(a 3 minute read)  Without hope life is ……………….

Angie had her hands clasped and on her chest, with her eyebrows raised and eyes open wide, “Hope is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world!”

Denise asked Angie, “What kind of hope are you talking about?” The puzzlement on Angie’s face was priceless; words would have simply messed it up. Denise cracked a big smile and elaborated, “Well there are all sorts;

• Hope that your roommate will be a nice person
• Hope that someone you love loves you back
• Hope that your kids be great at…….
• Hope that you exercise regularly or eat healthy
• Hope that you overcome sickness
• Hope that you get a raise
• Hope that you grow stronger in faith
• Hope that you get what you want for Christmas
• Hope that you get out from under tough finance situations
• Hope that………………. and the list goes on and on and on

Denise went on, “I hope…”    as she smiled and winked, “…that this list reveals that ‘Hope’ is a matter of the heart. In other words, it is wishful thinking.” Angie was perturbed at Denise as she said, “Man Denise, you make it sound like Hope is a four letter word, while I think most people view Hope as an optimistic, encouraging and even an inspiring thing.”

Denise’s face was very sympathetic as she passionately went on to explain that people in general want to have things both ways;

• Think of ‘Hope’ as this magical feeling where things will simply turn out what we want
• Talk of ‘Hope’ as an inspiring and motivational force that can drive one to ‘act’

Hope by definition is a feeling……………….. But don’t feelings drive actions?

Love conquers all or Hate destroys people or Jealousy can break a home or Happiness acts and infects others. So in reality feelings drive action and are not, as often claimed, ‘just a feeling’.

So if a feeling like Hope is not viewed as a driver, then it will simply be a burdened feeling, as it will only build expectations void of action. Therefore, disappointment could be lingering around the corner, and if it happens it is devastating.

On the other hand, action accompanied Hope is ‘ACTIVE’ thus even if what you were hoping for does not pan out, then you will still feel that you have given it your ALL, and thus the disappointment is minimal. And when what you actively Hope for becomes a reality, then there is this GREAT lively vigorous accomplishment escorted with this sense of THANKFULNESS for the HAND that took you along through the fight through the combat through the path that led you there.

Let’s all view all feelings as drivers and combat the sense of them being just a feeling.

I want to thank my friend John for inspiring this post as, to me, he exemplifies this ACTIVE HOPE. Love you man  🙂