Hope Is An Art

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life.”

Proverbs 13:12

Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:

• This passage from The Book of Proverbs encourages those who want to engage their divine inner wisdom. Because proverbs in general offer a do-this, not-that perspective, they reveal the paths of abundant living for anyone who wants to be nourished by the Tree of Life’s inexhaustible, spiritual sustenance.
• Hope is a confident desire for future fulfillment. It’s an element of Advent, the contemplative season that prepares you for Christmas. But even if Advent isn’t part of your spiritual practice, you can still appreciate the power of hope and your own inner wisdom, your intuition.
• Hope resonates within your body as an energy of expectation and intention, whether positive or negative. It flows through your subconscious mind, which like a recording device, only replays the info it’s given. So, you may feel disappointed if you express a negative hope such as, “I hope they fail.”  In contrast, positive hope activates feelings of assurance.  For example, saying to a colleague, “I hope you succeed,” actually encourages you both to achieve what’s best for you.
• Robin R. Meyers says in his 2000 book, Morning Sun on a White Piano: Simple Pleasures and the Sacramental Life, that hope is important for the wellbeing of civilization. He believes: “Living with tender hope is not a waste of time, and seeding life with possibility is not just the foolish sport of children. . . . Consider hope to be the one disposition for which there is no acceptable alternative.  Be patient, and remember how often things work out according to a wisdom that is beyond understanding.”
• Demonstration is your evidence of how well your life works. Cultivating hope is healthy for your mind, body, and soul. Hope thrives as you recognize your deepest desires.  So, the art of hope is being grounded in the present, believing in best outcome, and directing your energy and intentions in positive, life-affirming ways.

Contemplation Questions:

As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:

• In what ways, if any, do I feel hopeless?
  • List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.

• In what negative ways have I directed my hope?
  • List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.

• In what positive ways can I direct my hope now?
  • List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.

• What are at least three (3) ways I can recognize hope as a tree of life?
  • List, word map, or illustrate as much as you imagine.

Use this devotional anytime you want to cultivate hope.  As you do, remember that no one has the power to eliminate or diminish your hope.  You’re the one who determines where it goes.  So, avoid fixing your hope on specific people or conclusions.  Stay grounded in the present and affirm your best outcome, even if you can’t yet imagine it.  Trust your intuition and let yourself to be guided to your best.

© 2024 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.

Photo from Shutterstock by Martyn Cooling.