A Child Called Hope

My previous post mentions hope: hope from situations that act as a reminder that there is another way and hope form inspiring people who make you believe you can be part of the change. It seemed logical to follow it (even if it took a few days to get round to it) with my final Taize poem from the summer, which is also about Hope.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in your faith, so that in the power of the Holy Spirit you may be rich in Hope” 

Romans 15:13

One of the workshops in Taize this summer was on the theme of hope. It was very good. I probably should have taken notes, because now I can't remember a huge amount of what was said: just odd phrases and snapshots, and the fact that it was very good. There was a brief mention of a French poem in which Hope makes a guest appearance as a little girl. I haven't read the poem, so I can hardly say this one is inspired by that one, but I liked the idea, and this is the result.

With wide eyes filled with wonder

She gazes out upon the world

And her sparkling eyes are smiling

At the beauty of possibility

In which dreams can all come true

Not tied by cares and expectations

Or the suspicions of the worldly-wise

Drawn upwards to the unending sky

Where clouds of gloom now gather

She sees only the rainbow that shines

While upheld hands gently scatter

Petals of joy which flutter and swirl

Floating down to steadily cover

The grey earth in multi-colours

On a road known by the name of love

As tiny feet urge onwards

Tugging at fearful, resistant hearts

Setting out on an unknown path

She skips towards a longed-for future

Of peace and light and life

Peering out from a forgotten corner

She stands and smiles and waits

Still dancing beneath the raindrops

To a melody that is all her own

Is the tenacious child called Hope.

And suddenly

Something else seems possible

And the world

smiles again

Maybe sometimes hope doesn't come from creative situations or inspiring people; maybe sometimes it comes from God: and maybe, in those moments, God is a little girl sprinkling petals on our path or tugging us by the hand to go towards beautiful places that are just a tiny, little bit scary ...