Contributed by ~liz Sorensen Wessel  It is easy to become cynical in times of deep cutting change; much harder to choose an attitude of optimism or to embrace hope.

Cynicism raises a protective wall in an attempt to shun the pain of how we perceive situations or circumstances around us. As I grapple with my own ambivalence to change, the wisdom of others comes to greet me and offer Love’s expansive view.

Yesterday morning I received a meaningful blessing via e-mail. I wish to share an excerpt, which explores the distinction between optimism and hope.

"Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things – the weather, human relationships, the political situation, wars, and so on – will improve. Hope is the trust that God will fulfill God’s promise in a way that leads us to love more deeply and freely. The optimist speaks about changes in the future. The person who hopes lives in the moment and trusts that all of life is in good hands. Optimism is a personality trait; hope is a choice that risks God’s goodness. When we hope, we rely on God’s faithfulness, even though we cannot envision a foreseeable future of optimism."

"Hope is essentially an act of faith rooted in love. It involves radical openness and vulnerability to life in the present moment and waiting with endurance, trusting that uncertainty, loneliness, restlessness, loss, confusion, etc… will lead to greater freedom, to a more genuine love. A love that 'bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things' (1 Cor. 13:7)."

"It is difficult to hope when destructive tsunamis ravage our Japanese cities and violence is used to uphold corrupt political systems in Africa and the Middle East while other systems seem to favor special interests of a few rather than the common good for all. But when we hope, we wait in openness for God’s promise to come true, even though we do not know when, where, or how this might happen. We trust in God’s indwelling presence and laboring to bring about good. We embrace ourselves as the Beloved. We love."

" 'Lord, help me to love more fully today, through moments of hope; teach me to be in solidarity with those who suffer and are oppressed.' "

Written by David Hoover and inspired by the writings of Henri Nouwin

This morning another blessing arrives in the way of a prayer from a friend.

It is from Nan Merrill's Psalms For Praying.

"Abandon yourself to the Beloved,
draw closer and closer to Love.
For when you dwell in peace within Love's heart,
and know the Divine Spirit in your own heart,
You become as nothing, yet
all things are yours.
As you radiate the healing love of
your inmost being
into a suffering, scarred, yet
ever-sacred world,
Offer grateful praise from the chalice
of your heart
to the One who loves through you,
Great peace have those who co-create
with You,
who share the living wine of your Spirit."

Sketch, 'Hope' by ~liz