Brother Lawrence once wrote, "The whole substance of religion was faith, hope, and charity. In the practice of these we become united to the will of God."
I didn't know much about Brother Lawrence until last night's small group. I only knew of him as the guy who wrote "Practicing the Presence of God," a saintly man who must have prayed continually. And was tranquil and content. My polar opposite. Anyway, our leader asked us to write down ways we practice hope. Huh?
How do I practice hope?
How do I practice faith?
How do I practice charity?
(ok, I know those are multiple questions, and my subject line only says one, but just bear with me. they're all the same concept really.)
How does a person practice hope? Hope is such an ethereal idea to me. Romans 5. Psalm 42. Those don't totally shed light on the question. Do I practice hope when I pray? Am I hoping in God when I sit for a long time and just be with God? I think Bro. Lawrence would say I'm on the right track. But there's the itchy in my seat, raring to go side to me that just wants to say hope has to be more active than that! And the very word "practice" makes it seem like we do something to practice hope.
How do you practice hope?
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3 comments:
i plant nasturshum's in October.
i try to ressurect dead plants.
Also: i wake up in the morning (often i feel like just the energy and courage it takes to face another day is an act of hope).
And also:
Wendell Berry says "Every day do something that won't compute. Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing...Love someone who doesn't deserve it...Plant sequoias... Practice resurrection."
(an extended version: http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC30/Berry.htm)
i had almost killed my spider plant, but it refused to die! last week, i split it into three pots.
hope is alive. :)
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