Hope that lasts

I recently went for my usual exercise walk where we live and I experienced a beautiful feeling of profound gratitude as I observed the beauty of the countryside and the privilege of living in the South West. I am ‘not the sharpest tool in the box’ when it comes to appreciating the beauty of creation and so it was unusual that my thinking went to the thoughts of the emergence of many creatures coming out of hibernation at the beginning of Spring. I felt it was like how many of us are probably currently feeling, especially with the increased confidence provided by the vaccine, as we inwardly ‘cry freedom’ for the emergence from lockdown.

This appreciation of coming into Spring is also the hope of the Easter Celebrations of life coming out of death. Like the seasons it is the rhythms and cycles of life and celebration in the Christian calendar. A journey through the good and challenging times is part of our collective human
experience. The birth of Christ at Christmas and His death and resurrection at Easter.

At the time of writing, we will have all endured almost a year of one of the most difficult times since the second world war. However, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel with the provision of the vaccine, which hopefully will not be the light of another train coming down the tracks. Loss of life and economic uncertainty have been and still are the consequences of this pandemic which we still have to navigate through. I have had my first jab, but still feel very conscious that we are not through this yet and I do not want to succumb to ‘well it’s OK for me now’ because we can still
transmit the virus according to some health officials even after the jab. It is important to be wise and prudent for the sake of others. The evidence is still being gathered about passing on the virus after being vaccinated.

However, things are looking very positive, and it is hope which is such a powerful concept during challenging times. The hope which I believe in is important and is not just the hope of going on holiday or getting a haircut. Those are good and totally understandable, but they are not the hope that undergirds us when life really gets tough. Health and economic security are still the real issues we all wrestle with as human beings.

I am increasingly mindful of the millions of Christians around the world who do not have much hope other than their faith in God. This is the hope that provides the foundation within the Christian community, especially across the world, where Christians are severely persecuted for their faith
especially in Iran, North Korea and China.

This hope understands what Jesus told Martha at the death of her brother Lazarus.

Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who iwas to come into the world.” John 11 v 24 – 27.

The hope in the eternal gives us hope in the day to day.