Looking Hope in the Eyes.

Community is defined by the things that bring us together.

But what if the thing that brings us together is sin? 

A community of sinners just looking for a way out of sin through the gift of tangible hope.

Inching into our lives is this cloud of doubt that it is all we will ever be.

A community of sinners that find hope in the oddest ways, like listening to a far off wonder that our eyes cannot immediately behold and lifting our hands and stomping our feet to praise this wonder that often feels so far from us.

And once a year we are reminded that from this band of sinners came a savior.

We remind ourselves that the days of worry and doubt are stuck in the meaningless pit of nothingness and that the wonder so great and strong who let us be, also let us be saved.

By a child in what seemed like a hopeless situation, all hope was found.

Hope would never be just a nice thought that was never to be had, but it became tangible and meaningful.

He stared into His Mother's eyes and all hope was revealed. Just like He stares into our eyes and hearts to remind us that all that we are doing is leading up to looking hope itself in the face.

And when this community of sinners forgets to look towards hope? We become so hungry and so thirsty for all that is not our own. 

We end up selfishly trying to feed ourselves when all we need is the feeding of hope to one another. Allowing one to become vulnerable and life-giving in the name of Jesus. 

Through Christmastime, we renew hope and gather together to renew it as a community. That community may not look the same to everyone, not everyone will get along, and not everyone will be able to sit through a conversation without an eye roll. But listening to one another's needs and helping us move towards that hope is the meaning of the season. 

Looking hope in the eyes is what we gather for, and understanding ourselves and how we search for that hope is the reason for community.