As we approach the vernal equinox (the beginning of spring) I think about how hope and spring are intrinsically tied to one another. The hope that winter will finally be done. The hope that with the warmer weather flowers will bloom and the world will be renewed. And in addition along with the renewal of the planet will be a renewal of its people as well.

Recently I have been feeling that hope is getting lost in the shuffle. The gift of hope is being pushed to the end of ‘The Gifts List’ and either under valued or overlooked in our modern [current] view of the future. Though we are prone to glorify hope’s kissing cousins, faith and love, we neglect the importance of hope. It was once written that the greatest of all gifts is love. But I beg to offer a differing perspective. I believe hope is the most important because it leads to faith and love. I’ll explain my non-scientific reasoning.

Hope is the one thing you can have when you don’t have anything but the breath in your body. When you’ve gone past depression and are at the back end of despair; you can still have hope. You can be un-loved and lose your faith but there’s still the hope they will return. Hope is that thing you hold onto when there is nothing else. Hope precedes everything!

Hope is the beginning point of Faith and Love. Hope is the place we invest our dreams and deposit our intention. Through undying hope we discover the power of faith and the courage to love. And without hope nothing relevant will ever matter to you. Hope after all is really a call to action. Hope and its frequent manifestation prayer are rendered useless with out the will to act on the opportunity that will present itself. Hope needs me as much as I need it!

As we begin the season of renewal I am focusing my intention on renewing my hope for the future. I will affirm my hope by allowing it to become faith in finding a constructive way to reconcile our differences and work together. I will confirm my hope that we will love enough to uphold the dignity of life on every level and work to enhance it. I promise to not just keep hope alive but to grow it into a flourishing garden. I invite you to join me with your own renewal of hope this spring.

Sincerely,