A Time for HOPE

HOPE is one of my favorite words.  It is a word that has kept me going in different ways, shapes and forms throughout my life.   This is the word hope in the languages of the United Nations (UN)...

• 希望  - hope in Chinese
• espérer - hope in French
• esperanza - hope in Spanish
• أمل - hope in Arabic
• надежда  - hope in Russian

I consider myself more of a spiritual person than a religious person but I have always loved the observance of the four Sundays of Advent leading up to Christmas.  It opens & extends the holiday season in so many ways.  Many years ago, my Dad created a special advent candle wreath out of wood for each of the members of our family. They are beautifully finished natural wood masterpieces each with five candlestick holders he made on the lathe - one for each of the four Sundays of Advent plus one in the middle for Christmas Day. The word advent is from the Latin word meaning "coming."   It is meant to be a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity and the birth of Jesus. Traditional advent activities include the Adventskranz (Advent wreath) a traditional German family practice since the early 17th century and an important part of my own family heritage.


Advent always starts the week of the fourth Sunday before December 25.  That is the reason behind this message today - the week of the first Sunday of Advent.  The first advent candle to be lit is purple in color.  It stands for HOPE.  In 2014 the first Sunday in Advent also happens to be the date of the Grey Cup Canadian Football League game.  It is a day of great hope and expectation for Canadian Football League fans, but also for others as well, for very different reasons.  Different people HOPE for different things at different times in their lives. 

My family is what gives me hope. 

I hope for health & peace for individuals, families & communities. 

What GIVES you hope? 

What do YOU hope for? 

All for me for now - take gentle care,

Sue 8)


p.s. These are a few of the things that help give me hope on a day-to-day basis...


Thinking about the connectedness of things and all of the amazing health promoting activities, events & initiatives happening around the world - take a look at the calendar I am compiling to help remind me of just some of these special dates...


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxDP62KLoEOVN3RTbGR4VWpoWkU/view?usp=sharing


Taking action to remember some of the amazing things that others have written, done and/or said that can provide me with hope just by reading them & re-reading them.  Take a look at some of the learning quotes I've compiled so far...


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxDP62KLoEOVWXhHbUFSWVRtSE0/view?usp=sharing

S.L.R.S. Boutilier

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada