Hope-more-ness

“Where hope would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes faith.” ~Robert Brault, American free-lance writer

It was February, a cold, winter’s night in Dayton. That winter, Stephen had been living under the old abandoned railroad bridge over South Patterson Boulevard near Veterans Park. It had been owned by the Norfolk Southern Railroad Company but it had been out of use for decades. The city was planning on tearing it down.

It was Stephen’s only shelter. He was hungry and cold. It was 20 degrees and had started snowing an hour or so earlier. He felt afraid, useless, and as if his life had just “run out of road.” The thoughts of suicide had been growing in him for some time. Maybe he was like this old train trestle the city was going to tear down. Maybe he had outlived his usefulness and it was time to just be done away with.

As he was considering the possible ways in which he could end his life and his misery, Stephen heard someone crying on the bridge platform above. He scrambled up the side of the bridge embankment. Reaching the top he discovered a young woman.   

Her only possessions were the clothes she wore.  She had a strange cherub-like face. Her name was Vangelis, a very strange name. Vangelis told Stephen she too was contemplating suicide.

Stephen invited her to come down to the sheltering area under the bridge. They spent the night around a barrel fire, talking about their addictions and a higher power they both sensed but could not grasp. They shared their experience, strength, and hope with one another.

Stephen awoke the next morning leaning against a stone bridge pillar, his body cold and stiff, but his spirits lifted. Vangelis, however, was gone. He never saw her again after that night. But for some unexplainable reason he was no longer afraid of being homeless and living under a bridge.

Do you believe in angels? I do! Not the ones of the Italian Renaissance variety who flutter in on gossamer wings and wear designer gowns. I mean real angels. Those beings who show up in our lives without explanation and seemingly at exactly the right moment. Who says they need harps, halos, and designer clothes?

An angel is any being who acts as God’s messenger. And I can think of no greater message to share than our own experiences of hope. Hope is faith, but it is more than that. It is faith reaching out its hand into the darkness, whether that darkness be addiction, loneliness, despair, or the constant pressure of daily life.

As stewards of the world we are given, we are called to be God’s angels. When someone is reaching out in hope, we need to reach back in faith.

This Thanksgiving, make it your calling to be an angel to someone. Share with them your experience, strength and hope. Fulfill some of their basic needs: food, comfort, companionship.

The world needs hope and a lot more angels.

Dear God: Help me to share my experience, strength and hope.

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.” ~Anne Lamott, American novelist and non-fiction writer (b1954)

©2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

“90 Second Stewardship” is a reflection on being a Christian Steward in a secular and sometimes harsh world. This reflection is written by Deacon James E. Carper, Director of Marketing and Development at Holy Name of Jesus School in south/central Los Angeles. All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the “© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.