And fear has run the other way.
Words are weak that don't know how to say,
"You know I still believe in You."
And should my dreams fall through,
I will be safe with You.
So with every breath I can breathe,
I'll sing about how You love me.
I'll sing about how You live me.
-Bebo Norman
A tragedy that happened to a family back in my hometown today put this short but thoughtful song by Bebo Norman into my head. Being so far away from home, it's hard to be sure of all the facts...but to my understanding, a young man - just a few years younger than me - died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It's speculation at this point as to whether it was intentional or accidental. But this - along with the recent high-profile death of DJ AM - made me start thinking about the importance of hope. Whether you're religious or not, you have to hope for something - strive towards something - live for something, something anchored deep within ourselves...without that, there really is nothing left.
I've taken several emotional and psychological hits lately, but I've never been anywhere close to the despair that one must have in order to take his or her own life. And I pray I never get to that point. What a terrifying place that must be! To feel that you have no hope for the future...that there's no chance for circumstances to ever get any better than what they are...to invest so deeply in another person or thing that there's no real reason to go on if that person or thing is suddenly taken away. Yes, hope is essential. It drives us forward, it guides us through difficult times, it allows us to envision what's just over the horizon.
Cling to your hope. Anchor it and hang on tight. After all, the loss of hope isn't just the loss of a cherished life...it's the loss of a next breath, another miracle, a beautiful sunrise that brings a new opportunity, a blooming dream, a son, a daughter, a mother, a father...a friend.
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