Friend of Dial Hope, I have a confession to make. Are you ready for this? I am an in-curable hoper and I want you to follow suit. I have a bias that no problem on earth is ever truly insoluble; problems are opportunities filled with possibilities. I do everything in my power to solve problems rather than create them. And I firmly believe that hope is our sustaining friend. It keeps us going through the good times and the restless nights
of our souls.

To be sure, you will be sorely tempted to despair at times. Some of you listening to or reading this message are terminally ill, some of you are lonely and depressed, some of you are learning how to live with physical and emotional pain. I advise you: ward off cynicism and cultivate hopefulness. It is a choice you will be called to make daily. The cynic says, “Blessed are they who believe in nothing, for they shall not be disappointed”. The hopeful person says, “Despite all of life’s ills, pains and problems, it is still a beautiful world.” Such an attitude will make all the difference in your world. For the hoper, unlike the wishful thinker, is willing to work his or her head off that it might just come to be. We live as we hope. Good friends Kathy and Harry Dodge reminded me that Emily Dickinson wrote, “Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.”

Let us pray: Loving God, it’s morning again…another day knocks. The tide of light rises, slides down the walls, across the ceiling, into my eyes, purging the darkness, slowly smoothing the crinkles of sleep. A particle of light has pierced our heart reminding us to begin again, to get up and go. You promise to bless us so we may be a blessing to others. You give us contagious enthusiasm, so we can go on limping, hoping on every step a testament of gratitude. We scratch the ears of dogs, laugh at the ballet of cats and Pelicans, and dolphins. Help us this day to hear the cry and gurgle of the newborn, to learn from hundreds of teachers, some of them homeless, poor, and uneducated.

Awaken us to the beauty of the mockingbirds, the Milky Way. For You alone, O Lord,
are our hope. You alone are our safety, our strength. May we – even with our fears and
anxieties, our insecurities and uncertainties – trust, totally trust in your loving care and
plan for our lives. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In a recent sermon, the Rev. King Duncan told a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness, he came across what he thought was a signpost. It was so dark that he began to climb the post so that he could read it. As he reached the top of the pole, he struck a match to see, and he found himself looking directly into the face of Jesus. He realized that, rather than running into a signpost, he had climbed a roadside crucifix. Then he remembered the One who had died for him . . . who had endured . . . who had never turned back. The next morning the soldier was back in the trenches.

Duncan made the point, “Maybe that’s what you and I need to do in the moments of our distress and darkness – strike a match in the darkness and look on the face of Jesus Christ. For Christ is here…” Christ is with you.

In the book of Hebrews we read these words of encouragement:

“…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Let us pray: O God, Immanuel, In moments of darkness and despair may we remember that you are indeed with us. Grant us light enough to see. May the same courage, perseverance and strength that empowered Jesus also empower us. We ask in his name. Amen.

Today, I need to ask for your help. If you are able to make a donation to Dial Hope, any size gift will make a difference. Especially at this critical time, when so many people are feeling isolated, anxious and worried, your gifts will enable us to continue to spread ripples of hope.

I don’t know if you’ve seen the images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Awesome is the only word I know to describe them. It just makes me realize how beautiful and vast the universe is – and it makes me realize that we worship a God who is huge – who created all of this. And even on a smaller scale – sometimes I find myself sitting out on the ocean – looking out at this endless water – and I feel like a speck – so insignificant in the overall scheme of things.

And then on the other hand, I was in our sanctuary early one morning and I was listening to the song Agnus Dei – Lamb of God, and I was praying through the words. All of a sudden it started to rain outside and I could just feel God stirring my soul. I felt this deep desire to surrender my anxiety – to surrender my life again and I lifted up my hands.

It’s amazing to me to think that the Lord – the creator of the universe – the creator of all that is – has created us to be in intimate communion with him – to have this deep connection at a level of the soul. And that God would actually use things like music and rain and silence to draw us closer to the source of life. It is beautiful really when you think about it.

Today I pray that you would find a moment to stop and rest in God’s giving presence. May you remember that the One who created this vast beautiful universe also created you. And his love for you will never end.

Let us pray: Everlasting God, creator of the ends of the earth, we claim today the promises of the prophet Isaiah, “you give power to the faint, and strength to the powerless… Even youths will… grow weary… but those who wait for you shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” We wait for you this day. Fill us again from the springs of the river of life, that we would give you the praise and serve you with our lives. Amen.

If you look closely at a map of Scotland and look at the West Country near Loch Lomond, you’ll see a spot on the map labeled, “Rest and Be Thankful.” That is not a mandate from the mapmaker, but actually, the name of a mountain pass noted for its breathtaking view. The place got its name because, in the days before cars, you had to slog through a long uphill climb to get there. Once you reached the top, you’d find yourself in a broad level place with a spectacular vista, a sight made all the sweeter by the knowledge that the road was all downhill from there. Rest and be thankful.

Many of us could stand to do that a little more often. In the midst of busy days, changing diapers or managing an office; balancing appointments or serving at church, we all need moments to pause, collect our thoughts and gain some perspective. We may not always have a spectacular vista right in front of us, but, we don’t have to look far to find something to be thankful for: the smile of a grandchild, the warmth of a winter fire, the unconditional love of a child, a dinner shared with friends. May you find an occasion every day to “rest and be thankful.”

Let us pray: Loving God, we have much to be grateful for – though sometimes we’re too busy, too preoccupied, too distracted to realize it. Grant us the foresight to plan moments for rest and reflection and prayer. When we feel anxious, calm our spirits. When we are worried, ease our burdens. When we feel as though the world is against us, open our eyes again to your grace. Slow us down and grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have you heard about the confidential report on several candidates being considered for a pastorate at a local church? Let me share just a few with you:

Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. Prone to unrealistic building projects.

Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.

David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor’s wife.

Jonah: Refused God’s call until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here.

Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper – even had been known to curse. Aggressive, a bit of a loose cannon.

Paul: Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact and has been known to preach all night.

Timothy: Too young!

Methuselah: Too old… WAY too old!

Jesus: Has had popular times, but once his church grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all, and then this church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he’s single!

This just reminds me never to be too quick to judge! God works through all kinds of people – even people we’d never expect – even people like you and me.

Pastor and scholar Eugene Peterson once wrote, “God, it turns out, does not require good people in order to do good work. As one medieval saying has it, “God draws straight lines with a crooked stick.” He can and does work with us, whatever the moral and spiritual condition in which he finds us. God, we realize, does some of his best work using the most unlikely people.”

Our prayer today comes out of my tradition’s book of common worship. Let us pray: Eternal God, you call us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.