“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of them is Love. ” ~ the “Apostle” Paul (1 Corinthians 13:13)

It’s Easter Monday, and spring is booming its BIG BEAUTY all around us.

I guess that means that today is a day for celebrating the rebirth of hope — whether you are a Christian or not.

That having been said, it is important to keep hope in its proper perspective — otherwise it will do us more harm than good.

Regardless of how you feel about Christianity & its Bible, the verse above illustrates this Truth very well.

“If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” ~ Albert Einstein

And this is especially so when you realize that the “love” mentioned by Paul in that verse is actually “agape” in the ancient Greek manuscripts — a word that meant so much more than mere “love”. Agape indeed trumps both faith and hope …

… Indeed, only agape that can save us.

Hope and faith both yearn for what we feel to be a better future — often for ourselves or the ones we happen to care for.

Agape, on the other hand, simply gives and gives and gives.

Agape serves the poor …

Agape greets strangers warmly, as though they were long-lost Friends (they are!) …

Agape forgives those who are wronging us …

Agape goes forth each day, grateful not for the good that will assuredly come our way,

but rather for the Good we can do for others.

And if we can remember this and act on it in our everyday lives — maybe only for ten minutes each day, our hope begins to shift.

We start to hope to lessen the suffering of those in pain …

We start to hope that the saddened once again know Joy …

We start to hope for a better world,

and we start to hope that we can play a small-but-significant part in making it so.
This is the hope that comes from real LOVE …

… got HOPE?

“Lord, save us all from the tree of hope that has lost the ability to put forth blossoms.” ~ inspired by Mark Twain

Filed under: Wisdoms from the Journey by Scaughdt