The Pastor’s Corner

Rev. Bob Wedda

Spring 2008

 

I think it is so appropriate that our orphanage is called Hope House. When you and I give of our love and our money we bring hope to these children. Hope is a commodity that is getting to be in short supply in our world today. But as we bring hope we become light bearers to the world that God is alive and still cares.

Hope is why human beings keep bringing children into the world. Hope is why there are hospitals and universities. Hope is why there are orphanages and programs to help children. No composer would agonize over a score without hope that some glimmer of beauty would emerge from the struggle. No parent would agonize over a child without the hope that the child might live a better, nobler, happier life than they did.

When he was an old man, the master painter Henri Matisse was crippled with arthritis. Wrapping his fingers around a brush was painful, painting was agony. Someone asked him why he kept painting. He answered, “The pain goes away; the beauty endures.” That is hope.

Hope is what made Moses willing to take on Pharoah. Hope is what drove the prophets to keep taking on City Hall. Hope is what made the early disciples move out to change the world. Hope is what they brought to people who were lost and lonely and unloved. (Does this sound familiar?)

We can survive the loss of a lot of things, but no one can live without hope. When it is gone – we are done. That is why it is so important to stay focused on the presence and power of God. When we fail to do this we are like the steelworker walking on an I-beam three hundred feet in the air who begins to look down. When we become more focused on the overwhelming nature of the storm than the overwhelming presence of God, we’re in trouble. The Bible speaks of this often in terms of “losing heart.” Those first disciples didn’t fall into that trap. They looked to Jesus – and they found hope!

Moses sent out twelve scouts to explore the Promised Land, to look at their enemies – people who defied God. Ten came back and said, “The people are like giants. We’d better turn around and go back.” Two – Joshua and Caleb – said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

All twelve looked at the same land – faced the same situation – and reached two diametrically opposed conclusions. One looked at the future with fear – the other looked at the future with hope. Those first disciples could have looked at their future with despair – but they didn’t! They knew God was with them.

And that is what motivates us here at Threshold. We look to the future with hope. TMI Hope House was not just some wishful thinking of our part. We want to bring hope to children who have been afraid to look up. And all of you who support children through Threshold are bringers of hope - you are giving these children a future that will dramatically change their outlook on life!

Clarence Jordan once said something that should be at the heart of our actions. This is what he said, “Fear is the polio of the soul – it keeps one from walking in faith.” Let us always walk with Hope and Faith - and Without Fear.

 

-Pastor Bob