Maintaining Hope
“The greatest danger facing Western societies today is the sense of powerlessness, of a world running out of control, of problems too great to solve and hatreds too deep to cure.”[1] It is true, there is a sense of futility and hopelessness harbored in the belief that the problems of our world are simply too big for anyone to handle.
One of the great American writers and poets of the current era is Wendell Berry who says, “It is hard to have hope. It is harder as you grow old…”[2] The optimism that frequently accompanies youth wanes as the experiences of life educate us toward a harsher reality.
As people of faith, we live within a constant tension between what we verbally acknowledge to be true because of our belief that God is in complete control, and the challenges of our lives and the lives of those around us that seem to suggest no one is in control. Frequently in my own life this sense of foreboding occurs because I have allowed my faith and my hope to move to my head instead of living it in more tangible ways through my senses, heart, and experiences.
Even in the midst of difficulty there are constant reminders of God’s blessings that surround us, helping to sustain our hope and faith; however, to notice these, it is necessary for us to remain connected to the world around us. This can happen when we journey side by side with neighbors through their difficulties and embrace the opportunities to ease the hardship of those who share this world with us. At times there is a need to walk deliberately and breathe deeply with others in natural surroundings away from the distractions of modernity to be reminded of our common origins. Being connected to our world occurs through sharing our humanity with others.
As the Psalmist reminds us, God’s blessing is given when we live together in unity (Psalm 133). Unity requires knowing, listening to, sitting with, embracing others, and being generous toward them. The isolation and tribalism that is evident in our world today gives cause for discouragement and hopelessness. Yet, as followers of Jesus we can be more intentional about remaining connected with others and grounded in the world in which God has placed us.
Wendell Berry continues; “Found your hope, then, on the ground under your feet. Your hope of Heaven, let it rest on the ground underfoot.”[3] When we do this, we reorient ourselves to live out our faith in more tangible ways.
Watch Wendell Berry read the poem in its entirety here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j_r4jb9AYw
[1] Sacks, Jonathan. To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility. Schocken Books, 2007. P. 270.
[2] Berry, Wendell. “Wendell Berry Reads a Poem on Hope - Youtube.” Wendell Berry Reads a Poem on Hope, 3 Oct. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j_r4jb9AYw.
[3] Ibid.
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s new Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.