*Five Minute Friday is an initiative set up by Lisa-Jo Baker over at Surprised by Motherhood. It has now been taken over by Kate over at Heading Home. The basic premise is to take the word Kate gives and write, non-stop for 5 minutes. Then you stop and post. Read more about it here. This October, I am taking part in a series based on this called “31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes”, in which we commit to writing from the prompt as usual, but everyday rather than just on a Friday. Read more here.
Hope
GO
Sometimes reading the news can be quite a depressing affair. More and more so these days, it seems.
The refugee crisis, drownings, shootings in schools, 15-year-olds who are so bored with life that they hack a phone giant leaving millions of people vulnerable.
It’s tough, to look at the world and see despair, disaster, pain.
But what is strange and inspiring is how it seems like the story rarely ends there.
There is a horrific shooting in a church that is followed by forgiveness, faith, and fellowship. One person does something abominable that makes you lose hope in humanity, but many more respond with love, forgiveness, mercy. And hope is restored.
The drowning and mistreatment of refugees weighs us down, but the response from most is one of compassion, humility and welcome.
We hear of earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and we mourn and weep with those who are affected, and we respond with generosity and love.
It’s so easy to lose hope when we look at what is happening in the world.
But the story never ends where the media article does.
Even when all seems ugly, there is always beauty.
Even when all seems lost, there is always hope.
Hope in God, hope in the future, and hope in each other.
People surprise you. And kindness wins.
So when I read through the sad stories of the day, I pray and wait for the good that follows, as it so often does.
I hope. Always.
STOP
