Hope is...

Where is hope?

as pandemic circles us,

burgles our confidence and shatters

our sense of what matters?

as we shop solo, only go out once a day

and cancel every to-and-fro plan we made?

as the news becomes numbers and we stumble

towards a numb understanding of

the way our world is toppling…?

Hope is found in togetherness – the blessing of belonging,

the silent songs of promise that we one day will be united.

Delighted in each other’s smiles and hugs,

tugged towards each other – smothered by love.

What is hope?

as conspiracy creates a whirlpool of fear

or near-crippling dread

that every turn is a dead end

as the strain of change and rearrangement

exposes the flaws in the causes and sources of society’s certainties

with so many left lonely and homeless and broken, choked by a system that seems to so often prefer profit to people…?

Hope is justice – interrupting and disrupting the symphony of indignity as so many are muscled to the margins;

And about peace – bringing the stillness of acceptance and a chance to dance in fearless ease.

Joyous in each other’s presence – smothered by love.

Why bother with hope?

as division and hard-nosed decisions,

the blinkered narrow-thinkers

splinter the boards

on the stage of our future

as discrimination is justified,

prejudice and bigotry intensified,

and dishonesty denied

with hearts breaking, souls aching,

and the world shaking…?

Hope is worth chasing,

embracing and raising.

There is too much to lose

Too many confused and lost without hope.

Too many abused, adrift and alone,

with fingers and hearts worn down to the bone.

For welcome for us and all others – and the chance to be smothered by love.

Who is hope?

And who does he think he is?

Offering abstract abundance,

Standing just beyond reach,

in a blazing row with reality

An elusive myth – a city of gold?

Or some witty and ironic

chit-chat from a standup comic?

Where does hope get off,

Offering us a pint of optimism,

A pretty tune to distract us

from the cataract of cascading chaos!

What is it with hope?!

If we grope around, can we grab him?

Or will he slip through our fingers like wet soap?

No! Hope is not some half-formed fickle dream. Hope is me. And you.

Wherever doing right is given top billing

(even over being right)

this is where we should be…

as the flag-waving, card-carrying,

living beacons of hope,

who can share the key to the doors of freedom

and a place where all can be smothered by love

How does hope work?

as the tragedy of world trauma

merges with the day-to-day

the despair takes on an air of the ordinary,

loss leaches life from us

but there is an answer,

a life in all its fulness

a life beyond empty optimism

a life that offers answers,

holds the lonely hand, the broken heart,

brings joy unmatched and unstoppered

and this hope works

never shirk, knows no fear and is

always here

in comfort, justice, togetherness, peace.

In me and you.

When is hope?

As our strength weaves and waves,

comes and goes in tides of the everyday,

as an uncertain world curls its tendrils

around our vulnerable souls…

Hope is now.

A light so bright

A city of refuge

The greatness of a personal peace,

provided by a prince,

the wonderful freedom of guilt lifted

the wisdom of compassionate counsel,

the ultimate fatherhood of kindness and welcome

the mighty power of justice

This is hope with us

A person – Jesus

The complete hope:

God with us

The where and what,

the why and who,

the how and when of hope

Just Jesus.