First Sunday In Advent 2024 - Hope

For many years, throughout the past, I have come to this space to remember the Advent Season. To reminisce and to remind myself of what this all means. Over the past year, I have worked on a series I called "Wrestling with God", and - I admit - many things fell through. Even though I hope to continue it, at this time, I put a pause on it. The year has been full of ups and downs, and over the journey, I've had to set many things aside. More often, things for me have taken a backseat and things for others have taken priority. It's my intention that, for the next four weeks, I can make this a priority. To come to this space, and spend some time connecting with my Christian ancestors. To breathe and listen to Christmas music, to just be for a little bit. 

I'm not sure how long it's been, but I know many Advent entries in the past have been because of messages I've heard on that day. And, in a similar way, today is no different. I took the time to listen to Pastor Korkedakis's message at Village Green in London, Ontario. And, as usual, there were words for thought and pondering, as well as comfort and encouragement. 

Last year, I wrote (again, from his message) about wars and rumours of wars. And this year seems to be no different. Is it possible to be worse? With an election in the past and another on the horizon, with such division in our world and so much hatred and animosity, I truly am concerned for the future. I wrote in another place about this tendency of mine to fall into the pit of catastrophe. I am surrounded with bitterness and venom, with elitism and superiority abounding. I am part of a couple of groups, and the exchanges there leave me weeping. Even the "Christian" groups are full of vitriol and a sense of self-righteousness, of absolute knowledge / gnosis without any form of humility or redemption ... leaves the whole thing empty for me. 

And then - through my fears and catastrophizing - Advent slices into the moment. It reminds me that in spite of the moment, there is something bigger going on. I imagine it was similar to when Jesus was born. Wasn't that a time of struggle and difficulty? Wasn't God silent for 400 years? Wasn't that a world of turmoil? The Romans ruled it and Kings controlled it. The common man was struggling to survive, similar to many people today. I don't want to assume that it was "the same", but I know many people today have many fears for their future. I know that my life will be changing in the next year - at this point, much is unknown, and with that comes anxiety and fear. And ... just like in the past, Advent slices into the moment. 

As in the past, we now are fearful of what is to come. The powers are shifting, something is building. It's not only about war in Europe or war in the Middle East or war "over there"; it's not only about the preparation for attacks or civil unrest within our borders (or the borders to the south), it's about the gathering of power and dominance. The push for their own vain glory. The greed and machinations to their own end, with no care for those of us who are losing more and more ground. 

And the first Sunday of Advent, slices into the moment. 

The first candle : Hope. 

I had the opportunity to unpack what 'hope' means ... to me, in the context of my life. Let's see if I can explain it - more for me than for anyone who might read this. And if someone does, I hope (haha!) it can help you, too, in some way. 

So, what's the difference between 'hope' and 'wish'? What's the difference between saying that I wish to be 170 pounds vs I hope to be 170 pounds? Or I wish to go to visit my cousin vs I hope to visit my cousin? ... or, let's make it personal - I wish to find a nice apartment that meets my criteria vs I hope to find a nice apartment that meets my criteria? Both are verbs, and I think a lot of people make them interchangeable. The thing is - there is a huge difference between the two. They are similar in the way they both express a desire for something in the future - but they are different in the process to achieve the things in the future. Wishing is about expressing a desire for something in the future but there is little likelihood of that something coming to fulfillment; there is often an element of fantasy with it and impossibility. "I wish I knew at 18 what I know now." But hope - hope is different. Hope is still about a desire for something in the future, but it is grounded in possibility, in probability, in very good likelihood of coming to fruition. It isn't that it's more realistic, but that there is ... a "promise" of likelihood, there is a path to achievement. "I hope my next apartment is a place I enjoy." It is not that it is less whimsical, but that ... and here's a key part ... there's a path. There's a promise. If I do what I need to do, then the achievement becomes more attainable. 

So, let's bring this into the realm of faith. Hope is very Biblical; hope is throughout scripture. Maybe what also needs to be inserted here is hope - lowercase hope, and Hope - uppercase Hope. Lowercase hope is provided to all ... mind you, so is uppercase Hope. Maybe it then comes down to awareness? On the one hand, hope for anyone can be embraced as "micro-dose hope", a focus of the mind, when we feel that everything is going to shit around us. In that moment, we can pause and breathe in a micro-dose of hope ... that we have an influence, even in a small way, on our immediate future. Even if that immediate future is in the next 10 minutes. That, < breathe > "I can do this." Who was it that said, "We have absolutely no control over what happens to us in life but what we have paramount control over is how we respond to those events." Maybe that's the micro-dosing. our response. Even in that, if we respond with kindness and patience, then we do have a hope of making our reality better. 

But Hope - that comes from promise. And trusting that promise. Trusting that God will do what He said, that (as my father said) God's promises are sure. For me, I know how my story will end. I know that my redemption is promised. That is my uppercase Hope. And in that, the 'race' is up to me. How I run the race of life is within my hands of choice. I'm not saying that this turns grace into "cheap grace," as Bonhoeffer wrote (he defines "cheap grace" as preaching of forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession - without discipleship, without the cross, without Jesus Christ. A focus on the benefits without the costs). In fact, if anything, it is the liberation to dive into the God-Life relationship fully, without regrets. If the end is assured, then to embrace life fully is what Hope is all about. I'm also reminded of Luther's "sin boldly" statement - simply, do not be afraid of sinning because your salvation is already assured. (There's another topic to flesh out at some time!) 

At this time in world history, there is so much fear and uncertainty. But this Sunday reminds me that there is Hope. That doesn't make it easy, but it makes it sure. And, if I truly am redeemed, and have nothing to fear there; then ... I have hope for my future. No matter what happens now, my Hope is sure. 

The pastor shared a piece of writing by Brene Brown. Though not particularly Christian in any aspect, it fits this moment perfectly: 

Despair is a claustrophobic feeling. It's the emotion that says, "Nothing will ever change." It's different than anger or sadness or grief. Despair is twinged with hopelessness. 

People who subscribe to power-over leadership often weaponize despair. They count on people giving up on themselves, their work, and each other. I get it. I'm looking at people I know with suspicion. I'm questioning the value of my work. I'm wondering if courage, kindness, and caring for each other simply don't matter anymore. I'm desperate for someone to blame because blame is an effective way to discharge pain and it gives us a sense of counterfeit control.

The research shows that hope is a powerful antidote to despair. What's interesting, however, is that hope is not an emotion. Hope is a cognitive-behavioral process. It's about having a goal, a pathway to achieve that goal, and a sense of agency or "I can do this."

Right now, the thing that is helping most is micro-dosing hope. I have no access to big hope right now, however, I am asking myself how can I support the people around me ... people on my team, in my community. How can I make sure that, in the maelstrom of my emotions, I stay committed to courage, kindness, and caring for others regardless of the choices made by others? Doing the smallest next right thing is hard AF, but sometimes it's all we've got. 

Without the Hope we find in today, in Christ, in our assured restored relationship with God, the best one can seek is this micro-dosing of hope. That comes from the self. And, sometimes, when one slips and begins to lose oneself, this hope is a good reminder. But with the Hope we find in today, in Christ, Brown's words are even more true. This comes from God. We are reminded that Hope is available to us, and that in that - the commitment to courage, kindness, and caring for others, especially in this time of chaos and fear, is what we must share with others. "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." In the midst of the tears, there is Hope. We are human - but we are also redeemed. We can be scared, but we are reminded that ... even after 400 years, the promises that were given to Isaiah were fulfilled. And, so, too, will ours be. 

So, my friends, be full of courage and kindness and caring for others. Know that what you put your hope in - not the wish but the Hope - with the right commitment, they too will come to pass. That is the promise of God's Hope. That is the promise of today. 

Amen. 

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel