Hope

It is early in AD 2011 when “all through the city not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” Don't we wish. I just finished reading George Bush's account of 9/11, the day of infamy. I recently heard of rockets heading from Gaza into Israel. The new government has been formed in Iraq and things have quieted down on the border between North and South Korea. Another ship was seized by pirates and not too long ago, a cruise ship lost power, stranding not a few passengers and crew (as you can tell, this is written in December for a January publication).

Congress will be resuming with quite a different cast and early reports of the census are hitting the air waves predicting changes in the makeup of governments yet to be. And it seems as though complaints about Christmas trees in public places as well as in the workplace occurred and it was announced that Harvard and Yale are reinstating their ROTC programs after the repeal of 'Don't ask, don't tell.'

Are there challenges facing the globe in every direction? Yes. More than usual? Maybe. Maybe not. However, with communication almost instantly available worldwide, it may only seem that our troubles are mounting. I just heard about a book available for free to the public predicting that “man’s self-rule will end by May 27, 2012 . . . predicting the demise of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and much of western Europe . . . .”

Does pessimism rule? Indeed but it need not overrule. There are challenges that seem to be overwhelming, especially for the timid, the fearful and those without hope. And what is hope? Webster puts it like this: n. a desire of some good, accompanied with a belief that it is attainable. And vt. to desire with some expectation of attainment.

I like what Harry S. Truman once said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.” Then there is that little ditty we sang in Sunday School, “You in your small corner and I in mine. . .” Cruden lists about 125 instances of hope used in the Good Book. True, there's a little pessimism along with expressions such as “I sure hope so” which does go along with “some expectation” above. Yet hope is a marvelous cure for pessimism, despair, disillusionment and doubt.

For the New Year with all its opportunities and challenges, let us hope for the best, hoping that hope becomes contagious and infects many of us with an unwavering hope. “What am I waiting for? My hope is in the Lord” wrote King David (Psalm 39:7). Twenty-eleven (2011) – here it comes, ready or not.