Wednesday – November 18, 2020

Scripture

Joel 2. 28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

A Word of Hope

We sleep at night not knowing the journey our soul is making. Usually, we do not remember our dreams. Sometimes, however, we remember in the morning what was happening underneath the cover of darkness we call the night. We plant seeds deep into the dirt not knowing which direction the roots grow. When we dig, we discover the countless roots that lie hidden underground spanning all directions. If there is anything the darkness of the night or the depth of the Earth has taught me, it is that sleeping things move and buried things grow. To put it another way: progress is not limited by what we can see.

Sometimes, the world seems to be in an endless night of sorrow buried in its own despair. Nevertheless, as each day passes, the next generation is coming closer and closer to inheriting this Earth. Everything that we have planted, the good and the bad, is going to bear fruit to the future. Bitter and sweet fruits are sure to grow according to what has been planted, but I trust that the sweet fruit will always be preferred over the bitter. We always desire for our children to have better, to live better. In this way, each generation that comes into its own leaves behind the promise for a better future.

It was not even a hundred years ago that a gay, black man who struggles with mental illness would not have had the simple opportunity of writing these words, but here I am, the fruit of my foremothers and forefathers. I am proof of their progress despite centuries of injustice, cruelty, and evil. Our children are the evidence that what prevails in this world are our collective hopes and dreams. Like those who came before us, we must give our children everything, all of our love, and anything worth passing onto the future. We must demonstrate our love by believing in our children, for they are the greatest part of us.

Prayer

Spirit of hope,

It is often that we are so limited by what we can see. Despite that, allow our hopes and dreams to go beyond every barrier and obstacle set before us. Grant us the simple joy of leaving behind what we ourselves have inherited, this thing called love. We trust You, although we do not see You and we love You even when we are buried in the night. Amen.

Devotion Author

Jonathon McClellan
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare