Pastor’s Corner: Hope’s Daughters

October 3, 2018

“Hope has two lovely daughters, Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they need not remain as they are.” (Attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo)

To be honest, I struggle with all three of these – Hope, Anger, and Courage. I practice, and practice, and practice my faith, and maybe someday I’ll “get it right.” I watch my anger like a hawk, because like a hawk it can fly away, and it’s got a wicked beak and nasty talons.

As for courage, well… I’ll just say I have a talent for avoidance.

Jokes aside, though, I know enough to know that hope (and faith, and love) have to be practiced. They’re not feelings to be experienced for a moment or two, but actions to be cultivated. I tend to cultivate hope with beauty: the deep reds of dawn, the flutters of bird wings, the elegance of dance. Other ways include prayer and the Bible, experiences of community, exercise and accomplishment, family and affection.

Anger, too, needs to be practiced. Some may need to practice its restraint; others need to practice its expression. Anger is a good servant, but a bad master: it feeds energy and commitment into the work of reforming the world. Unconstrained, it tears down all around it and leaves little to build upon.

Courage, too, needs to be practiced. Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is when we take action despite our fear. Directionless courage accomplishes little. Courage exercised toward a purpose, however: it reshapes the world.

With anger and courage we have the ability to help our hopes take shape and form. We can make a difference.

Things need not remain as they are.

With aloha,

Pastor Eric

Photo by Bud Ellison; used by permission under Creative Commons license.