Chapel Matters

One of the most important things in life is having hope. When times are tough, having a sense of hope about the future, and a sense of knowing that God is with us, is vital. Hope enables us to patiently endure the problems of this present moment, and to see a time in the future when they will be over. It enables us to face what may seem the insurmountable crises of our lives and our globe and not despair. It gives us a joy that can see beyond the “now.”

This is different to optimism and wishful thinking. Hope is not positive thinking or “touching wood.” It isn’t pulled out of thin air or is a tentative notion that things might get better. In the Christian faith, hope based on the strong foundation of God’s love for us, as seen in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. It is described as “an anchor” (Hebrews 6.19), as something strong and grounded that can hold us steady when we find ourselves in a wild and unexpected sea. Hope is a trust that God is not capricious, but loving; that the world is not an accident, but a place full of meaning; that our lives are not pointless and random, but we are children of God, loved and precious.

In our “DIY” whanaungatanga group chapels this week, we looked at two famous quotes and a poem about hope, and discussed what they said hope is (and isn’t). We also looked at a variety of images that can speak to us about hope – sometimes an image can say more to us than words! Below are a few of those – which ones resonate with you? The quotes are also here for you to think about!

“While optimism makes us live as if someday soon things will soon go better for us, hope frees us from the need to predict the future and allows us to live in the present, with the deep trust that God will never leave us alone but will fulfill the deepest desires of our heart... Joy in this perspective is the fruit of hope.” (Henri Nouwen)

“Hope is not mere wishful thinking. It is the precursor of a new dawn that slowly, steadily and unerringly comes to the fore and eventually grows into reality’s existence.” (Sri Chinmoy)

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

(Emily Dickinson)