Hope can be a mysterious friend. S/he comes and go with apparent free will. Nothing holds her close; everything seems able to trigger her disappearance. I watched a scene play out that could have been you, me, or anyone else.
It was clear from his body language that it had been a tough day. Brad was trying to wear his normal positive face, yet the strain of what he thought was required and the doubts that came along with the deliverables were extracting a visible toll. His brave face barely masked the tiredness that he was carrying that magnified the burdens of someone in his roll.
From my vantage point, I watched amazed. Unless something changed, soon and dramatically so, the future would bring a melt down and a series of negative outcomes for Brad and anyone in his community. There were no indications or reasons for change but something needed to change.
The day’s routine was broken by an unexpected visit. Brad’s wife and young son came by as a surprise. Knowing some of the family challenges I watched, wondering how this was going to play out.
“Dad, how are you? I so wanted to come by and see you. You look busy.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and silence dominated, “It is always good to see you!”
The mutual smiles between them gave way to hugs and father son chit chat.
Even in the moment I could see the change. I felt it first, almost as if a weight had been tossed to the side. As the relief, renewed purpose, and strength embedded itself, the courage and strength I admired in Brad returned. In the form of a little boy, I could hear the echo of the psalmist; “God’s my strength, he’s also my song, and now he’s my salvation.” (Psalm 118.14)
Hope arrives in time and forms uniquely its own. In this case, I doubt the young boy had any idea what he was doing in the larger story. I sat in reflection, realizing I had been refilled with hope and energized.
