A Dark Day in November
Here in New England, all the leaves are off of the trees and the predominant colors of winter have set in, the browns, and the greys, and the blacks. Soon, Mother Nature will add white to the picture.
On a day like today, with its cold drizzling rain and darkness, one could feel hopeless and bereft. Hibernating for a few months might seem like a great alternative to looking out into the bleak landscape.
I was thinking earlier today about the word, “hopeless,” and what an utterly miserable word it is. I once knew someone who categorically fit that description. Ironically, his name was Mr. Hope. My late brother dubbed him, “Mr. Hopeless.” He was the type of guy that couldn’t be cheered up. If you greeted him with “Isn’t it a great day?” on the prettiest summer day imaginable, he would reply, “Oh, but you have to be careful not to catch a breeze. You really have to watch out for that, you know. You could get sick, even get pneumonia and DIE!”
Heavens, up to that point, we thought we were having a pretty good day, but after meeting this happy fellow, we felt doomed by the breezes of life.
I suppose we never know when a little breeze might catch us, off guard. For that matter, we don’t know if we might choke on a piece of steak, step in front of a Mack truck, or be mauled by a bear, in our own backyard. Life is risky business, and is not for the feint of heart, or the weak of spirit.
Having hope is something to be cultivated. If we give in to hopelessness, that breeze that takes our breath away will arrive even sooner.
How do you want others to perceive you? Are you Mr. or Mrs. Hope, or are you Mr. or Mrs. Hope-less? It’s your choice.
Bad things happen to us. That is certain. However, we have to cling to the hope that tomorrow will be better, and since hopelessness is so contagious, we have to be careful not to spread it around.
Just a thought…and just your choice!
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Pat
