Hope - Page 46

fhansen · #**676** Mar 13, '09, 8:24 am

Thank you guys and gals, sisters and brothers, you’re gonna make me get all slobbery here. While I have genuine concerns in my life it’s probably also true that I’m less appreciative than I ought to be- others in this world have it much worse than me-but life’s not easy for any of us, at least if we wait long enough. I appreciate and covet your prayers, especially as they relate to my placing more Hope in God. It’s funny, because I’m at a point in my faith where I don’t think I would forsake Him and I believe He wouldn’t abandon me to my own despair or doubts for long, but I’ve had my share of “dark nights” in the past few years and I understand it more and more as a test and a “stretching” of my faith in and love for Him. And no matter how things go, my hope and commitment is to be able to persevere in proclaiming the goodness and love of God-He’s shown me too much to have any right to do otherwise. In any case, this thread’s included a special group who’ve done well at being more than civil and who’ve pretty well succeeded-unusually so, I’d say-at keeping the truth as our focus and egos at bay. I’ll start keeping you all in my prayers now, too- don't know why I didn't think of it before. Many thanks.

Socrates4Jesus · #**677** Mar 13, '09, 8:42 am

No, thank you for sharing the wisdom you've harvested from your experiences, FH. I personally am the better for it. May God's peace and joy keep you close to Him.

Socrates4Jesus · #**678** Mar 13, '09, 8:43 am

Forgot the title.

Socrates4Jesus · #**679** Mar 13, '09, 8:45 am

Orphans of Anxiety

In Fall timely fell
from my twisted tree
tortured fear Anxiety.

With a sigh did she so kindly die.
And in her grave laid i
my cries of, "Why?"

In Spring her doom was not in vain;
From earth's womb Hope sprang with amniotic rain
twin babes--a gentle girl and boisterous boy,
one she named peace, the other joy.

For these orphans she found
a nurturing home;
In my soul love i
each as my own.

Sister G · #**680** Mar 13, '09, 10:21 am

It has been an honor and an edifying experience to discuss these topics of faith and spirituality with you. I have been truly enriched by it! Please know that all of you are in my prayers!

onelife1 · #**681** Mar 13, '09, 12:02 pm

Fhansen...it's going to be alright. Soctates, your poem very touching...right to my heart!!

onelife1 · #**682** Mar 13, '09, 12:04 pm

Lamb of God take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us
grant us peace
Amen

Socrates4Jesus · #**683** Mar 13, '09, 4:43 pm

Amen.

Sister G · #**684** Mar 13, '09, 4:49 pm

Amen.

fhansen · #**685** Mar 13, '09, 6:34 pm

Amen

Charlemagne II · #**686** Mar 14, '09, 4:44 pm

HOPE

"Call it faith, call it vitality, call it the will to live, call it the religion of tomorrow morning, call it the immortality of man, call it self love and vanity; it is the thing that explains why man survives all things and why there is no such thing as a pessimist. It cannot be found in any dictionary or rewarded in any commonwealth: there is only one way in which it can even be noticed and recognized. If there be anywhere a man who has really lost it, his face out of a whole crowd of men will strike us like a blow. He may hang himself or become Prime Minister; it matters nothing. The man is dead." G.K. CHESTERTON

Socrates4Jesus · #**687** Mar 15, '09, 12:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlemagne II

HOPE

"Call it faith, call it vitality, call it the will to live, call it the religion of tomorrow morning, call it the immortality of man, call it self love and vanity; it is the thing that explains why man survives all things and why there is no such thing as a pessimist. It cannot be found in any dictionary or rewarded in any commonwealth: there is only one way in which it can even be noticed and recognized. If there be anywhere a man who has really lost it, his face out of a whole crowd of men will strike us like a blow. He may hang himself or become Prime Minister; it matters nothing. The man is dead." G.K. CHESTERTON

What do you think of Chersterton's thoughts on Hope, Charlemagne? In your opinion, is Hope all of these, some of these, or none of these?

Faith
Vitality
Will to live
Religion of tomorrow morning
Immortality
Self love
Vanity

Socrates4Jesus · #**688** Mar 16, '09, 4:44 am

Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, and seeing that Charlemagne might be hesitant to turn it himself for fear of the creatures that might squirm beneath, i'd briefly say this:

Faith appears to not be Hope. St. Paul makes a distinction between Faith, Hope and Love, teaching that they are three distinct virtues.
Hope might not be vitality. It is not this if by vitality one means exuberant physical strength or mental vigor. As evidence of this, those who are aged and weak in mind and body sometimes have a greater Hope than those who are young and more physically and mentally capable.
Hope is often not the will to live. A vital witness to this is the blood of the martyrs who willed to die out of Hope of better things to come after death.
Hope is not necessarily the religion of tomorrow. For one can no doubt have hopes for today.
Hope is not immortality. Though by Hope one might expect immortality, Hope itself dies upon death. If indeed one has what one hopes for beyond the grave, one no longer hopes for what he already has.
Hope is not always self love. There are numerous examples of those who suffer out of hope that others may benefit from their lack of concern for their own comfort.
Hope is likely never vanity. For i can think of no example where this might be the truth.

It appears, then, that Chesterton has little helpful to say to fulfill my hope of understanding Hope. However, i imagine that if he were present, he'd be able to defend his words and point out my errors, if indeed there are any.