceless people – and her longsuffering family. This woman has the unenviable position of being fulfilled in both her work and family life, but having one seriously damage the other.

When we rest all of our hope in our achievements or our loved ones, we become vulnerable to disillusionment. Even those closest to us, may well disappoint us, being mere mortals. Our well-earned achievements can live on, being a source of blessing into the future, yet that sense of accomplishment will fade too. How to get the balance right is possibly the major achievement these days.

We need to find hope and joy in our current journey, ‘smelling the roses’ along the way. Appreciating the journey may require some humility in being honed as a person by the challenges. It will inevitably have its joys, setbacks and adjustments, but keep focussed and persevere. Aim for a fair balance for all parties concerned in 2018 – including you!

Something I love about the Uniting Church is its vision of being ‘the people of God on the way to the promised end.’ I appreciate the lack of pretence of having it all together, but instead, a willingness to journey together towards better outcomes. Whether or not you believe in the same ‘promised end’, I recommend employing the method.
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Let me know if you need encouragement on your journey. I’m here to help.