Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Inner Room

Home
Catholic
The Company of Hope

The Company of Hope

Last updated on: December 15, 2015 at 12:15 pm by Cassidy Hall

The Company of Hope 2015-12-15T12:15:40-04:00 Cassidy Hall

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“As I breathe, I hope.” Cicero

We all know that this isn’t a pleasant time of year for everyone. For many, it’s a catapult into memories of lost loved ones, a springboard that could lead one to relapse, a sadness that feels all too dark and distant to cure or maybe even understand.

Paradoxically, this is supposed to be a season of great joy. A time in which we sense an undertone of expectation to have smiles plastered on our faces. For me, I instead cling to this being a season of hope. Not a hope that spares the hope-filled of disappointment but instead a hope pregnant with reality and abiding in trust.

“The hope that rests on calculation has lost its innocence.” Thomas Merton

Hope is vulnerable. When hope is taken to its true core: hope lets go, trusts, and believes in something bigger or more than what is today. Not in a sense of progress or desperate desire, but in a recognition of acceptance. Hope bleeds with contentment but covers itself with a Band-Aid of healing; hope knows far more than we do.

In hope’s knowing, we again are asked to let go, open ourselves, and bask in the mysteries of the unknown. In order to hope, not only is vulnerability required of us, but also a great courage that often seems beyond our ability.

Sadnesses, old and new wounds, and difficulties are very real parts of this time of year, but hopelessness doesn’t have to be. Hope is at its best a rock to stand upon and at its worst a rock to cling to. Yet, hope remains without our clinging or acknowledgement of it; hope is no less a rock by the ways in which I chose to see it today.

“Troubled or still, water is always water…” Yoga Vasistha

There is no need for us to transform our agonies into hope but instead only to try acknowledging hope’s company. Perhaps seeing hope is a more honest stance than displaying a false joy this season. Perhaps our hope will transform into joy, our vulnerabilities will evolve into unity, and our season will be filled with awe.

Previous Post

December 14, 2015

Memorial of St. John of the Cross

Next Post

December 16, 2015 The Light and the Darkness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Awe Hope Lent listening Pentecost Prayer Reflection Silence Solitude Space Uncategorized wonder

Select a Month February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the Son of Man?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthew Mark Luke John