Crossroads

Tearfund’s Global Hope Report reveals that our hope in the world, in government, community and even ourselves is low. Have we lost our capacity to hope?

Our imagination might have even taken a hit as we now wonder, what does hope look like?

For some hope looks like a ‘wombat’.

A strange response no doubt, but that was what a community in southern Victoria named a small wombat who had lost its mother in an act of deliberate roadkill.

They discovered her lactating body on the side of the road and knew there must be a baby nearby, but could not find it.

Many from the community helped with the search, until by accident three weeks later a local stumbled upon her on an evening walk.

They nursed her back to health and she was named ‘Hope’.

They have given this little one a future. Her survival and discovery had restored the community’s hope in humanity, at least a little.

I heard this story on the radio as the community shared the good news.

That is the power of hope. It can restore our belief that good is possible in the world.

However, I could not help but wonder if that is all we have. In the midst of an uncertain world, full of fear and worry, do we only have glimpses of hope?

In the Bible we discover that hope has a name, ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3.

Christian hope is not just about regaining an optimism for the future.

It is anchored in the past and what God has faithfully done through Jesus. This means it cannot be taken away.

As we look to Jesus, we find what hope looks like. It looks like a God who draws near to us and makes his home in the world.

For ourselves, when we lose hope it causes us to retreat which can leave us isolated.

Hope looks like drawing near to others because that’s what God did. It looks humble.

When God came to us as Jesus, he came with a servant heart. Luke’s record of the Good News demonstrates the lowliness that Jesus displayed.

When we lose hope it can cause us to want to reassert ourselves. Hope looks like finding a way to humbly serve others (including little lost wombats).

For Christians the Bible points them to Jesus to find hope. It is not a look within, but a voice from without, even beyond the grave who says all is not lost.

There is renewed life that a God of mercy offers us through faith in Jesus and by following Jesus.

Rev Tim Bowles

Deacon

Christ Church Anglican Echuca