Dance Into Hope

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Perhaps Paul might have written this sentence backwards.

Perseverance in prayer will nurture your joy and hope and patience.

The sentence is a circle rather than a line.  Much of scripture, and in fact the spiritual life itself, does not conform to our chronological, linear perceptions.

God is timeless.

The attributes and graces of God are also timeless.

Hope, the uplifting of the heart in love with Christ, moves through our veins like cool water.

Hope is refreshing, especially when we are surrounded by words and actions that try to make us seem silly or naïve when we are hopeful.

But we follow a Savior who was walking Hope.  Crowds came toward Him with their secret knowing, hoping for an answer to their suffering and He gave them abundant life!

We have a choice when confronted with such Love.  We can retreat to the places from which we have come and which are familiar to us, OR

We can leap into new life, today, and dance into hope.

As Annie Dillard says:

“How we spend our days, is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

This is the day the Lord has made-this day, this moment, is filled with light and hope.

Whatever is trying to darken your spirit now-turn away and spend your life’s energy on light.

Blessings, Debra

And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Mark 8

This question addressed to Jesus’ intimate followers, is a question for each of us to ponder.  If we have a relationship with Jesus, then we must have an image or a sense of His identity.

“But who do you say that I am?”

Do we say who Jesus is?  Can we even begin to utter or describe to ourselves, let alone someone else, who Jesus is for us?

When I was praying through the Ignatian exercises, this question emerged.  This is no question with a qualifying, perhaps or maybe.  This question sears into the heart of the Christ relationship and requires a response.

And the response?  After much spluttering and silence, I was able to make this answer-

“You are the One I love.”

“But who do you say that I am?”

Whatever the answer we make, including no answer, we will have set our feet upon a new pathway.

My answer has required more prayer and more diligent discernment of the pathway of love.

Love is an act of the will.  It is new behavior.  It is an orientation toward the Beloved like magnetic north.  Wherever I am my compass points north and my heart yearns to make my feet go that direction.

Doesn’t always mean I follow my desires, but I certainly do feel them!

“But who do you say that I am?”

Each of us will answer this question in our own way, from our own hearts.  And the answer will change from year to year.

Engage with the question.

Imagine that Jesus is with you right now, looking upon you, and saying to you in His own beautiful way:

“But who do you say that I am?”