Hope....

[Politigal]

I was thinking today (I know - 2 wks in a row....I'm on a roll :))

Thinking about hope.

We're all raised to have hope - and it becomes an instinctive part of our everyday nature. We hope we get what we want from Santa. We hope we get A's on our report cards. We hope Cletus proposes on a romantic date. We hope we have enough money to pay the bills after that baby comes. We hope we're going to win the Lotto....etc.

And, when my guy died a couple of years ago in an accident, that hope instinctively kicked in. I had hope that it was all a nightmare, and I had hope that he would come back to me......

But, when we laid him to rest at the cemetery, it hit me like a brick - there was *no* hope. My hope was a wasted emotion.

Hope isn't realistic.

What I'm trying to say though is that I understand how Lara and others might still have hope that RG is out there .....because they haven't been hit by that brick yet. They haven't had that final goodbye yet. They haven't got to lay flowers at his grave.

What a sad sad situation......

[Cinderella]

Hope and faith are realistic. God can perform any miracle that he wants. People of all ages have witnessed miracles. If we don't have faith and hope then what do we have, nothing.

That is what makes a person run having hope.

I don't know about Ray, I still suspect that the family does, but there is a 50-50 chance that Ray is alive and out there. Maybe he decided to disappear because of some reason.

How can sperm and egg turn into a baby,
How can a rainbow get in the sky,
Who lights the stars at night,
Who was told something was different than it turned out to be,
How do we get an extra tooth, where does it come from,
These are just a few of the examples. Don't ever lose faith and hope because when you do then your life changes.

[Serendipitous1]

Presented with a 'fork in the road', hope and faith represent a realistic (and well-traveled) path. However, true saunterers cannot resist taking the less-trodden path. It is in our natures. MOO

[Cinderella]

S1, one thing about it if we believe in God, with some stipulations of Jesus, dying on the cross and raising from the dead just for each of us, then we have it made. Trust in God always.

I still in my heart have to believe that Ray is alive and well. I truly hope with all of my heart that he is happy as he deserves to be happy. He was just one man that really touched my life. My family has never understood why I felt so passionate about finding Ray. He must have captured my heart. I don't feel that there is too much to post anymore. I have met a group of friends that I respect and adore, yes SherriJean, you are one of them. I try to keep my feeling bottled in, when I shouldn't. Tony is another one that I respect, but he would not believe it anyhow.

I have met so many amazing friends. All of you. J. J. are you cooking tonight? I will be over.

[Serendipitous1]

Moved this over here, out of the way of serious enterprise.....for all you 'fools' (and 'fourth-year students'), wherever you are tonight. Long live Ray Gricar...and the Wolfman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA2m7KYqG5s

[Politigal]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IN1J5sMv28Q&feature=related

[sherrijean981]

I have to agree with Cinderella. But I go one more. Faith, hope and prayer, have always worked for me.

As a 2x breast cancer survivor, many health issues, many deaths and illnesses in the family, marital problems a couple times, family issues, etc., etc., I have not felt fear.

I have felt disappointment, loss, regret, anger, but when I get my head around the problem and have faith and hope, and say my prayers, it all works out in the end. It isn't in my time, it is in God's time.

Today I saw On WNEP-TV that 2 bodies were found in Wilkes-Barre and prayed one would be Ray's. Not that I want him found dead, but to get closure for his family and loved ones. But I told CB I felt bad for wanting that because it meant someone else's family with a missing loved one wasn't going to get their closure.
Every time I see a body has been found I keep praying it might be him but I know it will be in God's time.

I don't have a feeling of fear, or even like a death has happened so I am praying for the walk-away, and God gets Ray's butt back to Centre County or WA or OH. Just get him home with faith, hope and prayers!

[Politigal]

Originally posted by logicworks
PGal brought up the very interesting subject of hope and how hopeless hope can be sometimes, when we 'hope against hope', or when we can do nothing but hope in spite of knowing some situations seem so 'hope'-less.

I thought much today about hope (thanks, Pgal for the inspiration, big (((hug))) sent your way) and wrote this, (for some strange reason, it came to me as a poem.... NO idea why) but passing it along, just 'cause.......
All JMO today about hope.



My Two Faces of Hope

Hope without wings, my former self-care,
became Hope with wings, that soon became prayer.

Hope based on 'Truth-alone' must arise
while Hope based on 'Hope-alone' often cries.

Hope, as I called for an end to my fear,
could never equate to the Hope I found near,

in my heart and my soul. Hope based on more,
than just my demand to fast close fear's door.

Hope, based on Truth, Life's supreme Light,
I only have found when my Effort takes flight,

with Hope that has led me beyond my own fear,
to Hope, paired with Effort, I find Truth made clear.

Hope that released me without any gain,
could never compare to the Hope at Truth's reign,

as Insight to Wisdom, where Hope's plan will win,
My Eternal Hope now springs from within. [/*]

lovely poem Logic