Practicing Hope

In her poem, Every Day We are Learning, Amanda Gorman writes: “Just like a skill or any art, We cannot possess hope without practicing it. It is the most fundamental craft we demand of ourselves.” Bernice King recently shared: “Hope sees truth and still believes in better.”

We see what is happening and we believe in better. We are invited to practice what is better.

These words feel like an imperative today.

These past few weeks have been especially hard—in our Minnesota communities and in many of our families. Everyone I know seems to be carrying so much during this time.

Practicing hope requires that we keep our eyes and heart open to it. Here’s my personal litany of hope from this past week: Waking up to bird song · finding the question “Who are you going to be?” in Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s poem, Hello, Fear · judicial orders that read like poetry and are standing in the gap · the nearby church that has been collecting and delivering food to families afraid to leave their homes completely ran out of food on Monday night, and they were still able to serve 1,207 families on Tuesday · Bernice King’s words for Minnesota that she shared Jan. 24 · a friend calling to check in · knowing in my bones that we are held in and by Love.

Practicing hope requires that we put Love into action. We receive love and we give love like breathing. We become part of the movement of God’s love in the world. For me this week, that looked like picking up groceries at the Mexican grocery store to deliver to the church. Knowing that I’m just one small part of a movement of people caring for one another gives me hope. Practicing hope looks like bringing coffee to a friend and receiving a meal from another friend all on the same day. It’s then sharing that meal with my parents.  Inhaling Love and Exhaling Love. We care for one another.

Practicing hope means bearing witness, especially when it’s hard. It means refusing to numb or check out. It means resting when we need to rest. It means living into the promise that “God so loved the world” and invites us to be a part of that love.

How are you practicing hope these days? Where are you finding it? How are you living it? I would for sure love to hear about it.

Sacred Ground hopes that you will join us this month in the numerous opportunities we have to show up in our world, with and for one another.

With Gratitude and Blessing,
Jessica Sanborn
Program Coordinator