Tangled With Hope
I have never blogged before. I like the idea of it. I came home with soul-full of thoughts and wanted to write some of them down. So I went to this Google site and sat down to figure out this new technical hurdle for me to jump. With my luck I will pour out my heart and then try to hit "publish", only to receive some "failure" message. Insert chuckle.
It asked me for a title for my blog. I guess because I have craved most of all through my life, the Hope of glory (Col 1:27), I like the idea of Hope. Then I thought of the verse about hope being the anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:19) (indeed it IS)... and I thought it clever that "hope anchors soul". Just like rock smashes scissors, scissors cuts paper and paper covers rock.
HOPE is the anchor for our soul.
So, here goes...
Today we went to see the movie, "Tangled". Earlier in the day I found out some devastating news that a friend of mine, who has been trying to have a baby via a surrogate for some time now, had yet another failed attempt. This time the surrogate was to be her sister! This woman is the poster child for "Woman Who Deserves To Have a Child". It would take too long to go into all the details of this wonderful person and her heart and faith. I really, really thought that God was going to allow this to happen for her this time. She sent out an email to let us know the negative results and even her email talked about her trust in God in the midst of this horrible answer of "No".
My heart was extremely heavy as we left to go see our movie. The movie was a very good distraction as I hoped it would be. It was warm and funny and I would say is probably the best Disney movie I have ever seen!
Then came the part where the King and Queen are having another Memorial Celebration for the loss of their Rapunzel after 18 years. The exchange of the broken looks of the King and the Queen had me SOBBING. I had to close my eyes and do everything to make sure that the sobs stayed in my throat so I didn't appear the basket case that indeed I was at that moment. The reminder of the reality of life was almost too much to bear at that moment...
But guess what... the movie had a very happy ending! I know, that may be giving "everything" away, but you knew that already. Unless you're only 10 and haven't figured out that this is the way of all fairy tales.
I dare to say, that this is also the way of those who have placed their trust in Jesus.
During the movie, I couldn't help but sneak looks at my daughter, Holly and her little friend Olivia, who was sitting on the edge of her seat. The joy and hope in their faces was more wonderful than the movie! It reminded me why Jesus told us to come to Him with the heart of a little child. My two adult nieces had also come to that showing with three little ones in tow. They sat in the row behind us. Stealing peeks at them also gave me such joy, as well as hearing my niece, Allison, laugh fully at the funny scenes. Yes, there is a "laughing loudly" gene in our family!
My heart was laced with sadness, even the sadness of the fact that we had to leave our 7 yr old son behind because of his disability. Yet I cannot deny the reminder of a Future Hope. Today I did have reminders of that Hope. One that does not disappoint. One that does not involve tears or sorrow or loss or pain or confusion. There is indeed a happy ending.
I leave you with a favorite scene from The Lord of the Rings movie, "The Two Towers". Where Sam Gamgee gives his thoughtful account of the peril they had experienced thus far on their adventure...
He said, “I know, It’s all wrong, by rights we shouldn’t even be here, but we are. It’s like the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?”
And as Mr. Sam goes on to share his thoughts, the scenes that begin to unfold in the movie are things being put to right without their knowledge.
The HUGE battle his friends were fighting in another part of the country is finally being won, there is a scene where a gigantic flood washes away the place where all the evil has stemmed from, and Saruman, the evil wizard is left standing helpless.
Mr. Sam continues…
“But in the end it’s only a passing thing this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come and when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer.
Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were to young to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t, they kept going, because they were holding on to Something…
Hebrews 6:19a We have this Hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It asked me for a title for my blog. I guess because I have craved most of all through my life, the Hope of glory (Col 1:27), I like the idea of Hope. Then I thought of the verse about hope being the anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:19) (indeed it IS)... and I thought it clever that "hope anchors soul". Just like rock smashes scissors, scissors cuts paper and paper covers rock.
HOPE is the anchor for our soul.
So, here goes...
Today we went to see the movie, "Tangled". Earlier in the day I found out some devastating news that a friend of mine, who has been trying to have a baby via a surrogate for some time now, had yet another failed attempt. This time the surrogate was to be her sister! This woman is the poster child for "Woman Who Deserves To Have a Child". It would take too long to go into all the details of this wonderful person and her heart and faith. I really, really thought that God was going to allow this to happen for her this time. She sent out an email to let us know the negative results and even her email talked about her trust in God in the midst of this horrible answer of "No".
My heart was extremely heavy as we left to go see our movie. The movie was a very good distraction as I hoped it would be. It was warm and funny and I would say is probably the best Disney movie I have ever seen!
Then came the part where the King and Queen are having another Memorial Celebration for the loss of their Rapunzel after 18 years. The exchange of the broken looks of the King and the Queen had me SOBBING. I had to close my eyes and do everything to make sure that the sobs stayed in my throat so I didn't appear the basket case that indeed I was at that moment. The reminder of the reality of life was almost too much to bear at that moment...
But guess what... the movie had a very happy ending! I know, that may be giving "everything" away, but you knew that already. Unless you're only 10 and haven't figured out that this is the way of all fairy tales.
I dare to say, that this is also the way of those who have placed their trust in Jesus.
During the movie, I couldn't help but sneak looks at my daughter, Holly and her little friend Olivia, who was sitting on the edge of her seat. The joy and hope in their faces was more wonderful than the movie! It reminded me why Jesus told us to come to Him with the heart of a little child. My two adult nieces had also come to that showing with three little ones in tow. They sat in the row behind us. Stealing peeks at them also gave me such joy, as well as hearing my niece, Allison, laugh fully at the funny scenes. Yes, there is a "laughing loudly" gene in our family!
My heart was laced with sadness, even the sadness of the fact that we had to leave our 7 yr old son behind because of his disability. Yet I cannot deny the reminder of a Future Hope. Today I did have reminders of that Hope. One that does not disappoint. One that does not involve tears or sorrow or loss or pain or confusion. There is indeed a happy ending.
I leave you with a favorite scene from The Lord of the Rings movie, "The Two Towers". Where Sam Gamgee gives his thoughtful account of the peril they had experienced thus far on their adventure...
He said, “I know, It’s all wrong, by rights we shouldn’t even be here, but we are. It’s like the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?”
And as Mr. Sam goes on to share his thoughts, the scenes that begin to unfold in the movie are things being put to right without their knowledge.
The HUGE battle his friends were fighting in another part of the country is finally being won, there is a scene where a gigantic flood washes away the place where all the evil has stemmed from, and Saruman, the evil wizard is left standing helpless.
Mr. Sam continues…
“But in the end it’s only a passing thing this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come and when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer.
Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were to young to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t, they kept going, because they were holding on to Something…
Col 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is, CHRIST IN YOU, the Hope of glory.
Hebrews 6:19a We have this Hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
FIRST!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Man, Chris, I'm not sure I know anyone whose writing would make me happier. I'm SO. GLAD you're doing this!!!! And you're off to a great start.
Mine is here:
www.wonderloveandpraise.wordpress.com. I don't write often, but I try to make it matter.
Thanks for living out loud. I'm so glad we're friends!
Hugs,
Steph
Oh, Steph beat me. I'm glad you're writing Chris. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have just started writing again after taking a break for several years. Sometimes it's a little scary for me. I read recently that when we write, we live twice, once in the world and once in the word. I pray the journey uncovers Him.
ReplyDeleteHey Lady with hope, welcome to blogging!! I enjoyed this sooo much and I am looking forward to more. Make us thirsty Chris, and keep that Living Water flowing with hope that we can anchor to!!
ReplyDeleteCarol, you were my inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much ladies!