By Alyssa Bormes
Regular job, volunteer position, freelance writing, another volunteer position, radio show, speaking, a couple more volunteer positions, the long list of things from before that I haven’t gotten done yet, other freelance writing, followed by all the regular stuff — cleaning the house, cooking, grocery shopping, trying to find a new pair of shoes that fit my orthotics and my feet comfortably at the same time, going to Mass, hanging out with friends, coffee, catching up on email, wait – did I just volunteer again – a time to do laundry, Adoration hour, balancing the checkbook and paying bills, the windows really need to be washed, and how on earth am I going to get my car into the garage for the winter when it is this messy? Wait, I forgot exercise, (which may have been intentional) but I still need to do it.
What do all of these things have in common? Well – a couple things. They are all on my to-do list together. And – they are all hope-erasers.
What’s a hope-eraser? Just re-read the list a couple of times; then put your own chaotic life into it. How’s your hope doing?
It’s too much for me to do! I don’t have the time! I can’t possibly have agreed to all of this! Our big lists are too much for us, and taking account of the whole list is a hope-eraser! So what is the resolution? Of course, turn to the Fat Man, G.K. Chesterton!
“Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all … As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.”
Wow – hoping when it is hopeless – how is one to do that? Well, there is only one way – with the Holy Spirit. With that simple three-word prayer, “Come, Holy Spirit,” comes one more thing – hope. And then the big list is conquerable.
Take that big deep breath, and begin with the first thing, knowing you have a spiritual helpmate. God erases all the hope-erasers. Besides that, He just might give us a couple more months before the snow flies – so don’t worry about the garage today. Go for the coffee with friends – it’s way better on a Sunday afternoon!
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