Dear Circle of Hope,

There is a famous quote from a poem that: “the darkest hour of the night comes just before the dawn.” Having witnessed a few dawns in the past month at a gathering on the beach for Easter Sunday and in town for ANZAC Day, I’m not so sure about this. Doesn’t the darkest period occur sometime in the middle of the night? When dawn is so far off that it is unimaginable. For many people it is in this darkest moment, the darkest moment of their lives, when hope becomes unimaginable. In these times, words of hope do not make sense. Just like in the middle of the night when the dawn light is so far off, light itself doesn’t make sense.

In our community I have witnessed those who are in these darkest of moments. Those who not only have no hope but cannot even imagine what hope feels like. In these moments, words of hope do not make sense. What does make sense is presence. Presence is powerful in the darkest hour. Presence is a reminder of a wider world. Presence brings hope. In my life journey, my darkest hours occurred in this recent season of life. For me, hope disappeared. It was not a concept, an idea or a word that my mind or heart could grasp. As a minister this felt strange and vulnerable. What made a difference in my life in this time was presence. The presence of people sitting with me in the ashes of my darkest moments brought hope and, in hindsight, was life-giving.

We live in a community where despite the great successes and affluence of so many, there is a distinct loss of hope…in all sections of our community. Recent events around the globe and even here in our own country, continued violence towards women, concerns for the environment around us, climate change and other deep issues add more fuel to this hopelessness. Maybe our opportunity in these days is not to speak words of hope but to be a presence for those who find themselves deep in their darkest moments. Let’s look for the moments when we can sit with someone…even in silence. Where we can share a cuppa or a drink and be present with one another. Maybe we can even light a candle as we sit with someone as a symbolic reminder of light.

There will be times for words of hope but in the middle of someone’s darkest night let us be a presence. This is where we can find hope in the dark.

Thank you for being part of our Circle of Hope.

Grace and peace, 

Phil