A JOURNEY
OF HOPE

Hope Contemplations

One
Cherish, Honor, Love and Respect yourself and others. The value we place on our lives allows us to unlock, build, rely on, and trust the preciousness of who we are in this world. Even with our mistakes, we can still seek to live now with value and dignity.

Two
Remember we have the free will to choose the way we view any situation or event in our lives. Despair may touch us, but it doesn't have to become an option. In spite of the fact that we all stumble and get depressed, we can choose to hope, and not to despair.

Three
Just as it takes a conscious effort to develop peace of mind, so too does it take a conscious effort to have hope.

Four
Hope gives a joyous outlook on life. Hope reflects spiritual commitment to the good.

Five
Sharing our hopes with friends builds closeness.

Six
If every moment can be seen as new, then there is always room for hope. We need to concentrate on our present actions and find the hope contained in them.

Seven
Hope is destroyed by worry.

Eight
While we cannot control the outcome of everything in our lives, we can hope to discover what God is trying to teach us in the moment. Ask yourself ... what is God trying to teach me in this moment? ... What lesson am I learning? Even if it is a difficult lesson, how will this bring about the best in me?

Nine
Every moment is of value ... and that value is discovered and unlocked when we cherish each moment and see it as an opportunity for compassionate living. This helps us see eternity in the moment. Tasting that brings great reverence for life ... and with reverence in our heart touching us, we do not become a partner with sadness, despair and negativity.

Ten
Hope can transform sadness into happiness ... so happiness is built on hope. Guilt, hurt and anger can be the result of not taking care of our pain in the moment. Finding ways to soothe our pain allows hope to grow.

Eleven
Living with Hope teaches us to face our struggles in the moment because we know that it is possible to find goodness in who we are, and in our world.

Twelve
By not fearing suffering we can find hope's secret ... that even in the pain, we can serve ... and all life is ultimately for the good.

Thirteen
Seeking approval from others, in the end, distances us from who we are. It denies God's faith in us ... that we each bring something unique to give to the world.

Fourteen
Hope teaches us never to despair.

Fifteen
Hope keeps us away from the trap of seeking perfection. Instead, it allows us to focus on healing our imperfections. Seeking and nourishing the hope in our Heart keeps us far from falling into discouragement ... because we know - life always has another moment, and another tomorrow.