Devotion for December 29 — Fredericksburg Baptist Church

read Luke2:15-21

from the artist | Hannah Garrity

Ponder | Hannah Garrity
*Paper lace with watercolor*

The hope that Mary was pondering inspired the concept and flow in this watercolored paper lace work. Are you, as I am, most taken by the sense that Mary has given birth to the hopes and dreams of a people who are hurting?

During the pandemic, as I watched the news, I saw so much creativity bubbling up. I saw people imagining a world that could be, a world that should be. The hope that was emerging was palpable. Then, as a teacher, I went back to the classroom this year. Hope seemed absent among my students, among the faculty, among the parents. I began to research the science of hope. Perhaps it’s teachable, I wondered. I watched a TED talk titled, “Hope is the Most Powerful Force in the World,” by Somnieng Houern who runs a school for girls, pu!ing concepts of the science of hope into action. He says that he focuses on one person. The ripple effect of hope was the power of which he spoke.

I was already pu!ing this one-person-at-a-time focus into action before I saw this TED talk, however, understanding more about the science of hope has helped me realize that my work is making a difference. Relationships are improving, students are reconnecting with their studies, students are speaking up about their needs. The students need to know how to generate hope, how to create it, how to expand it in their daily lives—one person at a time.

In the midst of a diðcult life, “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). One of these treasures was the hope that her womb had brought forth for the world to return to again and again—and to pass on, like a ripple, one person at a time.

pray

Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image above. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, o#ering a silent or spoken prayer to God.

8 Houern, Somnieng.“Hope is the Most Powerful Force in the World.”TEDx St Marks School. November 11, 2015. youtu.be/i63givEPq7E.