Hope

As a follower of Jesus I am a person of hope. Today hope seems counter intuitive. Disasters of epic proportion lurk around every corner (and seemingly before the corners as well). Global warming, nuclear terrorism, epidemics, biological weapons, collapse of economies, ecological systems, food chains and more all appear likely in the coming decades.

This would seem like a great time for hope if we were all anarchists. But for followers of the Prince of Peace to stay firmly rooted in hope is apparently out of touch with current reality. It is. For my hope is not built on this reality, but one revealed in the birth, life, death and resurrection of a savior. In this event a different reality broke into our world. One which offers hope, not based on what I can do, but on God.

In this season I watch for signs and reminders of this new reality, the kingdom of God, slipping into our midst. It comes in unexpected ways.
One of my favorite Christmas stories is of the Christmas Truce in 1914 during WWI. John McCutcheon wrote a song about this event. Here is a link to a YouTube video about it. Christmas in the Trenches

Watch for the kingdom slipping in during this Advent season.
Hold onto hope. Live out of that hope.
Advent Blessings,
Mike