Sensing Hope

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alive, Carl Sagan, energy, hope, Howard Thurman, test of faith, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

With all the “bad news” (inconceivable, really) of what has been revealed during this past week in our country, one would think that faith of any goodness would be hard to find…and yet…and yet: I received a text – a beautiful, colorfully crafted image of dancers—shadowy figures swirling around each other with the words, Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. (Carl Sagan). In the same hour I came across a quote from civil rights leader, Howard Thurman, whose theology of radical non-violence was a key influence on civil rights workers in the 20th century. Thurman’s advice was the following:

Don’t ask what the world needs; ask what makes you come alive and go do it because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

It will be a test of faith, I think, to believe in those two short quotes enough to get through this day but I need something to move me to prayer and useful work so I will summon all my energy and move into this day with hope. I invite you to join me.

Post Script

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Capitol, cynicism, disregard, heart, heart of the Divine, hope, lovingkindness, selfishness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unity

Don’t get me wrong about yesterday’s post. I am not advocating a dismissal of the horrific damage done to the revered symbols of our democracy at the Capitol in Washington and the rage that precipitated the damage yesterday. I am simply suggesting that we dig deep into ourselves and our culture for what and who drove the participants to such violence. There is a cancer in our midst, much more virulent than the Coronavirus that is killing so many of our citizens every day. The disregard of those who refuse the precautions like wearing masks, social distancing, etc. is an indication of how lax citizens have become, how little some people care for the common good. Rather, we are now living in an attitudinal shift to what feels good for me and what I can get—rather than what I can give. Even as I write that I cringe while thinking of all the magnificent people and groups who have formed my attitudes of generosity and willingness to spend ourselves in doing good.

How have we come so far that we cannot stop the waves of cynicism and selfishness that invade our privileged status as “the greatest country on earth?” We need a taste of humility to shake us into wakefulness. We need an infusion of lovingkindness that will bring us back to care for the poorest among us. We need the example of the great ones who have gone before us, those caring folk who may have little to give but give it anyway, those whose love shines out with confidence that others will see and hear for the good of all.

We are bereft because the virus keeps us from physical contact. Can our works and words touch those hearts that long for connection? Can our eyes speak what our hearts are longing to say? Can a look of love wash over someone who is starving for companionship? Can a sweet song be a balm for someone else’s pain? What can we do to break through the walls of distress, the rivers of frustration, the towers of neglect? When we cannot love the sin, are we at least able to make an attempt to love the sinner?

Although all this may seem just platitude, it is truly the desire of my heart for us as individuals to live in wakefulness, as communities to live in solidarity and as world community to live in hope—for a unity that surpasses all division so as to lead us deep into the heart of the Divine.

Evidence

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clear the way, hope, Isaiah, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

My brother in California let me know yesterday that our smallish city of Binghamton, NY made the national news because 41 to 44 inches of snow had accumulated on our properties – depending on our location – airport, valley or downtown. The only “moving parts” that I knew about around here all day and into the night were a few courageous birds, the highway crews and our own Sister Susan who plowed, blew (with the snowblower, I mean) and shoveled a path from our garage to the road, just in case we needed a way to exit the property because of an emergency. For the rest, all was still and unmoving.

Susan’s efforts reminded me of the call of the prophet Isaiah (40:3) to “clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness. Make smooth a highway for our God!” Perhaps you think my comparison a stretch but if you have ever tackled that amount of snow, especially with a stiff wind, a temperature of 18 degrees (F) and the dark of night, you might agree that it is fair. It certainly gives me pause and fuels my desire to regroup each morning my energy for finding the Christ life that exists inside me regardless of the darkness around me.

We’re almost there. A new day is certainly coming. We have not one but two vaccines to fight the virus that plagues us. We have a new governmental administration that will be place in less than a month and – most importantly – we have our hope in the One who longs for us and whom we trust. Our Scriptures call out today with vigor saying, “Come and with outstretched arms redeem us!” What is your response?

Complexity

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Advent, hope, potential, signs, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

After a first reading from the Book of Revelation today, my ears pricked up and my insides were warning: “Uh-oh!” because the “one like a son of man with a sharp sickle in his hand” was coming. I felt a shift, however, with Psalm 96, exhaling a long breath to hear that “He (the Lord) has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity.”

I know that we are coming swiftly into the season of Advent. I love this time of preparation and although it seems that it will be different this year, there have been intimations of hope. There are three vaccines now that seem to have the potential to slow the spread of the virus that runs rampant everywhere. For Americans in the USA, the 16-day stranglehold on the presidential election is finally over and we need not wait any longer for the transition to begin. Already in the first day, we can see civility and wisdom returning to life in these United States. But it is only a beginning. What has begun by decree from the new administration in Washington has to be accepted throughout the land and that will necessitate a monumental effort.

But that’s why I love the Season of Advent. It speaks of the time that is coming but has yet to appear. We cannot see but only feel what is happening underground, pulsing in the earth and in our lives. The signs are faint but soon to be seen. The potential is within. We have to look more deeply to perceive it.

The quote for today is from Alfred Lord Tennyson: Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, “It twill be happier.”

Choose Hope

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Barack Obama, COVID19, do something, hope, pandemic, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today is a day to choose hope. It is a day for us – the Sisters of St Joseph, Albany Province – to join together and try again for a virtual meeting, having had more or less success over the past 8 months to gather on Zoom and Vvoter to exercise our voices in the governance of our community. Because of the Covid pandemic we are not meeting in person, but life must go on so, as we have always done, we find ways to come together to govern ourselves. It is the way of things now and we accept the challenges before us, trusting that we will survive, and more…we know we will thrive and come through this time with confidence in a future not yet known to us but known to God.

From my new favorite resource (see yesterday’s post) I choose a quote from Barack Obama for this day. Won’t you join me in trusting the virtue of hope?

The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.

The End May Be the Beginning

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breathe, darkness, happy, hope, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today I will need a lot of discipline to accomplish the tasks before me. “Why?” you ask. Well, I just unearthed a magazine with 96 pages that I bought some time ago, somewhere that I don’t remember, that cost $14.99, a highly over-priced item, I thought…that I could not pass up. First of all, it’s called (in big, bold, black letters) BREATHE and is subtitled The Well-being Special. It’s unlike anything I have ever encountered for the beauty and breadth of topics and illustrations, truly a work of art! It will surely be nearly, if not totally, impossible to tear myself away for any other activity today more important than devouring…savoring this treasure!

Starting to explore from the back page (Why not?!) I found a list of quotes from all sorts of familiar but diverse sources from Aristotle to J.R.R. Tolkien, gathered under the title: A Triumph of Hope: A selection of thoughtful words to inspire and guide. Although each quote will likely show up in this blog at some point, I choose Tolkien for today when hope from the outside world seems in short supply. The words seem to be exactly what we need to go on.

How could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. (Extract from The Two Towers)

Hope Transforms

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Ave Maria, hope, Hope Transforms, Jan Phillips, Peace, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transformation

Today we have certainly reached the edge of the winter season as we experience temperatures tottering at the 30 degree mark and the winds whipping snow off the roof across the yard in momentary blizzard conditions. It will all be over soon as predictions for tomorrow catapult us back toward the 55 degree mark, (five being the number of change in numerology…).

Against that tumultuous background I clicked on a peaceful YouTube video offered this morning by Jan Phillips. Between the engaging photos and the ethereal background music of the Ave Maria, the text of Hope Transforms provides exactly what the title promises: hope and peace on this otherwise potentially difficult day. It is worth ten minutes of your time and may be just what you need today.

Anticipation

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Election Day, hope, moment, participation, sacred duty, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I sit today in a state of tension. As a member of a family that was always interested in politics, who believed that compromises were a necessary part of the process, I looked forward even as a child to Election Day, knowing that either elation or disappointment would be the result – likely some of each depending on the year, but appreciation of the democratic process was a given.

Much has changed in our world in recent times and we are now in the midst of the most dangerous “moment” in our modern history and of the political process. Becoming part of a world in which technology plays a major role, we are also open to interference on an international scale, especially, at this moment, in our elections. Gone are the days when we could count on trusting the process – or the outcome as a simple result.

Last night as I listened to statistical projections on the television, I could feel the cheerleader in myself preparing for wild joy or deadening disappointment. Those feelings are still with me, and will likely remain through the weekend and the days to come. Just before I turned off the TV, however, I saw something on the screen that restored my hope. There were a number of images, flashed consecutively every few seconds, from different places across the country. They each depicted a polling place where lines of people stood silently moving toward the goal of casting their ballots. It was a striking image of the best in us as a country: people standing – likely for a long time, moving very slowly, peacefully, toward the fulfillment of the sacred duty that is part of the bedrock of our nation.

The phenomenon of participation unrivaled ever before in a national election in our country urges me to have hope in this time of turmoil. Now I can only pray for a transition of power equal to that hope in the days ahead.

Only In God

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, await, hope, prayer, refuge, saving rock, silence, soul, stronghold, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I was led this morning to Psalm 62 by an e-mail from a friend. It speaks to the state of mind where I choose to place my hope these days.

Alone my soul awaits you in the silence, Lord; by you and only you am I restored. You are for me my solid ground, foundation firm on which I stand…for you are my whole hope and prayer. You only are my saving rock, a stronghold safe, unshaken, sure, my safety, honor and my refuge firm...(Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.154)

For additional reflection, if you prefer music, visit John Foley of the Saint Louis Jesuits at YouTube for the song Only In God.

Hope and Humility

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COVID19, darkness, hope, humility, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I can’t help myself. Today I am shamelessly lifting the introductory words from the blog on the franciscanmedia.org website. It’s entitled as above: Hope and Humility: Our Weapons against COVID – 19. I believe that a very important lesson is encapsulated in the two quoted sentences that follow. I invite your reflection.

Neither God nor our world is tame: there is an unpredictability woven into reality itself. Facing this truth, the only appropriate response is humility. (Kyle Kramer)

The entire article is worth your time but if you can’t possibly spare 5 or 10 minutes to read it in its entirety, here is the conclusion. (Kudos to Kyle Kramer, author)

It’s hard to let go of the illusion of certainty and safety. But my hope is that this present darkness, which feels so much like an unraveling and breakdown, is actually a birthing process in which God our midwife is bringing us into a new, more beautiful, more blessed way of being.