Hope for the Long Haul

We have been battling an unseen enemy for almost a year now. We have had to sacrifice, work together, and think of the greater good just like others who have fought seen enemies in earlier times. And like them, like anyone engaged in a battle, we are tired.

We speak of hope, another unseen thing, our unseen weapon in fighting this unseen viral enemy. But what happens when you are under attack and life is hard and your energy begins to fade? What then? Will our hope carry us for the long haul?

My faith tradition brings to mind this text, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (Eph. 6:13) These words remind me that hope has the ability to strengthen and fortify our resolve to carry on and finish well.

It is also interesting that this “God armor” is made up of unseen things like trust, truth, peace, and right thinking. It seems these qualities knit themselves together and provide us with hope, a hope that sustains us when we are tired.

How do we know these unseen qualities exist? We see what is unseen when we witness kindness and generosity in others, when we see love being extended, when we observe generous acts, when we see positivity rates decreasing because we have been doing the hard work. We see them when we take a moment to look for them. And as we do, hope is stirred and promises to carry us for the long haul.

May we all be standing firm when this battle is over. May we have eyes to see the unseen and allow hope to carry us on, carry us through.

Cherie Shaw, CPE Intern