“If it were not for hopes, the heart would break.”
Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)
I chose this particular quote because I am intrigued by the writer’s use of the plural form of the noun hope. So often hope is defined as a single concept. In fact, our lives are full of many hopes, hopes that comfort us when our hearts are breaking or hopes that sustain us even when our hearts and our bodies are just plain worn out from the struggles we experience in our daily living.
One of the reasons for my fascination with the theme of hope originates with this quote from the Bible found in John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
This verse appeals to me for several reasons. First, none of us seek out a troubled heart, but in the conduct of our lives we find our hearts are frequently lacking in joy or in an attitude of grateful thanks. Secondly, we sometimes experience some level of being afraid – afraid of losing our jobs, afraid of violent confrontations, afraid of our aging bodies, afraid of global uncertainty. We all experience some level of fear in the unknown. Thirdly, in the verse above, I am told that I am going to be given a sense of peace that the world can’t give me. This otherworldly peace is important to me. It is the basis of my hope. In practical terms, this peace is the peace that allows me to settle down at the end of the day, give thanks for the lessons I have learned, and permits me to drop off to sleep, perchance to dream. The world keeps chugging along even as I crave rest from work and a release from the tensions that have built up inside of me. The world doesn’t offer me peace that stops the noise or allows me a chance to offer thanks. No, it is a peace from some other source that brings me relief and rest from the worldly routine.
Let me remind you, that as a Christian my peace comes from my God through his Son, Jesus. But I have not always accepted that source of peace so I am sensitive to the fact that humankind is always looking for peace – however one defines that peace or experiences the source of that peace. I would go further and suggest that humankind hopes for peace – a peace that brings relief from the stress of daily living.
So hope and peace have a connection, a connection that at some level we all long to experience for ourselves. My prayer for anyone that has gotten to this point in this post is this – that you will find a peace that passes your understanding and protects you from a broken heart. I hope it will be a peace that is greater than any peace the world will offer you. I pray that you will have a good night’s sleep and find when you awake that the world seems just a bit more manageable. Finally, I pray that your little hopes in life might lead you to a greater hope, a hope and a peace that transforms your life
I like one of Jon’s comments in this blog. I also pray that you and I will find a peace that passes our understanding and protects our hearts from brokeness. I posted this comment on my facebook page along with a link to your blog because it spoke to my heart. Ginger Kasser
Thank you Ginger. I am grateful for your feedback. I am also glad that the words in my blog resonated with you. Jon
Thanks for the thoughtful blog post Jon!
I appreciate your feedback. I hope you will keep coming back.
I love the ideas about how hope and peace interact. Sometimes I can find one and not the other, it is nice to remember that they interact.
Thanks Julie. My intent is to suggest that hope and “real time living” can go hand in hand if we are intentional about seeking connections between the two. I appreciate your feedback. See you at NaMoWriMo
This post speaks to my deepest meditation — the comfort and tranquillity that are possible outside of and beyond human affairs. Thank you, Jon.
Always good to hear from you. How’s your book progressing?
This was incredibly helpful. For decades I’ve struggled with the unfair treatment I received at a school where I taught. I was young and challenged the status quo, which infuriated the administrators who were all male and much older than I was. It was a fiery match up. But something in your words here allowed me to see it was a necessary life lesson that I needed. They couldn’t help who they were. But it made me more determined to seek a better place, a place that admired my out-of-the-box thinking. Instead of remaining angry, I sense myself feeling peace.
Jon, thank you for your gentle, kind and wise thoughts. I really appreciate the topics you write about, and the way you write about them. Reading your words leaves me with a feeling of calm, comfort and reassurance.
I noticed you mentioned something about Nanowrimo. I look forward to hearing more about your great American novel! 🙂
Thank you Marisa for your gracious feedback. I am gratified that you found calm, comfort, and reassurance in my words. The great American novel is on the back burner for a bit. But I am keeping hope alive as they say.