lenten 40: day 35 - hope

image 35.

scripture.


thoughts.
there is a magnificent scene in The Shawshank Redemption where Andy Dufresne is placed in solitary confinement for 30 days after he locked himself inside the warden's office and played Le Nozze di Figaro by Motzart over the prison's loudspeakers. Upon his return, his friends ask him about his time in 'the hole'. "Easiest time I ever did" he told them. In the midst of their disbelief Andy Dufresne explained himself to Red.

Andy: I had Mr. Mozart to keep me company...[points and taps his head.] It was in here. [gestures over his heart] And in here. That's the beauty of music. They can't get that from you. Haven't you ever felt that way about music?

Red: Well... I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it, though. Didn't make too much sense in here.

Andy: No, here's where it makes the most sense. You need it so you don't forget.

Red: Forget?

Andy: That there are places in the world that aren't made out of stone. That there's... there's somethin' inside that they can't get to; that they can't touch. It's yours.

Red: What are you talkin' about?

Andy: Hope.

I've always loved that scene for a few reasons - i have a passionate love for music and i can truly see the parallel between it and hope. no one can take away the music inside of us. likewise, no one can take away the faith inside us, also. we can give up on it - but no one can take it - without our consent.

in the end, what we need most is hope. when you take away a man's hope, you take away his life.

Jesus came to give hope to the hopeless and life to the lifeless. no matter what may come my way - hope is still there. and as Romans 5:1-5 tells us, hope will not disappoint us - "because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

this love that has been 'poured' into our hearts. when we are empty and in great need, hope is there pouring into our hearts. this hope is Jesus Christ - who gave all, sacrificed himself, took on the pain of the world, died and rose again. that is hope... hope that springs eternal.

we can not lose hope. and to those that have - it is up to us to show them the hope found within, just like Andy Dufresne showed his cell mates. hope, like music, can not be taken away from us. may we never give up on hope. may this Holy Week remind us that hope is alive, praise be to God.