Lighting the Candle of Hope
Faith in the Public Square
Lompoc Record
December 2, 2007
In the Christian tradition, the four Sundays preceding Christmas form the season of Advent. In spite of all the ruckus that takes place during these weeks, this is supposed to be a time of prayerful preparation for celebrating Christ's birth. Many churches mark this season by lighting candles that carry messages of hope, peace, joy and love. Each “candle” has important implications for who we are and how we live. Therefore, I will be using the next four Sundays to reflect on these “candles” and their implications for the way we live together in the public square.
The first candle is that of Hope. Unfortunately, this word often carries the meaning of “wishful thinking.” Cubs fans hope that next year their team will go to the World Series. People buy lottery tickets in the hope that they'll actually win the big one. It is this kind of hope that gives birth to the phrase “hope springs eternal.” Such hope seems illusory and utterly lacking in realism. So, in a time of pessimism about the future, when war and economic uncertainty dominate our lives, to say: “Let's hope for the best” simply won't cut it.
When I light the candle of hope this isn't what I have in mind. When I think of hope, I understand that its opposite isn't realism; it's despair that seeks to pull us under. Such despair causes us not only to give up on the present, but the future as well. If our choice is between fantasy and despair, I suppose I'd choose fantasy, but perhaps there is another definition of hope, one that holds out a promise for the future, one that will energize us to change that which is changeable.
Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian of a previous generation, is famous for his “Serenity Prayer:”
Jürgen Moltmann is another theologian who understands hope. His theology of hope was born out of the despair he experienced as prisoner of war at the end of World War II. In the British prison camp, this young German soldier came to understand the infamous policies of his former government; an awareness that brought him great shame and despair. It was there that he also became aware of the presence of God. That life-changing awareness led him to dedicate his life to making the future different from the past. We learn to hope, he says, by “saying yes to the future,” and by “saying yes to the future” we say “yes” to life.
As I observe this season of Advent, I hear the call to boldly and courageously embrace the future. I hear a voice saying: “Be not afraid. Instead, join together in building a future full of justice and mercy.” This may not be the kind of hope that comforts Cub fans, who seem to know that next year won't be any different from the last, but it will empower us to make a difference in the world in which we live. In many ways this candle represents a call to revolutionary action in the world.
The message of Christmas is this: God has become present among us in a child born into poverty in a time of great oppression. That birth came as a promise that hope and not despair would be the world's future. It bore witness to God's “yes” to life. Such a witness calls us to embrace the future and make that future happen.
Whatever your belief about Jesus or the Christmas story, whether or not you're a Christian or even religious, I invite you to join me today in lighting the Candle of Hope so that together we can say yes to life and build a better future in this world of ours.
Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org). He blogs at http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com and may be contacted at lompocdisciples@impulse.net or c/o First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, CA 93438.
December 2, 2007
Lompoc Record
December 2, 2007
In the Christian tradition, the four Sundays preceding Christmas form the season of Advent. In spite of all the ruckus that takes place during these weeks, this is supposed to be a time of prayerful preparation for celebrating Christ's birth. Many churches mark this season by lighting candles that carry messages of hope, peace, joy and love. Each “candle” has important implications for who we are and how we live. Therefore, I will be using the next four Sundays to reflect on these “candles” and their implications for the way we live together in the public square.
The first candle is that of Hope. Unfortunately, this word often carries the meaning of “wishful thinking.” Cubs fans hope that next year their team will go to the World Series. People buy lottery tickets in the hope that they'll actually win the big one. It is this kind of hope that gives birth to the phrase “hope springs eternal.” Such hope seems illusory and utterly lacking in realism. So, in a time of pessimism about the future, when war and economic uncertainty dominate our lives, to say: “Let's hope for the best” simply won't cut it.
When I light the candle of hope this isn't what I have in mind. When I think of hope, I understand that its opposite isn't realism; it's despair that seeks to pull us under. Such despair causes us not only to give up on the present, but the future as well. If our choice is between fantasy and despair, I suppose I'd choose fantasy, but perhaps there is another definition of hope, one that holds out a promise for the future, one that will energize us to change that which is changeable.
Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian of a previous generation, is famous for his “Serenity Prayer:”
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
In this prayer Niebuhr counsels us to recognize the difference between the things we can change and those we can't. Regarding the former, we should live courageously and work to bring into being a better world and future.
Jürgen Moltmann is another theologian who understands hope. His theology of hope was born out of the despair he experienced as prisoner of war at the end of World War II. In the British prison camp, this young German soldier came to understand the infamous policies of his former government; an awareness that brought him great shame and despair. It was there that he also became aware of the presence of God. That life-changing awareness led him to dedicate his life to making the future different from the past. We learn to hope, he says, by “saying yes to the future,” and by “saying yes to the future” we say “yes” to life.
As I observe this season of Advent, I hear the call to boldly and courageously embrace the future. I hear a voice saying: “Be not afraid. Instead, join together in building a future full of justice and mercy.” This may not be the kind of hope that comforts Cub fans, who seem to know that next year won't be any different from the last, but it will empower us to make a difference in the world in which we live. In many ways this candle represents a call to revolutionary action in the world.
The message of Christmas is this: God has become present among us in a child born into poverty in a time of great oppression. That birth came as a promise that hope and not despair would be the world's future. It bore witness to God's “yes” to life. Such a witness calls us to embrace the future and make that future happen.
Whatever your belief about Jesus or the Christmas story, whether or not you're a Christian or even religious, I invite you to join me today in lighting the Candle of Hope so that together we can say yes to life and build a better future in this world of ours.
Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org). He blogs at http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com and may be contacted at lompocdisciples@impulse.net or c/o First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, CA 93438.
December 2, 2007
Comments