It’s Monday morning. As is my custom every morning I listen to Louis Armstrong sing, “What a Wonderful World.” It is a song of optimism and hope. Both virtues that are sadly absent in our world. I am often fearful of the political climate in which we live. It is a climate where hate and vindictiveness are applauded, while tolerance and forgiveness are far away.

 

The Old Testament book of Lamentations is a collection of five laments bewailing the fall of Jerusalem to the Neo-Babylonians in 586 BCE. It is suggested that the laments represent a sample of liturgies recited on public feast days commemorating that devastating event.

 

In the middle of the book the author declares, “my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “Gone is my glory, and all that I had hoped for from the LORD.”

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!

My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me.” (Lamentations 3:17-20)

 

There is no joy or hope in those words. Much the same as there is not much hope or joy in the direction of our nation at the moment. We seem committed to the destruction of anyone who is not look like us or subscribe to our political agenda.

 

Yet, each morning, Louie sings, “I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” And each morning, I think, Really? I’m not seeing it.

 

Ahh. . .but lamentation is not the end of the book. There is a word of hope that I cling to and invite you to embrace as well. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24 Emphasis added)

 

It’s Monday morning. Satchmo sings, and I look for hope. Hope is present in the certainty that the steadfast love of the LORD never ends . . .his mercies never end . . .they are new every morning. There is hope in the constant love and presence of God. It is dark at present. But God is the God of light. Hope.