DeanRobin :: Hopes realized, hopes dashed

This is Robin Walker's blog. I am the Dean of the Diocese of Brandon & Rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Cathedral, in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. I have been in this ministry since January of 2003. My big interest is "preaching among exiles," to borrow a term from Walter Brueggemann. This blog is mainly devoted to my sermons, and the sometimes circuitous process by which I get to them, as well as current issues in church life as I experience them. I welcome constructive comment on the content of my personal posts. Comments on linked articles should be directed to the appropriate authors. Note that this is a moderated blog. I will not accept comments dealing with local and/or personal issues. The main page normally contains only material from the current week. Past articles are found in other categories.

This Month

Main Page » Seasonal meditations » Advent 2006

Previous:	The Habit of Hope: Advent Sunday 2006 (Dec. 3)
Next:	The gift of reason

Hopes realized, hopes dashed

by Robin Walker on Mon 04 Dec 2006 08:05 PM CST | Permanent Link | Cosmos

Today's Gospel: Matthew 8:5-13. This reflection is being posted a bit late, because the last day and a half have been hectic, to say the least.

After yesterday's morning services, my wife and I headed for one of the local East Indian restaurant for lunch, to find that they were now closing on Sundays. The meal we eventually had was OK, but not what we were hoping for. Then, home to tend to the dog's needs, a quick turnaround and off to a concert by the Winnipeg Symphony. Wondrous event! The highlight was a performance of John Adams' "The Dharma at Big Sur," a concerto for electric violin, played by the dedicatee, Tracy Silverman. A real trip, and everything I might hope for in "new music." The second half was Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, wonderful in its own right, but the Adams piece is what will stay with me.

Then, last night, our annual service of Advent Lessons and Carols. A real counter-cultural event. Every other church and organization is doing Christmas stuff, and we did Advent. It went very well, even if the church was almost empty. The two choirs almost outnumbered the congregation.

Today, we went to Winnipeg to look for shoes. My wife needs specially fitted shoes, not available here in Brandon, and so the 2+ hour drive was necessary. We did find shoes for her, but not boots. And then we went for lunch, heading to a Thai restaurant that had been recommended to us, only to find that it was not open today. Just like yesterday -- hope was dashed again.

By the time we got home, it was suppertime... and now I'm exhausted.

These past two days have been filled with hopes. Some have been fulfilled, some have not. The centurion in today's Gospel went to Jesus in hope, knowing that his power did not run to the healing of his servant, but he was full of hope that Jesus would hear his request and act. He was not disappointed, although Jesus said that many who hoped for the kingdom would be.

Thinking of the times in the past two days when my hopes were not realized, it seems to me that I might have done something to avoid disappointment -- phoning ahead, checking ads, doing better PR for the service.

But that seems to put me ahead of God. So I pray,

Dear God,
help me to hope only in your grace,
and not to rely
on myself and my own efforts
in the realization of my hopes.
For you alone are giver of all good things,
and in you alone am I to hope.
For the love of your son Jesus.

Amen.

Posted to:

Advent 2006