I once read a Chinese Proverb that likened hope to fear and insinuated both were for fools. What does hope do but lift us up to higher heights from which to fall? I know many times I have cursed myself for being hopeful and blamed that hope for the pain of the subsequent fall. So this Chinese Proverb made me feel so much better. Hope is for fools! I can tell my hope to get bent without a guilty conscience. Yea! Confucius say, it is good!
In addition, Noah and the Whale (one of my favorite bands) agreed when they penned the lyric,
"If you gotta run, run from hope." ~ Love of an Orchestra
First Confucius, now Noah and the Whale?! It has got to be true! And, so it was my firm belief until I read 1 Corinthians 13:13. I was shocked to see that God put hope in that holy trinity.
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; …" ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13*
I thought maybe Paul (the prophet speaking in this Chapter) took one too many beatings to the head in all his persecution and misunderstood the message he was supposed to be delivering to the Corinthians. But this is THE.BOOK. Perhaps it was my head that needed some straightening out. So I began to really research the meaning of hope and in doing so I have come to wonder if I have ever experienced true hope. True hope needs companions like faith and charity, not bitterness and jealousy. Oh boy am I familiar with the latter two! The first two, I feel I barely know.
So how about you, dear readers? What are your thoughts and experiences with hope? I would love to hear everyone's thoughts whether religious or secular in nature. THE.BOOK. is good and all but it is certainly not the only source of wisdom!
In addition, Noah and the Whale (one of my favorite bands) agreed when they penned the lyric,
"If you gotta run, run from hope." ~ Love of an Orchestra
First Confucius, now Noah and the Whale?! It has got to be true! And, so it was my firm belief until I read 1 Corinthians 13:13. I was shocked to see that God put hope in that holy trinity.
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; …" ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13*
I thought maybe Paul (the prophet speaking in this Chapter) took one too many beatings to the head in all his persecution and misunderstood the message he was supposed to be delivering to the Corinthians. But this is THE.BOOK. Perhaps it was my head that needed some straightening out. So I began to really research the meaning of hope and in doing so I have come to wonder if I have ever experienced true hope. True hope needs companions like faith and charity, not bitterness and jealousy. Oh boy am I familiar with the latter two! The first two, I feel I barely know.
So how about you, dear readers? What are your thoughts and experiences with hope? I would love to hear everyone's thoughts whether religious or secular in nature. THE.BOOK. is good and all but it is certainly not the only source of wisdom!
"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:
but when desire cometh, it is a tree of life."
Proverbs 10:28*
*I roll with the KJV of the Bible.
5 comments:
I'm the eternal optimist despite adoption and the state of the world.
I think it depends on what you are putting your hope in. If we put our hope in circumstances in our lives then yes sometimes our hopes come true and also many times our hopes are crushed. I found that verse about hope deferred to be VERY appropriate regarding infertility. I came back to that Proverb many times. I think the hope that Paul is speaking of is hope that is in the LORD. The LORD will never fail us. I also have hope in what awaits me in eternal life. That is a glorious hope (I think it's Peter who said that). That is a hope that is in a SURE thing rather than than hoping I'll see 2 lines on a hpt - two completely different types of hope. That's my 2 cents! Oh and thanks for sharing your story on my blog about being asked if you were a grandma. It made me feel better, especially since you're 8 years younger than me. Misery loves company as they say, lol!
Wow, this is deep - or at least it feels so to me because I SO desperately want to always hope with faith and love (not bitterness and jealousy, which I also do REALLY well). I can say the first time I felt true hope was when I was on the adoption waiting list. I just KNEW our baby was coming, and he was. I never felt it during my pregnancy - I was mostly fearful and resigned. Sad, but true. I am not religious, but I like Ruth's answer - seem to really speak to what you were asking...
ohhh Hope, so difficult a thing isn't it? you want hope but when that hope is denied you are crushed. Been there. I truly believe hope is a wonderful thing,it's what gets us going right? It makes life wondrous and beautiful! I have GREAT hope for you friend, and I love you.
Hi! This post is great! Especially since today many are celebrating Michaelmas (when St. Michael vanquishes the dragon). My "dragon" of late has been bitter and life has become almost impossible as i try to figure out this adoption thing. I've been reading your blog for a long time and agree "adoption ain't for sissies!!!". Thanks for your words.
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