I Prefer to Hope

It’s early morning, and I’m already on the road. I’m headed out to meet with a friend, and as I often do I reach over and turn on NPR news. A segment tells me that this weekend tens of thousands will descend on the mall in Washington to celebrate the “Woodstock for Atheists.” The main point of the rally is to encourage closet atheists to take heart. A spokesman says the media has misrepresented them by using terms like angry atheist, militant atheist or staunch atheist.

My mind wanders to a couple of documentaries I watched recently. The first tells the story of those who once perpetrated violence and are now trying to interrupt it. Retaliation and more retaliation set up a non-ending stream of violence that characterizes the bleak “norm” of families trapped in the cities. The second tells how and why meth use has spiraled out of control and has become the fastest growing drug abuse problem in the United States. It is wreaking havoc on bodies and brains and is ravaging the lives of people throughout Appalachia.

I arrive just in time to hear the steam kettle and to see the coffee pressed. It’s a good stout cup. Usually it is. We settle into comfortable chairs and catch up on the latest. Family, friends, something we’ve read. Economic news has been bad. We are told we should be hoarding tasty freeze dried foods.

Random killings, terrorism, corruption and racism dot the landscape. Violence too – flash mobs, quarterback bounties, enjoyable entertainment. What is this world coming to? The constant flow of world, national and even personal news can lead us to despair.

I prefer to hope. It does seem that the world has gone crazy. Even so, I prefer to see the world as God’s garden, not a hopeless wasteland. Yes, things are disheveled. There is trash scattered around, and there are bottles in the rose bushes, but God is none-the-less tending the garden. He hasn’t deserted us but is everywhere seizing the initiative. He is at work diligently, redemptively, strategically creating holy ground, and we need only take a closer look to see what He is up to.

I prefer to hope. I prefer to wake up every morning and pray the truth into my heart. Father - You are hope. I trust you. I will rejoice and be glad in this day. I am your beloved child. You are graciously sovereign and unchangeably good. I wait expectantly on your blessed appearing and a glorious future. All things work out for good to those who love you. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Yes, I prefer to hope.