Friday, December 21, 2012

Spirit of hope

As I write this Thursday night, it’s raining and cold outside. I just got home from work, and a hot shower has helped my chilled bones.
And I’m thinking about what this day has brought me.
This morning, my husband and I did our second stint of ringing the bells for the Salvation Army. But I didn’t think much about my OCD this time.
Instead, I enjoyed seeing people’s generosity. I enjoyed their friendliness in saying hello or Merry Christmas. I enjoyed seeing children coming up to slip their money into the slots of the bucket top.
This afternoon, as part of my job as a newspaper reporter, I interviewed an investigator with the sheriff’s office who is retiring after 30 years.
I listened to his stories of his time of service and was impressed by his commitment to the victims he encountered and their families, his commitment to giving them some kind of closure.
This evening, also as part of my job, I covered a vigil held to remember the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut shootings.
In the pouring rain, people huddled together under umbrellas, holding candles and praying and singing.
I saw a lot of hope today.
I saw hope for those in poverty, those who have been victims of crimes, those who are in need of comfort and peace.
I felt hope in my heart at a time when I needed it.
I saw and felt the spirit of hope move throughout this day.
May the spirit of hope move throughout our lives this season and always.

Have you seen any signs of hope lately?

14 comments:

  1. That's wonderful that you have been helping the Salvation Army. I have been taking the bell ringers hot chocolate every time I go to Wal Mart! I have definitely seen signs of hope lately in the form of random acts fo kindness. Everyone is paying it forward!

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    1. Keith, what a kind thing that is to do, to take hot chocolate to the bell ringers. I'm sure they appreciate it! Acts of kindness such as that are so important to us all.

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  2. I love how much good you see in your surroundings :-)

    I was going to grocery shop last night, but skipped it because it was so cold and rainy!

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    1. Lisa, sometimes I have to make myself look for the good. It is cold and windy today, and we even had a few flurries out our way.

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  3. For me Hope is a practice, because it is something I'm not used to looking for, but it's there. Hope is what kept me going through Exposure Therapy, and sometimes it wasn't my hope, it was the hope of my therapist and my husband, who let me borrow their hope until I could make it my own.

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    1. Exposure Woman, I love how you have made hope a practice. You're right--it's there, if we look for it. I realize that I have had to borrow hope from others, too, sometimes. It's a blessing that we are able to do that.

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  4. I think hope is what keeps so many of us going, especially after tragic events. Hope that we can all come together to make the world a better place.....otherwise, life can get way too depressing.

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    1. Janet, I have that hope, too, that we can come together and find ways to make the world a better and more peaceful one.

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  5. Things like these put a big smile on my face and in my heart!!!! ...I truly believe the best gift received is the joy when gifts are given. *the hot shower to warm cold bones with this weather- yep!
    Blessings!!

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  6. Thank you for posting about hope, we all need to be reminded of hope and nothing does that better than hearing someone tell of the hope they see or feel. I love the idea of ringing the bells at Christmas. I wish you a hope filled Christmas time.

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    1. Thank you, Behind the Smile--I wish you a hope-filled and joyous Christmas.

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  7. Hmmm . . . that was really strange. I started typing a comment and it just up and disappeared!! So if a second comment appears, well you will know why!

    What I was saying was that I was really proud of you for volunteering for the Salvation Army and I'm really happy that the OCD didn't bother you much. That is great progress.

    You know - I do see hope everywhere in the midst of even terrible things. I see people responding to help one another and comfort each other. I think that is one of the most beautiful things ever to witness.

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    1. Thank you, Sunny. I think it's beautiful, too, to see people reaching out to help and comfort others in times of need.

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