Sacred Connections: Glimpses of Hope
Many of us entered this new year with hope, or perhaps, hoping for hope. Yet, these first weeks have felt very mixed. We’ve witnessed dramatic new lows, and thankfully, also moments of inspiration and glimpses of hope.
We’ve seen the violent attack on our capital, a desperate attempt to interrupt our democratic process; and we’ve seen brave representatives return to that very space where they had experienced terror to complete the work they were elected to do.
We’ve seen COVID-19 deaths in our country surpass 400,000; and we’ve witnessed a very moving ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial, honoring and remembering those we have lost, bringing us together in our grief.
We’ve seen armed troops and barriers surrounding our nation’s capital to maintain protection for this week’s inauguration; and we’ve seen creative, well-orchestrated ways to allow us to come together virtually as a nation and watch the transfer of power in peace.
We’ve witnessed an inauguration day devoid of large gatherings to celebrate this especially historic event; yet we’ve witnessed meaningful small gatherings and glorious entertainment adhering to best medical guidelines to help keep everyone safe.
These few weeks of 2021 have been a constant reminder to look at the whole of what is in front of us, because if we turn away from the dark and difficult moments, we also miss the beautiful and healing moments, the glimpses of hope.
In these past couple of days, perhaps for some of us, hope was embodied by the young poet, Amanda Gorman, who read her poem, “The Hill We Climb” near the close of the inauguration ceremony. A twenty-two-year-old, dressed in a bright yellow coat and a bold red headband, her hands flowed with grace as her inspiring words took flight. Words that did not deny the realities of our history and the desperate conditions of the present day, but that delivered a message of the power of redemption, the beauty of diversity within the strength of unity, our accountability in the present moment, the faith that supports us, and the hope that will not be denied.
I was so drawn to Amanda’s words and the passion with which she delivered them that I sought to learn more. The Washington Post reported that only a few years earlier, Amanda had had to struggle to overcome a speech impediment. Writing had become her way of self-expression when she had felt unable to express herself aloud. This added glimpse of her courage and determination, only magnified the inspiration of her words.
We catch glimpses of the depth of individuals’ experience, the unique struggles each of us face in the journeys of our lives. We’ll never know the details of most people’s stories, but it is our life experiences and empathy that connect us. It is our humanity that enables us to love one another, to support one another, to see each other as family under God. And that connection invites shared grief, shared bravery, shared hope, shared light.
Amanda closed her reading with the words:
When day comes, we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light,
If only we're brave enough to see it.
If only we're brave enough to be it.
That feels like hope. Let us all heed this invitation. Let us walk in the light of Christ.
