I traveled to El Paso recently and reconnected with old friends, listening to their life story as we caught up over the years. They are an awesome couple who accompanied me when I was Director of Youth Ministry many years ago. As we talked, Maria shared her challenge with stage-4 breast cancer. She experienced her own passion story and connected it with many other women who have fought the good fight and survived, through the grace of God. Now she is cancer free. I rejoiced with her and her husband, strongly feeling the power of God’s love.
Her husband shared about his many years of hospice chaplaincy work. Joe said people often ask him why he does this type of work, that it must be depressing staring death in the face daily. But he responds with a gentle smile, saying that everyone has a story to share; some are more difficult than others, and some are amazing human stories of hope. It is there, in listening and being present with those who are dying and their families where he finds hope. Hope for him is listening to how God is present in their lives. It is a blessing to be part of this faith journey.
This is the hope we see this Holy Week as we journey together as a community of believers recognizing God with us, God in us, and God who loves us abundantly. Today, in Psalm 27 we hear, “The Lord is my light and my salvation!” We encounter a Light of hope this week. We are invited to be men and women who bring a light of hope to others. We live in a world that needs hope right now as we look at the war in Ukraine, COVID-19, gas prices, the economy, mental health, racism, etc.… Everywhere we look we need a week of hope. So today I bring you Maria and Joe’s story of hope. In my journey of Lent this year God has been inviting me to be a person of hope with everyone I meet. It is not easy, but God provides insight through encounters with others.