We have all heard a lot about how important it is to have Faith.  I don’t want to diminish how important a trusting relationship with God is. Its critical.  Charity is important too. Its the only one which last forever. No doubt about it.  But I rarely hear much about Hope, the middle sibling of the other two.  We often don’t pay attention to how hope moves in our lives affecting so many of our choices. We pray in hope of God’s blessings. We go out on dates in hope of a fulfilling relationship. We go to work hoping to earn money to support our families.  We make plans in hope of a better future whether its going to school or on a vacation. So what is this Hope that so many spiritual men have mentioned?

        Some have suggested that we should focus our hope in achieving salvation through Jesus Christ. But I have found that to be an empty waste of time. That’s a selfish approach. It’s not satisfying for that’s not what I seek. But when I pour my soul out to the Lord expressing my hope that others I love will find salvation or some needed improvement in their hearts; then I find salvation for myself.   I want my loved ones coming with me to meet my Lord. When their choices separate them from me it just plain hurts. Real hope has to endure some pain. I can never escape that. But at least I’m in good company. the divine comes most easily upon those who seek to bring it to others. (By salvation I mean the presence of angels, Holy Spirit or Christ.)

        There are worldly levels of hope. The lowest is expecting to find joy and pleasure in causing pain to others. Evil spirits are full of this. Divorces often contain elements of it. When I see it among children, I always try to make a point of clearly showing them how sick this is. Those who place hope in such spiritual perversions find their prayers go dry and their hearts and minds shrivel away from the reality of God’s mercy. They become lost in delusions.

The next level is hope in luck. This form feeds life’s blood to lotteries and gambling. I have been to casinos and watched as all Luck’s worshipers bowed and prayed as they fed their time and money to Luck’s idols. I often hear how people go and enjoy themselves gambling away a little money, winning a little and then losing much more.  If I didn’t understand the principles behind hope, I might feel the same way.  It can be quite exciting and fun.  But the energies of our heart are meant for powering a higher purpose than this.

The highest hope this world has to offer is in hard work and creativity. Hope in immediate results from present work or the better hope in postponed results of education. These depend somewhat on the economy and our abilities.  This hope isn’t fool proof, but it usually achieves the highest return on our time and efforts. But there is something worth far more than any of these.

        I was reading a biography of Ramakrishna yesterday.  His parents wanted him to have an education like his older brothers had.  He tried but his heart wasn’t in it.  All he really wanted to do was to worship and pray.  He meditated a lot and began to experience Samadhi: a spiritual state of ecstasy where one is in the presence of God. He considered spending any effort on anything of this world a waste of his time.  I’m never going to be quite so fanatic.  But I have been soul to soul with the Holy Spirit. The first couple of times I blacked out from the joy.  But as I grew stronger, as exhausting as the experiences were, they left me filled with joy. I had to share my happiness with everyone I touched. I see no way to get rich off of it. 

        Hope in finding the divine and developing a working relationship is more than just a vain concept we hear at church. Hope that those we love will come to the Father is never lost on the wicked.  I was given a memory of Lucifer and I couldn’t help hoping he will repent. I simply can’t give up on him.  The Hope of God can’t quit. Hope never gives up, it never says die. (I heard that in some movie, but it’s true.)  Let the highest hopes have their place in our hearts.  Give them time and let them rule.  Guidance will come and direct them to profit us.