The summer months are swiftly coming to a close. With that comes the cooler (hopefully) months of the fall season.
Growing up in the northeast, fall was perhaps my favorite time of the year. It was wonderful to see the leaves change color, feel the cooling change in the air, smell the burning of leaves as the smoke wafted lazily through the air.
As the fall season wore on, a growing anticipation for winter was building. I loved snow. And for some reason, beginning with Thanksgiving Day, I looked out the window each morning to see if the earth had been covered with a blanket of white.
On those days prior to the first snowfall when my checking yielded the same bare ground, sure I was disappointed. But! My hope and anticipation remained alive. I knew it would happen one day, if not sooner, then later.
Anticipation. Hope. These kinds of things filled my heart as a young child. You, no doubt, had similar things for which you anticipated and hoped. It is one of the things children do best.
No wonder Jesus said we are to approach him as little children. I believe to a greater degree children know more about hope and anticipation than adults care to experience. Perhaps it is because throughout the years so many hopes have been dashed to pieces. Perhaps it is because numerous events or expectations fell through.
But children tend to not lose their wide-eyed wonder. They accept dashed hopes and dreams in stride – for the most part. Tomorrow is a new day, and with it comes new hopes and anticipations.
Allow yourself to regain a child-like (not childish!) sense of hope. God still has great things in store for your life – regardless of your age. Remember that as long as you are breathing, God is not finished with you yet. He has something he wants to accomplish in you and through you.
Even as the seasons of life change, hope remains alive. Anticipation keeps you heart and mind focused on the things coming from God.
Don’t let cynicism or apathy ever creep into your mind or heart. Those will be self-defeating and close you off to the way God is calling to you.
Remember, you are his child. He created you. He still has something in store for you. Wake up each day and say, “Okay God. What are we going to do today?”
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: A sense of hope defeats apathy and cynicism