I dedicate this particular post to a man called Simon Lovatt.
It is two years now since I left North Staffs YMCA, in that time it seems like I’ve crammed in quite a lot – enough to forget some other things. Yet I remember Simon who worked at the YMCA. He was a man for whom I have a great deal of admiration, respect and love. His walk with God was a blessing to me in that he never had to whip out a bible verse or speak of what happened the last time at church to share the reality of Jesus in his life. He would just talk about his work with the young people and what he hoped to do in his typical chilled and laid-back manner.
On a day like today (Thursday) those who wanted would meet in the Boardroom at the YM and we would share and pray together. It was at such a time on one occasion that Simon spoke of hope, its importance, its application and its power in every day life. More than quite a number of others who made a bigger deal of their ‘profession’ of faith, Simon lived that concept out in his relation to others.
When I think of hope I’m reminded about a storyline theme in Dr. Who. Yeah, I watch Dr. Who. Yeah I like Dr. Who actually, so there. No I’m not embarrassed, it’s a good programme. Good, I’m glad you agree!
Anyway, in the latest two series The Doctor has journeyed with his companion Amy and her husband Rory. The connection between the Doctor and Amy began when Amy was a child and unknown to her was the first person to meet the Doctor after he had regenerated. As ever in Dr. Who, there was a mysterious issue going on in the crack of the wall of Amelia’s bedroom. The Doctor was keen to explore it, but as his TARDIS was on the blink he just needed to nip off to fix it before returning for Amelia. This was when she was a little girl, he returned quite a number of years (and serious therapies for Amy) later – trust the TARDIS to be somewhat out in what it means by returning in five minutes. (A bit like some other people’s concept of time, but I won’t mention anything about Jamaicans.)
In the space of time, Amy did not give up her hope that the ‘raggedy Doctor’ would return and her friends and family were barraged with talk of this mysterious stranger in the blue box. To them it was the ‘imaginary friend’ syndrome gone wild. To her it was real – and on his return, all her hopes were vindicated. The Doctor likewise was impressed by the faith of the girl who waited.
Later in the series there is a similar sub-plot concerning Amy’s husband Rory who has to wait for nearly two millennia before he can be reunited with the love of his life. (If you’re being all realistic and suggesting that he shouldn’t be able to wait that long for her, just buy the box-set and catch up on the series! While you’re there you might as well get the following box-set which further informs us of the Rory-Amy-Doctor hopeful story.)
The themes remain the same – the theme of hope – unquenching, empowering, life-filling hope. Hope against all odds. Hope against ‘reasoned argument’ that would suggest otherwise. Hope in the bleakest night. Hope in tear-stained circumstances.
You may recall yesterday’s talk about all being for the glory of God. What motivates that is the power of Hope. We have the assurance of what Jesus has done at Calvary and in the empty tomb, ascension and Pentecost. It is what lies ahead, what we look forward to, what we hope for that can bring that much more blessed consolation in present challenges. It is the power of the hope we have within is that answers those who wonder why we can behave in such a contrasting manner.
Unlike Amy we are not waiting for a funny man in a box to take us away. Very much like Rory our hope is in the love of our life. We await a real and living hope full of glory that in Himself will radiate glory to the ends of the earth and usher in the fully manifest realisation of what God spoke of in the beginning.
Some people talk about not getting your hopes up for fear of the great fall should those hopes materialise. Our kind of hope, that reality of our hope in Christ continues to make life worth living. Jesus alone is worth keeping our hopes up.
I thank God for meeting an amazing man like Simon Lovatt who can remind me of the great power of hope.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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Life With CD 