A perspective of hope

There is so much pain in our world..

The tragedy that surrounds the wildfires in Hawaii is so great that it is difficult to comprehend. Canada is also facing it's own horrendous battle and devastating losses. There is war in Ukraine and rumors of war surround us. We are witnessing storms. People are battling homelessness, and I have friends and family that are in the hospital facing difficult illnesses.

It can be hard to find reasons to celebrate or give thanks. In our scripture passage this week, we are retuning to the book of Nehemiah. The people living in that time had every reason focus on the pain in their lives. There was talk of warfare, and their enemies were ridiculing their work. Life came with so many burdens, and it would have been very hard to let go of the harsh realities of the world. 

Nehemiah tried to change the people's perspective. He gave them a reason to focus on the Good News that was also present in their lives. They read from the scriptures. They took time to appreciate all the work they had done, and they gave thanks for God's work in their lives. 

I believe Christ wants each of us to look at the world with a fresh perspective. Jesus was always able to see a bigger picture. Many of us, like the early disciples, can easily get bogged down by the difficulties we face. I think God wants us to stay rooted in reality, but we also have to have faith that God's Love is always going to win.

Last Saturday, my youngest son celebrated his 5th birthday. It wound up being a birthday in the rain with all the weather we faced. However, my son had a blast. There was so much excitement and love that surrounded the moment, and he enjoyed every bit of it. Sometimes things do not go as planned, but if we take time to experience the blessings, God's Love surrounds us. 

Today I hope each of you can take time to love. Let's not become so overwhelmed that we forget the blessings that surround us. God is present in each of our lives. Let's experience the grace and peace of Christ everyday.

Blessings,

Brian Ward