Why? Why Hope?
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
(Rudyard Kipling)
CBC has an investigative television show called W5. It is based on the 5 questions that are asked in almost any investigation. The first four are Who, What, When and Where? These are the questions that get at the facts. Once we have the facts, we can attempt to answer the fifth W – WHY?
As we look at the complex community that is the world, I often wonder if “World?” is a 6th more gut-wrenching question. In the spring, The Salvation Army focuses on raising money for our World Missions in particular. As I watched a video this week of a part of a city in Kenya, I was appalled at the conditions people live in.
It brought a familiar W into my mind, heart and soul. WHY?
Why is this happening?
Why are the leaders of their government not making improvements for their own people? There are no amount of answers to the first 4 W’s that can begin to answer WHY? I simply wanted to take the next plane out and do something! It is an emotional, heart reaction, but not to be discounted. I know in my mind that some things are being done. I know that more will be done.
But the question remains, WHY?
I then thought about what happens when disaster strikes, anywhere. When the winds blow down hydro poles and there is no electricity; when the waters rise and houses are flooded; when a friend suddenly breaks down, when someone walks through our doors. What happens is this; people respond; people respond with care and kindness; resources appear where there none before; you respond and I respond; Thank God!
Why Hope?
There is hope in the selflessness of people who say “I just did the right thing.” In the midst of the most desperately wrong things, there are people who do the right things. And we can know the answer to that question “Why Hope?” It is because there is hope! And it can be found anywhere.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit as you continue to be “The Hand of God, in the Heart of the City.”
With Hope,
Colin
Heavenly father, I am your humble servant,
I come before you today in need of hope.
There are times when I fell helpless,
There are times when I feel weak.
I pray for hope.
I need hope for a better future.
I need hope for a better life.
I need hope for love and kindness.
Some say that the sky is at it’s
darkest just before the light.
I pray that this is true, for all seems dark.
I need your light, Lord, in every way.
I pray to be filled with your light from
head to toe. To bask in your glory.
To know that all is right in the world,
as you have planned, and as you want
it to be.
Help me to walk in your light, and live
my life in faith and glory.
In your name I pray,
Amen.
(from here)