Hope-full

Images of yellow tapes and ambulances removing covered bodies from two "nice" neighborhoods have been my wake-up snippets of news this week. One man in Yorba Linda killed himself and his wife and children. In Baldwin Park a young man killed his mother and four neighbors. The newscaster ended her report with this comment: "The shooter is only known to be a twenty- seven-year old man with possible mental problems." Ya think?

What I see so much in LA is a lack of hope. Often in the news we hear "motive is unknown." To me it's pretty clear--these people have absolutely no hope for the future. The present is so painful, the future so bleak--they take themselves and anyone in the near proximity out with them.

I watch faces at the bus stops. So many grim, hopeless faces. It's rare to see a spontaneous smile in LA, especially at those bus stops.

Life is a difficult journey. Mine hasn't been easy. But somewhere along the line I found faith; I've experienced the joy of the Lord. I know His grace in the darkest nights and the bleakest days.

The appeal of Barak Obama is no mystery. His message isn't just change--it's hope. He's offering a trickle of hope to a thirsty hope-parched land. He even wrote a book entitled "The Audacity of Hope."

Of course, placing all hopes in a man, no matter how fine the man may be, eventually falls flat. This city and this nation needs to find their hope in the Creator of the Universe.

Oh, Lord, fill our empty hearts with your ever-flowing streams. Bring us joy and show us your presence in all circumstances. Make us hope-full.

So Be It,
Mother T

Mother_t@yahoo.com