Hope

What is hope? It's a good thing right? It's believing in a future, confident it will be better. And I have a hope, as a Christian I have a hope beyond this world- heaven. As a Christian I can hope in the promises of the Bible, that God has plans for me (to prosper me, blessings in this world and the next). But life has taught me that hope leads to disappointment. I have hoped for so many things over the past year; I dared to hope I had found my husband; I dared to hope that post uni life would be an adventure; I dared to hope living with friends would deepen our friendship; and each time I apply for a job I dare to hope that this might be the job I get. I dared to hope that 2008 would be the best year of my life, and it had all the makings of a great year. How cruelly have my hopes been dashed repeatedly. So now I would rather not hope to save disappointment- does hope outweigh the disappointment that ensues? Is a life without hope even bearable, even possible?

I do have hope, hope for the future and hope beyond the grave. But should hope be vague - things will work out somehow, somehow they'll get better? Dare I hope specifically. Dare I hope I will get this job? Dare I hope this is the start of something new?