“Hope”—A Spiritual Reflection by Debbie Clark
“…they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid…” Micah 4:3b-4a
For the last few weeks, I’ve been assiduously reading the opinion pages of the Globe and the Metrowest Daily News, and assorted articles online. With almost every column I’ve read about Syria, I found myself nodding in agreement.
I read pieces arguing that fighting violence with more violence simply leads to further violence–and I nodded my head. I read columns pointing out the danger of allowing a dictator to use chemical weapons with impunity. Faith-based authors called me back to the teaching of Jesus. Then there were the columns that pointed to the national and international political implications of any decision–the impact on the reputation of our nation and on the office of the presidency. I felt myself twisting in the wind, grateful that I’m not the President or a member of Congress.
As the days wore on, I began to hope that the delay would mean someone would come up with another option. I laughed at myself for being naive.
Then the news broke about conversations between Russians and Syrians that might point toward a diplomatic breakthrough. Commentators remind us that it is a long-shot. But it is a possibility. There is hope.
A few days ago I laughed at myself for daring to hope. It is so easy to become cynical in this messy, complicated world. We are cynical about people in power doing anything good. We are cynical that the global situation could possible get better. Some of our cynicism is based in reality; sometimes it becomes an excuse for apathy.
Hope is not naive. Hope doesn’t ignore reality; it claims a vision of a deeper reality: there is a God of peace and healing at work in the world through the power of love.
I don’t know what will happen in the next few days. I will pray for this diplomatic possibility to come to fruition. I will give to efforts to help the hundreds of thousands of refugees struggling to survive. And I will dare to hope.
God of hope, be with all your beloved people. Be with the refugees in and around Syria, with people grieving the loss of loved ones, with diplomats and political leaders, soldiers and rebels. Work through us to bring peace. Call us back to hope. Amen.