Christmas Story Brings Us Gift of Hope

Hope for Healing

As believers rejoice in the miraculous birth of a living saviour, the celebration of the Christ child also gives to the world the indispensable commodity of hope. Hope is defined as the innate desire of expectation that leads to an actualization of fulfillment.

Hope gives us the capacity to see beyond the mundane and the inconsequential. It motivates us to contemplate preferred realities, by never defining the future on the basis of present circumstances. Hope teaches us to not allow our past to destroy our future. It is audacious and bold. Our present realities should never define our consciousness. But the consciousness of hope should shape and define our ultimate realities.

The Christmas story is both supernatural and enchanting. It is significant both theologically and practically. Though Christ is the undeniable object of a believer's hope, the principles of application inherent in this season's celebration are ubiquitously universal. No matter what your faith orientation may be or even if you do not ascribe to faith at all, the symbolism of these ancient events portend immeasurably to the 21st Century need to release hope to a world that is plagued with war, hopelessness, social upheaval and economic despair.

The Christmas story reveals the visit of the Magi, the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ child. Gold, frankincense and myrrh were laid before his feet in worship and adoration. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:13-14). In 2005, there is a gift we must never fail to unwrap. We must discover the gift of hope. Detroit needs hope. Michigan needs hope. America needs hope. The world needs hope.

Let's unwrap the gift of hope in the midst of geopolitical conflict and the devastation of war. The hope is that insurgency and resistance can be ameliorated with collaboration and progress. Let's unwrap the hope for healing in our city, region and in the world. Let a new spirit and commonality of interest supersede polarization, isolation and racial inflammation.

Let's unwrap hope in perilous and economically distressed times. We must have an audacity of hope and tenacity of will that cracks open the doors of opportunity, entrepreneurship and collaboration. Let's unwrap the gift of transformation. New mindsets are needed. Transformational thinking is the key to survival.

We need a focus on the greater good of all, because we do not have the luxury of division. We will either innovate or evaporate. In order for us to get what we have