The Gift of Hope

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
God's plan for us may seem further from being clear this year than most, but times like these certainly give pause for reflection on the things in life that truly matter.
Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 17 spoke about the global economic crisis during his audience with pilgrims and tourists at Vatican City, expressing hope that the financial turmoil would help people focus on the spiritual meaning of Christmas.
I've been reading the Pope's book about Jesus – which I highly recommend – and among the many things I learned I'd like to share this insight.
In the Lord's Prayer, I've often been puzzled by the second last verse: "Lead us not into temptation".
At the risk of oversimplifying the Pope's explanation, this petition is an opportunity for us to ask that while we realize God grants some latitude for us to be put to the test, we are reminding Him in this petition of our personal limits when He tests our mettle.
Speaking for myself, I've been surprised to see how much I've been expected to endure. My mother often told me that God never gives us more than we can handle, so I guess I'm stronger than I had realized!
Seven years ago, when my eldest son was born in Argentina, the economy there collapsed into a depression deeper than the U.S. Great Depression. A year later, my employer transferred my family to Canada in what was a very difficult separation for my then spouse from her parents and sister in Argentina. Two years later, she took our boys back to Argentina for what she said would be a visit but then informed me once she was there that it was a permanent relocation. A year later, I almost went bankrupt and the year after that a restructuring squeezed me out of my vocation of 20 years.
Now I have met a kind and loving woman here in Ottawa whose children are very warm and accepting of me.
I've managed to organize my life in a way that's allowed me to fly down to see my sons in Argentina six times each year for the last three years.
People I have known for a long time often ask me how I managed not to succumb to despair (or vengefulness) in the past seven years. My answer is simple: Faith, family and friends got me through this.
Honestly, there have been times where almost all hope appeared to be lost. At those low points I would just remind myself to take things one day (sometimes even just one hour) at a time and that's when my prayers would be answered.
I wouldn't wish the travails of the last seven years of my life on my worst enemy, but I have prospered through it in the form of a much stronger faith, tougher character and life in a healthy and loving family setting here in Ottawa.
Despite all that has been said and done to impede my relationship with my sons, whom I see at most a total of 45 days each year, they are always enthusiastic and grateful each time we are reunited.
This gives me hope for an even brighter future than the one that has begun to dawn in my life now.
I'm not financially richer than I was in the year 2000, but in so many other ways God has blessed me with a prosperity that transcends materialism.
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)