BRIGHTEN OUR HEARTS WITH HOPE: REARRANGE

MONDAY, WEEK ONE: HOPE

Today’s task is to brighten our room by letting in more light. In what ways might you bring more light of Hope into your heart-room? Would you set a reading lamp near a comfy chair with a good book nearby? Would you light a fire in the fireplace or light a candle? Would you place a chair near the window to watch the snow falling? How might you rearrange your room or your priorities to increase the light of Hope?

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Today I choose to simply open the curtains and look beyond my inner room. Hope rises even when I see the reality of the outside world, for I also see the dawn on the horizon, the carefree spirit of the birds and chipmunks, the beauty of the season. Hope also rises because, as I open my heart to look beyond myself, greater daylight then pours in. When we rearrange our priorities and open ourselves to more of Hope’s light, we see beyond ourselves to the needs–and the beauty–of the world. And as we look outward, the light of Christ is shining in, illuminating the needs of our rooms and guiding our steps within them.

It is you who light my lamp;
    the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
(Psalm 18:28)

I then open a dark closet, and I am reminded of childhood moments when I sat in the corner of my bedroom closet, hiding away. That small dark space was my sanctuary of solitude and stillness. There is a place for darkness within the light of Hope, I think to myself.

I leave the closet dark.

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. –Francis Bacon

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The light of Christ is our Hope. How will you foster more of this light into your room, your life? Is there a space for quiet darkness to remain? May Hope fill your room to overflowing–then pour out through your open window as a beacon for all to see.

Bible verse is NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen