I’ve come to realize that many of the things I love to do are filled with “multiple occasions for hope.” Take fishing for example. Every time you cast your line out, there is hope a fish will find your bait irresistible and take the hook. That hope is there with every cast, whether the fish are biting like crazy or barely interested. Or in the case of my last trout fishing expedition, not interested in all.
When hiking, every turn in the trail provides an occasion for hope. You hope to see a stunning vista. You hope to see wildlife. You hope to see the end of the trail because you are exhausted.
Cooking is another example. I’ve had multiple occasions for hope as I’ve learned to bake at our 7000 feet high altitude. I hope that cake doesn’t “fall”. I hope that bread actually rises. I hope someone else will clean up the kitchen because I am a messy cook. Actually, that would be a wish, not a hope.
So what’s the difference between hope and wish? “Hope” is used to describe things we want that are possible. For example, I hope to catch a fish today. “Wish” is used to describe things we want which are unlikely or impossible. For example, I wish I were tan. I wish those dishes would wash themselves.
There is a lot of hoping and wishing in caregiving. You hope your loved one will have a good day. You hope he or she will eat today. You wish his or her health will improve. You wish for times when things were better. You hope you are doing the right things for your loved one.
And then there is faith. Faith is knowing something is true. Hope is more like wishful thinking where faith is confident thinking. I think a quote from Saint Augustine says it well. ”Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”
So live deliberately. Enjoy the multiple occasions for hope in your life. Wish for the things that will make the journey meaningful and rewarding. Then have faith in the direction you have chosen and the reward at the end of the trail.
When hiking, every turn in the trail provides an occasion for hope. You hope to see a stunning vista. You hope to see wildlife. You hope to see the end of the trail because you are exhausted.
Cooking is another example. I’ve had multiple occasions for hope as I’ve learned to bake at our 7000 feet high altitude. I hope that cake doesn’t “fall”. I hope that bread actually rises. I hope someone else will clean up the kitchen because I am a messy cook. Actually, that would be a wish, not a hope.
So what’s the difference between hope and wish? “Hope” is used to describe things we want that are possible. For example, I hope to catch a fish today. “Wish” is used to describe things we want which are unlikely or impossible. For example, I wish I were tan. I wish those dishes would wash themselves.
There is a lot of hoping and wishing in caregiving. You hope your loved one will have a good day. You hope he or she will eat today. You wish his or her health will improve. You wish for times when things were better. You hope you are doing the right things for your loved one.
And then there is faith. Faith is knowing something is true. Hope is more like wishful thinking where faith is confident thinking. I think a quote from Saint Augustine says it well. ”Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”
So live deliberately. Enjoy the multiple occasions for hope in your life. Wish for the things that will make the journey meaningful and rewarding. Then have faith in the direction you have chosen and the reward at the end of the trail.
