OK, so when I sat down I wasn't thinking of Star Wars. But when I wrote out the title, who wouldn't go with this association? It seems a lot of things, disparate and unconnected, point to the theme of Hope. Conversations I have had with friends and family seem to work around this theme for the last several weeks. And though I wasn't thinking about it, sometimes that hope seems as foolish and unadvised as the bands of rebels the empire was seeking out to wipe out in that movie of beautiful archetypes (See Joseph Campbell). Another way to put it is "Nothing is impossible with God." The context of that quote is astonishing (See KEA's post on Mary).

But really brought me to the keyboard this fine morning is something else. The above paragraph is only the rambling of word association from writing in the title. No, what has really got me thinking about hope in the last few days is u2 and my Mom. I am currently listening to Joshua Tree and the sweeping exultation of how streets have no name breaks out from the organ stuff at the beginning is really a great musical prelude to the lyrical inspiration of the song and of the whole album, really. And what is beautiful is that it is a hope that is knowledgeable about the pain of this world, that is experienced in what is going on in the world, in the lives of people, yet untainted, undiminished. and 20 years after its arrival, the band continues to be a lampstand of hope, even having seen so much more of the hurts of life, of this world. And it is a hope in grand things, in a new heaven and a new earth. It is about taking up the causes of those who have gone before, of those who do not have a voice, and calling out for justice, for righteousness. The hope that drives u2 is a hope unfulfilled, still searching, still pushing. While recognizing the reality of how things are, it casts a vision of how things ought to be, , and in so doing gives a glimpse of how things will be.

A conversation with my Mom this week reminded me of that hope this week. My mom, whose wisdom is disputed only by her, shared with me about being patient in times of (inner) conflict and indecision. She talked to me about the need to sing a new song, and I talked to her about an old song sung by an old but hopeful rock band.




If you hadn't guessed, I just figured out in the last few posts how to use the "link" button. So this is a little overboard, but really, y'all are all thinking what songs you'd put into the linked words I used. I recognize anyone with any familiarity with the band is already acquainted with the theme of hope and reality the band brings to the table. These are just my thought right now.