Hopefulness

“One who has hope lives differently.”
― Pope Benedict XVI

(violas after the rains / Julie Cook / 2015)

The cries of the psalmist echoes amongst the trees,
from whence comes my hope oh Lord. . .
The cry of an anguished soul and crushed spirit. . .
In his despair the psalmist lifts his eyes upward
He does not look around
He does not look to others on his same level
He does not cast a glance to the left or to the right
but rather, he lifts his eyes upward. . .
and specifically to the hills. . .
To the mountain
To the highest height
To the utmost tallest pinnacle which draws him, as well as his cries,
upward, ever closer, to the Creator above.
To the God of Isaac, Jacob and Abraham
To the Great I AM
And it is to the heavens in which he looks for his hope.

It is to the sun emerging after the angry clouds and rains have past
It is to the green shoots reaching upward after the bitter cold snows
It is to the blooming flower after the monochromatic grey of Winter
It is to the sounds of returning birds and to joy of life they will soon be bringing
It is to the workman who toils in the cold rain and off hours. . .
during a precious weekend in order to bring relief
It is to the kindness of the strangers who have rallied to offer aid
It is to the family, as well as friends, who labor to make things work
It is even to the flushing of a toilet after days without water

It is to the crushed, battered and bruised spirit who can still lift his eyes heavenly,
knowing that He who is greater than any affliction, or sorrow, or trial or pain. . .
Hears
Sees
Knows
And will not rest until He holds the afflicted in His arms
It is to all of this and even more from whence comes all Hope. . .

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121