Reflections
HOPE
What is hope? Emily Dicken writes:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all.
Hope is not something that you can teach or legislate or demand.
Instead, hope is as light as a feather – and yet as enduring as an earworm
that will not stop.
This poem about “hope” was one of my mother’s favorites – especially
after she was diagnosed with cancer. In those sometimes trying and
painful days, it would have been easy to despair, to focus on loss and to
give up hope, but instead, she chose hope – not hope that she would be
cured, but rather hope in God’s future.
Like the people of God throughout the generations, we can trust in God’s
promise and dared to hope and trust that God’s will, God’s way, God’s
future would prevail. And, that it will be better than we could ever
imagine. This is Hope. Amen.
Peace
What is Peace? The Hebrew word is “shalom.” Shalom is not just the
opposite of war and discord. Shalom is also the peace that brings
wholeness and healing to all people. 1 And so, when you greet someone
with peace, you are wishing them the wholeness of Christ Jesus. For, as
we read in Colossians, when God reconciles everything on heaven and
earth through Christ, God made and makes everything whole – in God’s
way, in God’s time, and with God’s love – already and not yet.
Sisters and brothers in Christ: May the peace, the shalom of the creator
God be with you; May the peace, the shalom of the living God fill you;
and may the peace of the everlasting God overflow from you. Shalom.
Peace be with you. Amen.
JOY!
What is Joy? It began with a little hiccup…and of course it was at an
inappropriate time. Embarrassed and self-conscious, the little girl
giggled.. just a little giggle… but then her best friend also giggled. Their
mothers tried to shush them… but they couldn’t stop. Instead, their
giggles were so infectious that soon smiles appeared on the lips of their
neighbors and as the giggling continued, some of the bodies of the
people near by started to shake, others were putting hands over their
mouths… and then… laughter erupted with a loud guffaw and soon
contagious, joyous laughter filled the room. It was totally
“inappropriate” for the time – and definitely heaven sent.
Joy is contagious, spontaneous and hopefully irresistible. JOY is also
our best response to the awesome work of God. Our hymns say it best:
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king; let ev’ry
heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing.” Despite the
challenges of our world and of our life, as we sing praises to God, may
the Holy Spirit fill our lungs and our spirits with endless joy – and a few
giggles too. Amen.
Love
What is love? This is a question poets and lovers have tried to answer
throughout the generations. But, regardless of what words are used to
describe it, the best way to know what love is, is to experience it. For
love is the essence of who God is – God is love – and, we know love
because we have received love. God first loved us, showing that love
through the birth of God’s son at Christmas.
As 19 th century poet Christina Georgina Rosetti wrote, “Love came
down at Christmas. Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at
Christmas; star and angels gave the sign…Love incarnate, Love
divine… love be yours and love be mine.” As we anticipate the
Christmas season, may you receive God’s gift of love with open hands,
open heart, and open lives and reflect that love to one another. Amen.