03/09/2024
Just look at them! Both walking down the wedding aisle and into their future, so full of happiness & hope. Most of us are taught that hope is something that arrives when the future looks bright and our situation appears rosy. We spend our lives trying to control our days, our relationships and the world around us to arrange things just perfectly in order for hope to stay with us. After decades of trying to control it all, I finally learned that the key is letting go of the belief that I can control what happens externally and getting in touch with the real source of hope, which is internal. Hope is a well deep within each of us, always available, and our sense of joy& wellbeing doesn’t have to go away when life takes an unexpected turn. For so long, I thought I couldn’t handle any more pain or I’d die if I had another great loss but experience has shown that my heart can hold it all. Hope can hold it all.
Happy 2nd Anniversary Christina Chamber & Jim Paupst.
My hope for you today is the same as it was on your wedding day...
may you have many long years to delight in each other’s company, and to love & be loved by the friends & family who surround you. May you make a home together that is both sheltering & welcoming. May you each do meaningful & productive work at home & in the world, learning from your failures & growing in your accomplishments. May life’s challenges be met together with courage & optimism, and may your days be filled with laughter, imagination, trust, friendship, love and hope.
