Hope Springs Eternal

Yesterday, the co-leaders of what was to have been our 2020 Women’s ACTS 4-day Retreat in April, met to catch-up. Obviously, our retreat didn’t happen, but we’re counting on a coast-is-clear later this year. We’re all still together in heart and spirit. Yes, I was disappointed about the six months of preparing for the retreat that didn’t happen, and I’ll admit I even shed a few tears. Amy’s son didn’t get to finish his last season of high school baseball and his graduation certainly didn’t look like the final year of high school as they had expected. Deb’s precious father passed away during this time after many trips back and forth to Houston to see him, but couldn’t because of the hospital’s COVID regulations. The funeral was on Facebook Live so we could ALL see the beauty of this Godly man who served with his whole being. Since we couldn’t go to Houston to celebrate his life with the family, we had this lovely stone made for her – perfect timing for Father’s Day.

Michelle brought us the other half of the wooden hearts that she gave us early on in quarantine, promising the other half when we’d see each other again. She didn’t disappoint. And, she made us laugh as she told us about the possums that made their home under their deck, who by the way can sure scream when her dogs got near. Here’s the aha about all these things that happened to us All these circumstances, that we’d like to blame on COVID-19, might have all happened anyway.

In the grand scheme of God’s ways, He is well aware of all our disappointments. I reminded us: “Thank God, for the hope we have in Him Who isn’t shaken by what is shaking us.” As I type this blog today, I think “Hope springs eternal!” I had to look that quote up to see where it came from. It turns out Alexander Pope, an 18th century English poet, wrote those wise words in "An Essay on Man".

But, does hope really spring eternal? Why do people continue to hope, even if there is no evidence indicating the outcome we desire will come to pass? May I say, unequivocally, that hope doesn’t just spring eternal, it finds its roots in an eternal place.
King Solomon wrote that God “has put eternity into man’s heart." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) That is why we cling to hope through tough times. Those who believe in God – just know. We know that God has something better in store for us. It’s that hope and trust that something good is going to happen.

We should never doubt that God is working many, many things out in our lives. Because hope springs eternal. Sometimes hope is hard to come by. Notice how the psalmist reminds himself to remember the good things God has done and to put his hope in God. We can do that, too! "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:1-8) God doesn’t tell us everything about our future, nor do we understand the bliss we will experience in heaven; instead, our blessing for now is to have hope, including the hope of heaven that springs eternal.

No Man is an Island, so Why Try to be One?

My Austin family recently acquired four more goats to add to the family's five goats, making it now a 9-member herd. One of the new goats was a loner from the start. He didn't hang with the rest of the herd and stayed at least 20-feet away from them. The family kept trying to bond them all together, but that one just wanted to go-it-alone. When they went out to feed them on Thursday, that one straying goat didn't come in with the rest and when they found him, he had been attacked by what they think was a mountain lion. A proper funeral and burial were given by the family with a gravesite covered in stone. No matter the species, it's not easy to deal with a loss in the family.

Remember the story in the Bible of the shepherd pursuing that one little lamb that strayed from the others? He left the 99 to go after that one who was also a bit rebellious and a loner. That shepherd knew that little lamb could fall in a pit or be prey to a predator. (Luke 15:4). God created the animal kingdom to be together and the human kingdom to be together. We all need each other. We need each other for caring, tenderness, hugs, touch and emotional support; connection, sharing love, learning and growing emotionally and spiritually; companionship — sharing fun and laughter, play, adventure and everyday life; for having each other's back. We thrive when we feel connected and supported by each other, and we suffer when connection and support are not available. We had these needs as babies and we never lose them.

King Solomon spoke to that in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his friend. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Like that precious little goat, some of us prefer to be loners and go-it-alone. But that's not what God planned for the human race or the animal kingdom. I’m sharing this today because I’m thinking about those who prefer to be alone for one reason or another, but the fact is, we need each other.

English poet, John Donne penned those words: "No man is an island", which paved the way for that beautiful song:
"No man is an island. No man stands alone.
Each man's joy is joy to me. Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another. So I will defend each man as my brother, each man as my friend.

I love my independence, and, particularly, this sweet season of life that I'm in. But, independence isn't what God called us to. We need each other. He didn't call us to live on islands by ourselves or to roam by ourselves. We are here on this earth, at this time, and this place, to touch others and affect others by our actions and our words. We should be INTENTIONAL with our daily interactions. Every time we walk out our door to this world, we are carrying the LIGHT to brighten our world and other people's lives with God's love and peace. We can leave an imprint on every person we meet -- even in a small way -- but, nothing is small in God's sight when we allow His light to shine in and through us. We just might be a difference maker for someone today! So, let's get out of that "island mentality", and get on the "crowded places mentality" -- where we get to rub shoulders with others, and perhaps our LIGHT will rub off on them and they will start "shining", too!