Oh 2022, I think we’re all a bit scared of you….but this morning as I crawl out of bed to a yard blanketed with desperately needed snow (and a trampoline that flew across it in the wind this week), I have been thinking about hope.
I love hope.
But I know hope is dangerous, too.
It’s so easy to lose hope, especially when the kicks keep coming.
But I think it mostly prevails, too.
I think it’s a good thing to go into a new year cautiously, maybe more grounded into the truth of humanity, instead of the false idea that “we’re just around the corner of something easier…” (this has been very dangerous in my life and is always a sign that i’m on a track that probably is unrealistic and false.)
Human-ing is hard.
Living on this wild and crazy earth in fragile bodies and tender souls is somewhat of a miracle.
I’m amazed at what human beings survive.
I’m amazed at how humans can keep going despite the worst possible things.
I’m amazed at how much good is in the world despite so much hard.
Humans—embodying God & Love & Good in all kinds of beautiful ways—give me hope.
You, dear humans, are freaking amazing.
It makes me cry this morning thinking of all of you beautiful brave people.
surviving the worst possible things.
living out your values despite the costs.
caring for people in so many creative ways.
fighting for freedom for others and finding it for yourself.
breaking boundaries that need breaking.
fanning new faith into flame from embers.
healing from deep wounds.
grieving and living at the same time.
advocating for and embodying change.
trying to make jacked up systems better.
practicing love when hate’s so much easier.
rising out of the ashes—literally and figuratively, again and again.
So as we go into this new year cautiously, honestly, soberly, bravely, may tender hope prevail.
May we be tender with ourselves.
May we be tender with others.
May we be tender with the world.
Hope prevails and humans are incredible.