"Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity."
~ Henri Nouwen
What I hear here is "Expect with hope what each day brings."
Let's look at hope today.
On the surface, hope is about making wishes and being optimistic.
Don't get me wrong, I love surface hope
and use it every day.
But hope at its depths. Wow! That is where hope is profoundly powerful. Hope at its depths is where we trust in what is unfolding no matter what. It's like the ocean's deepest waters that remain a mystery to our human understanding.
Deep hope helps us to be at peace. Even if we work toward change, with deep hope, we do things calmly.
I don't yet use hope at this level every day.
But today I intend to.
Today, let's be ready to be delighted, or moved, or tenderized, or comforted, or awed, or tickled pink, or enriched with new friends...let's simply be ready and open to receive, as we appreciate hope and life
itself.
Joy too,
Charlene
PS - Today's doorway is the Durdle Door on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset England. This natural limestone arch at water's edge reminds me to appreciate and use hope on the surface and all depths. (If you wish to see a photo of it, visit Today's Touchstone
on Facebook.)
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