As 2020 comes to a close, we are in a season of hope. Believe it or not.

Too often, we confuse hope and expectation. “Expectations are resentments under construction,” says author Ann Lamont.  When we are upset that what we hoped for didn’t happen, that is expectation, not hope. 

The virtue of hope is different. It recognizes that there are no guarantees in life. It is not tied to the outcome. Rather, hope brings us to the light inside of us amidst our vulnerability.  A light that may dim but still shines no matter what.

Yes, we all hope for the success of the coming vaccines and the end of this pandemic. But my ability to maintain hope does not require this to happen. For tying it to some desired result can readily bring despair, as so many have felt over these past nine months.  True hope comes from within.

For Christians, the Advent season is a time of hope – waiting in joyful anticipation of the birth of Jesus.  The hope is less about something that will come and more of a reminder that he has come.  A reminder that God so loves us that he became a part of us. We celebrate the fullness of this incarnation on Christmas Day.

For Jews, Hannukah is a message of hope.  The Hannukah story tells of a small group of the Jewish people overcoming great odds to defeat a mighty power. Their perseverance and hope are signified in the festival of lights held over the eight days of Hannukah. Lights that serve as a reminder that God is with his people.

In each tradition, it is no accident that the light of hope came in the form of vulnerability – be it an infant in a manger or an overmatched people.

How can you and I be people of hope today? See the light in the world amidst the darkness of a deadly virus, racial unrest, and political acrimony. See the goodness in everyone regardless of their failings and differences. See the beauty in your partner when they cannot see it in themselves. See the wholeness and holiness that is inside of you even when you feel broken.

An ancient prayer reminds us that even the darkest night heralds the dawn of a new day. Christmas and Hannukah are happening this year, bringing their message of hope. Not even a global pandemic can stop them. May we all be vulnerable and open to receive it.

The days are now starting to get longer. There WILL be more light in the days ahead!