tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8215116066445385512.post5295099086913585073..comments2023-07-13T05:20:07.334-04:00Comments on Reflections from Broadneck Baptist: If God Cares So Much, Then How Come.....?Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04823753643734462481noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8215116066445385512.post-89692895536038944462008-05-26T10:20:00.000-04:002008-05-26T10:20:00.000-04:00Funny - when I was at Quaker Meeting this Sunday, ...Funny - when I was at Quaker Meeting this Sunday, the topic was 'hope' - and we don't follow a lectionary! <BR/><BR/>I didn't get a chance to say in yesterday that I think the feeling of hope is one of the most tangible pieces of proof we'll ever have of God's existence. Something in us is always drawing us towards something better than the current situation. <BR/><BR/>Of course a cynic could say that that feeling is actually a void. That's why I really like the image of the kingdom of God rising in us like bread - that's hope. <BR/><BR/>After Meeting we had a guest speaker from Sudan, not much older than me, talk about how at 9-years-old he fled his burning village, hid in a tree for a couple days, dodged bullets, played dead, crossed and crossed the Nile on papyrus leaves because arriving at a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He now lives in the US, but has traveled back to Sudan to reunite with what is left of his family and is raising money to build a school in his village. Talk about hope!<BR/><BR/>I remember several years ago you musing about the fact that in your line of work as a therapist, your ultimate goal was to put yourself out of a job. That's the power of hope. But really, even if all the psychological ailments of the world were healed, I'm sure you and all the other therapists would go on to healing another wound or bringing those healed to another level. <BR/><BR/>And I'm guessing it's the same with this Sudanese man - right now he's hoping his village has a school. Once it's built he'll be hoping they have better materials, teachers, etc - maybe even hoping another village has a school. And if he acts on that hope - if we all do - we'll keep getting closer to the kingdom. <BR/><BR/>I guess it could be easier for that hope to turn to frustration or fear like you depicted in that dialogue, but if we remember hope is our link to God - that rising loaf of bread - maybe we'll keep moving forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com