A Divine Scope of Hope

A Divine Scope of Hope

I can’t shake it, I just feel blue.  Everyone in the family is healthy (as well as can be expected), wealthy (but then again, could always use a few more dollars, who wouldn’t?!.) and wise (some are more feather-headed than others, but that comes with the territory!)  My dearheart greets me with a kiss, sweet and affectionate, and talks with me plainly and earnestly.  Yet, I feel like I’ve been encountering bad news from every side, pressing in on my spirit, suffocating me, not releasing a situation or event before another wave crashes in, submerging my heart again.

It’s not a loss of self esteem or an undefined depression, it’s not related to hormonal changes or severe criticism but it is something which has lasted longer than usual.  Not dissolved into tears, or explosively angry, not openly pessimistic but I have detected a cynicism which is not welcome by me.   Everyone has their days, you know the ones, when you don’t quite feel like yourself.  You are able to follow through the motions of your obligations and responsibilities, but there is a lower level of passion or enthusiasm connected with what you do.  They are generally unbelievably brief for me, rarely if ever lasting more than ½ a day, but this is different.

Like Christopher Robin leafing through his storybook following the forewarning of a storm, I sing with him and Winnie the Pooh, “I’m just a little black rain cloud…”

Teachers on strike as of August 28.  The newspaper (man do I hate the newspaper anymore!) alerting us of our school administration’s negotiation breakdown with the teacher’s contract.  Strike announced since been without a teacher’s contract for a year and a freeze on the contract for three years prior.  Alert notice taken and substitutes put on call for such planned strike to take effect on school day #1.  Whattamess!  And these entities have spent the last 6 weeks refusing to talk with each other because of what they “might say” so they have spent this precious summer avoiding the important stuff of contract talks on listing agenda which will be appropriate or inappropriate to talk about.

Burial of three area servicemen who sacrificed their lives in this current war, none of them over the age of 25.  Their honor and duty has preserved my freedom - yet their time on earth was far too short, this area missing the impact of their leadership and character.

It’s a challenge to be the vein of encouragement for such a small congregation.  More people in church has its own level of encouragement.

An area youth hockey coach has been arraigned for child pornography and internet solicitation of a minor.  Several counts.  Several months in a researched sting.  He would have been my son’s coach one day in the future.

I have a heavy heart for our community and for our contact in it.  When pouring ourselves into the vessel of reaching and needy lives, I need a divine scope of hope.  Echoing the words of the psalmist David, Psalm 27:13, I say with him, “I am convinced of this - I would have given up long ago if I had not seen the Lord of hope in the land of the living.”

A divine dose of hope.  A protection from the Holy Spirit.  An inspired and loving guidance – holy hearts are requesting your strength, Lord.  Imbue us with Your hope.