Several weeks ago, Jenny Buckley was the presenter at our Stephen Ministry's continuing education seminar. Jenny highlighted the importance of hope during the end of life and one of my take-a-ways was the poignant question, "what are you hoping for?" We do well when we not only ask others this question, but as important, ask ourselves, "what am I hoping for?"

The question can address in-depth life concerns, but also it can lead us forward in our aspirations. This weekend, I was fly-fishing with Joe Araoz at Frog Hollow on the Chestatee River. I am a novice fly fisherman and Joe is my mentor; the master, so to speak. This was the first time I was going solo on a river fishing expedition without Joe at my side and the question, "what am I hoping for" was center stage. My immediate hope was that I would catch fish, which was certainly not a given. Hope is for the moment and I was hoping for that moment when a fish rested in my net. However, hope is also for the future. Though I didn't want to get shut out, tangle and break my line, lose my reel and/or fall into the water above my waders, my hope was that the experience of doing it all on my own would be an integral step in developing my skills as a fly-fisherman. My ultimate goal, "what I am hoping for" is that fly-fishing will be a time of respite, fellowship, and getting closer to God through the experiences. I can see this becoming a reality if only in a mirror dimly.

"What are you hoping for" has an immediate quality, a future dimension, and an ultimate goal(s). Our Christian faith takes shape through this question and acting in alignment with it.

As the book of Hebrews tells us; "now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

Take time to ask yourself this question and reflect upon the meaning for you. If you are like me, it will open you up to the depth of your life and perhaps open your life up to the depth of God.