Hope

Hope is something I hold onto daily. Its my favorite virtue, and I think it always has been. The Holman Bible Dictionary says that hope is "the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future."This is so very true. I couldn't think of a better way to describe it.

I do all my best thinking in the car, and something I thought about in the 45 minute car ride home was hope. More specifically, things that give me hope. I thought of it because on my way into town this morning, I witnessed something that gave me hope, in things to come, in other people. A woman had pulled over on the side of the road, her car in smoke. She was probably 10 or so cars in front of me, and I didn't notice this until I saw something that made me believe in other people, in hope for us all. As the multitude of seemingly angry, rushed drivers on their way to work flew past her, a sedan pulled behind her. A man got out, and helped the woman out. He was in a suit, so my guess is he was on to work as well, and had "better" things to do. But he still stopped and I could tell he was offering any help he could. I continued on, but witnessing that act got me thinking of hope, today.

Specifically, I thought of what gives me hope. I knew that I would eventually blog about this, and I decided, since I am in a listing mood, I will list the things fresh in my mind that give me hope every day.

1. People offering random acts of kindness to other strangers, especially when they truly go out of their way to do so.

2. The never failing act of forgiveness.

3. Unconditional love of a parent, of a brother, a sister, a friend, no matter the situation.

4. The little conversations with a girl that I am interested in, that seem to make my day.

5. Seeing a loved one excel at something they truly love.

6. Witnessing relationships around me that are built upon what is important, instead of what is common in relationships these days.

7. Humility in the midst of arrogance.

8. People who have no reason to believe, who have overstretched every muscle of faith they have, and yet continue to have unflinching faith.

These are just a few things that give me hope every day. Hope for good things to come. Hope for a brighter tomorrow.

I end this with a quote about hope from one of my favorite movies, A Knight's Tale. It is simple, but its really beautiful in the context of the movie.

"Hope guides me, it is what gets me through the day and especially the night."

I pray that we all can let hope guide us through our days and nights.