I lose hope sometimes.
It’s like the desired outcome seems a million miles away and a thousand dance moves have to be made.
God, can’t you just prod a person this way and then another way, all with some larger hope story in mind
Perhaps you do.
I wonder if out of my prayerful moments, something is born.
Maybe two daughters come to my side and pray with me.
Hope Has two beautiful daughters
The quote has been attributed to Augustine, but this is in dispute.
It’s an interesting quote to ponder on, though.
Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage.
Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.
For me, it’s a call to see what having hope births out of me.
Anger and courage
The first one is anger. Anger at the way things are. Yes, I see what could be and how it is not.
The distance is wide but could be smaller.
My anger causes me to act.
I am to pray and not to miss the larger story. The story where God groans and waits. Romans 8:19-23
I want ‘my kingdom’ to go and ‘God’s kingdom’ come.
I pray for courage.
Courage to do what I can to make a change.
I am comfortable with my place, but it takes courage to step out of the boat and feel vulnerable.
To initiate something to bring about the desired hope.
But, again, I dare not tamper with what God is wanting to happen. So I pray.
Some poetic prayers to pray.
I hope
I hope
For what I do not see
I see it
But it has not yet come
I see the child
Walking up the road
My arms reach out
Unburdening repentant load
My daughters come to remind
Anger at what has transpired
Courage to kneel and prayer
They’re in a pig sty mired
Hope for the new day
Perhaps it will bring a spark
A simple little neuron shift
To help them leave the dark
I watch and wait
I look down the road
When will they come?
A feast waits to be had
I sit with Job
I pray with Paul
In the prison cell of the pain
Bring me some relief today
Be my all in all
Hope is a seed
I throw to the air
Where it lands
Is in God’s care
I pray with hope
I open my hands
Fill me with a Naomi baby*
Sacred prayer sacred land
If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25
*Naomi baby – ‘ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. 17 The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.‘ Ruth 4:16-17
I have some hope
I have some hope
And then it’s dashed
I long for peace
Then find a war plan
Anger comes quickly
I want to be violent
To take the world by force
Until my anger has been spent
I buck up courage
To try and make the change
Only to find things that bother me the most
Are determined to remain the same
I have a beautiful daughter
Anger is her name
She wants things to change
Others want them to stay the same
I have a beautiful daughter
Courage is her name
She bids me take a little step
‘Come, there is no shame’
My beautiful daughters
Sing me into life
They stir the hope within me
Fuel up the dimming fire
They take me to my knees
They meet me on the floor
‘Come let’s pray for change’
‘An opening of a door’
