By David Hegg

We hear quite a bit about hope these days. Everyone wants hope, and every politician and societal leader intends to offer a strategy for creating and maintaining it for us. Presidents do it, legislatures do it, corporate leaders do it, coaches do it, and, of course, we clergy are all about doing it.

But what is hope?

Hope comes in two flavors: First, hope is expressed in statements like, “I sure hope the Dodgers win the World Series again this year.” Regardless of your opinion of the Blue Crew or baseball and sports, we all recognize this as the kind of “hope” that is nothing more than a wishful dream. We all know that we don’t run to this “hope” to find refuge when adversity presents itself.

A second understanding of hope is much more concrete and essential. This hope is a radical commitment to a particular set of convictions that provides a compelling reason to persevere courageously through adverse circumstances in pursuit of a promised future.

This kind of hope sustains an army through impossible conditions in the valley of death to finally vanquish the enemy and bring peace. It also brings meaning, balance, and unrelenting courage to the individual who knows purpose in life is not defined by daily inconveniences but by pressing on to finish the race with integrity and honor.

Two things about our society sadden me.

First, I am........

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