Hope
September is here.
I am both amazed and confused as to how we have made it to this point in the year.
But here we are.
When choosing 12 words for 2020, I (obviously) chose them without knowing what each month was going to look like.
Or the months leading up to the month …
Had I seen the future, I would have still picked the word hope for September.
Where would we be without hope?
Emily Dickinson says “hope is the thing with feathers” and I think that’s beautiful, but I had to read the entire poem to understand what she meant.
I get it now.
And she’s right.
And I think that’s why my hands can’t help but write the word hope.
Hope is in me.
It is active.
It is breathing.
It is singing.
It is continuing.
It is calling.
Hope means there is more.
Hope means this isn’t the end.
Hope means we can rest.
Hope reminds me of heaven.
And with the reminder of heaven comes a sure and certain peace that passes my understanding and fear and worry.
In the distance I hear the echoing words “this is not the end.”
Although some days it may feel as though we have reached the end, we are still here.
And even here among the chaos and questions, we have hope.
I’m not sure hope can be put into words and perhaps this is why I write about it so often.
I’ve come to believe and see hope is the full assurance of what God will do.
Hope is a peace that continues through the chaos.
Hope is the beauty in the brokenness.
Hope is the certainty that remains in the uncertainty.
Hope is the sun rising and setting and reminding us the light is on the way.
And hope doesn’t let the story end, but it keeps our story moving forward.
And that’s what I’ll keep doing.
I’ll keep moving forward.
And as I go, I’ll spread the hope that is pumping and pounding, rising and falling within.
And perhaps along the way I’ll see another side of hope and scribble down a more clear definition.
Or maybe I’ll get to the end and learn hope wasn’t meant to be defined, but to be shared, lived, and enjoyed.
May hope continue to be with you as you step through the uncertain and unknown.
.. .. ..
With hope,
Tanner Olson
PS grab my new book, AS YOU GO now!
Do you enjoy these blog posts?
Perhaps you’d like to join my Patreon Community.
This community allows me to visit more classrooms, write more poetry and blogs, and to spread hope in new ways!
When you become a Patreon you’ll get exclusive poems & videos, new writings, discounts on merch, & more.
Plus, You'll receive a Journal, sticker pack, handwritten poems, and more just for signing up!
WTS
Tanner Olson is a writer, speaker, poet, spoken-word artist, & creator of Written to Speak.
He created Written to Speak to share hope & announce love.