A Persistent Hope!

It started as a tiny, thin stem shooting up in the most unlikely of places- right between the patio stones and my driveway. I paused daily to cheer it on all the while thinking “It doesn’t have a chance to grow in such a place.”  But grow it did. In fact, it grew so tall it outgrew the side of our deck, and as I write it reaches up about 2.5 feet.

And is it ever beautiful; full of lovely purple flowers! Google tells me its name is Harebell and it grows wild, which means it has the tenacity to root even in the most desolate places adding indescribable beauty.

I have been calling her “Hope” for the past two weeks.  I asked my one son if he could snap a photo of Hope and he knew immediately what I meant (his photo is what I used for this Blog).

Hope has a way of growing in the most difficult places such as discouraged hearts, downcast spirits, and pandemic fatigued souls.  These are not easy times; many are struggling with the endurance of living under the influence of COVID-19.  As I write it is the twentieth week of the pandemic in Grey and Bruce Counties with no end in sight.  I know I am feeling frustrated, bored, and restless.  There are moments I lament, “When will this all be behind us?”

Then I commit myself to find signs of hope around me; I refuse to despair when God has filled creation with so much beauty.  I remind myself that this is but a part of the story, joy will return.

The Psalmist knew this as well. Being honest about our discouragement is the best way to navigate ourselves back to hope, as Psalm 42 reminds us, the discouragement is only for a while:

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42: 5 & 11)

Poet Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) also found hope in this same flower for she wrote, “Hope is like a Harebell…” and I add because it is determined to root and blossom into all its beauty despite everything.

So, go and be a Harebell!

Blessings,

Rev. Heather McCarrel