Hope

It is the first Sunday of the new year, 2022. Countless dreams, goals and resolutions are being made. In Ghana, Christians crowd churches in white outfits (signifying celebration or thanksgiving). They give thanks for the year before and put forward their hopes and petitions for the year ahead. Of course, many hope and pray that the new year would be better than the last.

Over the last few days, as I pause to reflect on what lies ahead, there is a feeling that I need to brace myself. Afterall, the deadlines, disappointments and relationship difficulties do not wipe away when the clock strikes 12 O'clock. They are still there.

Driving down the road, the coconut seller still sells coconut, the street hawker still runs back and forth in the scorching sun with her baby at her back and beggars still gather at the car when you stop at the traffic lights. It is another day.

Life goes on.

A father, brother, friend and a well loved boss is lost too soon, a storm brings devastation to families and communities, a friend struggles with depression, and another loses a job opportunity. These struggles are all around.

Of course there are good times. Joy and laughter with family and friends, celebration of new life and weddings, and new job opportunities. But sometimes it is just so hard to move on from the difficult times, to shift from only focussing on what is not going well, to what is.

In these times, it seems hope is the only remedy.

The Cambridge dictionary defines hope as a belief that something you want, will happen.

It is easy to lose hope in the midst of challenges, and in times of waiting. But true hope is more that just wishful thinking or being optimistic. Hope cannot be based on your circumstance. Hope must be based on something more substantial. Hope must have a strong foundation.

For me, hope is based on believing that there is a God. In believing there is a God who is not far beyond the clouds, but closer than my skin and knows me more than I know myself. My hope is in believing that he cares so much for humanity that he gave up His son, so that we may have a close relationship with him.

My hope is based on the conviction that he is sovereign, and he has a plan. That even when I do not understand what is going on, he has the bigger picture. I believe that if I continually put my trust in him, he would direct my path. That I would gain more, in dying daily to my selfish interests and submitting to his will. My hope is in focusing more on what is eternal and unseen than what is seen. My hope is in a God who is always good and always faithful.

For in God alone, O my soul wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken

Psalm 62:5-6

My hope is that even in in the darkest moments, I will still draw close to God in prayer, remembering that he holds me, and listen for guidance in the still small voice:

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

I am not big on making new years resolutions because I believe you can resolve to make changes and set goals on any day and at any time of the year. However having a word or scripture to focus on can be a source of encouragement throughout the year. For me this year it is hope. I need hope every day and every month. We all need hope everyday of the year.

As we step into this new year, this my prayer for each of us:

May the God of hope fill us with all joy in believing, that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

May your year be filled with hope that is built on a strong foundation, a hope that is active, that thrives, flourishes, and overflows. This year will be better because of a hope that abounds.

A way in the wilderness and streams in the desert

Dear Friends,

It has been just over a year since I started "notes on a Sunday morning". This was something that had been on my heart for years, and yet I never felt it was the right time to start. There was always an excuse; not enough time, not knowing enough or not having the right words. But when it comes down to it, not starting was most likely a result of fear. A fear of being vulnerable (sharing my thoughts and weaknesses out there), and a fear of failure.

In the end I decided to just go for it, because I felt God tugging on my heart telling me to just go, and see what He would do. I also decided that it was better to give it go and have failed, than to have never tried at all. And so, I took the plunge.

I had to learn to start a website and a blog. I had to be intentional in praying and thinking through what to write each month, so that in whatever small way, it may be an encouragement to a reader wherever they were and whatever they may be going through. I try to use my own images, and so I have had to be more intentional in capturing images that tell a story (I still have a long way to go). Most of all, I have had to listen to my own reflections and take action.

Looking back now, I am so glad I took that step. I am so grateful for each one of you, who clicked to read, for the love and encouragement, for the critical feedback, and for keeping me accountable when I have been quiet for too long.

So, what is ahead of us in the new year? My vision is to continue to have this space for reflection, encouragement, and growth in our Christian walk, without a sermon.

In this world, life can feel chaotic. One can feel lost as in a wilderness, and one can feel parched as in a desert. My hope is that we can together point to the path in the wilderness and the streams in the desert as we do this journey together. That each one of us would be able to encourage and hold someone else’s hand along this journey. That new and beautiful things would be birthed as we walk this path together. I am inspired by what God says in Isaiah:

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert

Isaiah 43:19

As we continue this journey, I would love to hear from you! What would you like to see more of? What was your favorite post? Are there topics you’d like us to delve into? What thoughts or ideas do you have for notes on a Sunday morning? Nothing is too small, too big or too crazy! Do feel free to drop them in the comments section or send me an email.

Finally as we celebrate a year of notes on a Sunday morning, do select your most loved post so far and share with a friend today. If you haven't already, subscribe by filling in your email in the box at the bottom of this webpage. This way you would never miss a post!

Truly, I am excited for what lies ahead. What a difference a year makes….

Yours,

The other side of 4000 weeks

As we approach the last months of the year, a friend remarked on how the year had flown by so quickly. This is not a new sentiment, and I’m sure many of us often feel this way as each year draws to an end or when we celebrate a birthday. It reminded me of an interesting discussion I came across that got me thinking. It was an interview with the author Oliver Burkeman, where he talked about his recent book. He points out that the average human lifespan is 4000 weeks, and encourages us to bear this in mind regularly, in order to manage our time more effectively (before it's too late).

Life seems remarkably short when calculated as matter of weeks (4000 weeks, is approximately 76 years). We are reminded that regardless of the timing, for all of us, death is inevitable.

So what does this mean? Is it all doom and gloom, or does this reminder inspire and encourage us to be more intentional about how we spend our hours and our days?

The psalmist shares a similar sentiment, reminding us of the brevity of life and to be wise in having this in mind as we live our days out:

"The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." Psalm 90:10

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Modern life is often described as busy. We fill our lives with activity. There is never quite enough time. There is always something to do, and something we are perpetually running late for. Many of us have our identities forged in work, with weak boundaries between work and personal life. Many of us lead lives based on what others may think of us.

Would we change our priority list if we were more conscious of our limited time on this earth? Would we take that holiday we had dreamed of but never went? Would we treasure our time with family and be more present instead of constantly being on our phones? Perhaps we may slow down a bit more, enjoy life and savour the beauty of the world around us more.

We work, and we toil. Some through the harshest conditions, to put bread on the table. Some risk their lives to be able to provide for their families. Maybe for some, 4000 weeks makes no difference, it is about surviving each day as the sun comes up.

So, I find myself asking, is it as simple as this? Do we just count down the weeks? the good and the bad, until we reach the end? Many of us (if not all of us) hope to make an impact on those nearest and dearest to us. Some may even have great impact around the globe and be remembered for years to come. And yet still, I believe that for each of us there is more.

I believe that there is more on the other side of 4000 weeks. In musing on life and its purpose, Solomon sums up in Ecclesiastes 3, that God has placed eternity in the hearts of us all, and that we should do good, be joyful and enjoy our toil (fruit of our labour), as God's gift to us.

There is an eternity that lies before us. As children of God believing in the gift of Jesus Christ, there is an eternity ahead with our Lord and Father. Instead of focusing on the limited time we have here on earth, what would it look like to live regularly reminded that this world passes away, but he who does the will of God lives forever?

Do you have ‘forever’ in mind as you spend time with family and friends, go to work and even as you serve others? Has the thought of ‘forever’ caused you to pray more deeply for others and the world around you?

Does the thought of ‘forever’ push you into doing all things for the glory of God, and to focus on that which is unseen and eternal, rather than on things that are seen and transient?

As we come towards the end of the year, it is good to reflect on what has been achieved in the year, and our goals for the year ahead. It is good to have in mind that we are mortal and our time on this earth is short. But even more important, is to remember that eternity starts now, and there is eternity on the other side of ‘4000 weeks’. May this drive us in the in our walk of faith, in what we value, in our relationships with others, in the mundane and in our daily pursuits.