Hope Is a Spiritual Practice

In “Here and Now: Living in the Spirit,” Henri Nouwen gives us insight into what we gain when we build our spiritual muscle of hope:

While optimism makes us live as if someday soon things will soon go better for us, hope frees us from the need to predict the future and allows us to live in the present, with the deep trust that God will never leave us alone but will fulfill the deepest desires of our heart…

How does the spiritual gift of hope work in relation to the other important gifts of the Spirit: faith and love? And how do we make room for these gifts in our hearts and lives during times when it is easy to fall into a sense of hopelessness?

Rev. Brigid Beckman was ordained in 2016 through One Spirit Interfaith Learning Alliance, an international program based in NYC. A heart-centered minister and teacher, Brigid leads from relationships and embraces experiential interactions. For decades, Brigid has dedicated herself to helping others find their joy through creating opportunities for deep reflection on their own journeys and shared communal experiences.