Hope, we always need hope

I haven't written anything lately because listening to the news has been depressing.  This doesn't sit well with a person who is usually optimistic, upbeat, and can always see the sunny side of life.  But, it is time to put on my big girl panties and find the hope that is out there. This means finding hope in the state of Bath County, the state of our country and especially the state of the church.

Let's begin with Bath County.  For those who read this and live here, you know exactly what I mean. Not including the supervisor from my district, I truly believe the rest of our elected officials have decided that a wall on our boarder isn't enough; we need a wall around our county.  However, there is hope.  It did my heart good to see the courthouse full on Tuesday to fight for the future of our home. Even though some don't want to see it, tourism is our life here, from The Homestead to Millboro General Store, the businesses of our county need not only the support of our residents; they need the support which comes from those who come here to hike, to celebrate anniversaries, to take part in our triathlon, to view the beauty of God's creation.  Yes, there is hope even in the chaos of Bath County.

Let's look at the state of our country.  In the past couple elections, I personally feel that our election process has declined.  We, as the voters, want to hear about the issues, how these people we vote for will work for us, will help us, will, with our support, make our lives better.  Instead, we hear about personal vendettas and accusations thrown around like a basketball in practice. Today, I said to John that as sad as it sounds, I am glad that my parents are not alive to hear the language used in this election cycle.  They would not be pleased.  We turn on the news, the debates, the internet and it is bad.  As I paraphrase John Oliver, "We are down so far we cannot the the underside of rock bottom."  However, there is hope.  In spite of what we hear, we are a great country, a great people; people of all races, people of all lifestyles, people of all backgrounds,  We live in a country where our speech is still free, we can worship where we wish, and we can vote every year.

My hope is in the vote.  Everyone who reads this needs to remember that we have the right and we must vote come November 8.  I have heard people say that this election isn't worth it; this election is SO WORTH IT!  My hope comes that each November, no matter who or what is on the ballot, we cast our votes because we are free.  So my motherly advise is: GO VOTE, IT IS YOUR RIGHT, IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR PATRIOTISM.  We publicly cry that we are citizens and patriots; voting is the ultimate of our rights, so exercise that right and vote!

Finally, let's look at the state of our church, and for me that is the state of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We have been beat up a whole lot lately, and we have been divided and spent a great deal of time talking about who's leaving and who's staying.  In the middle of this mess we tend to forget, that we all are children of God, redeemed by Christ and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  We tend to forget that we can have different opinions and diverse theology and yet we can still sit together every Lord's Day, side by side and sing praises to God, confess our sins, hear God's Word, and be called to ministry and mission to the world.  We tend to forget that God is in control of everything and that God's hope is that all things will work for good for those who love and serve the Lord.  So my hope, when it comes to the church, is in God and in all that God has planned for us as His chosen Children.  My hope is in the fact that my Redeemer Lives; He lives in each of us, and calls us in exciting and different ways.  My hope comes in how I see Presbyterian Disaster Assistance be ready to be in Haiti, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina as the flood waters recede from hurricane Matthew.  My hope comes when I read the blogs of our YAV's (Young Adult Volunteers) who are spreading God's love and grace all over the world.  My hope comes when I hear the stories of our missionaries and where they are working globally.  My hope grows each and every day as I hear the stories of how the church is growing and changing to meet the world where it is and share the love of God. My hope is in where and how God is pushing me to see the world differently.

I probably went on longer than usual but I have been struggling with what I have been hearing, seeing, reading and witnessing, and how God is stirring the pot of soup in which we live.  I hope that my hope can help you in the days ahead.

Grace & Peace,
Olivia