The Bham Commons

Hope is a beautiful thing.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my work and the belief systems around me. As a decidedly secular person, I’ve always approached my funding work at The Bham Commons from a secular perspective. Yet, the space in which I work, the entity that signs my paycheck, and many of the colleagues I collaborate with are rooted in a church.  Because of this, I find myself considering religion in different ways than I am used to. 

In our artists’ cooperative, our recent theme was hope. The artists, many of whom find their wellspring of hope in their faith, created works that reflected their beliefs. Many of the people who come to the church for services find their wellspring of hope in the God of their understanding and I am deeply grateful for the what this brings to my clients and friends.  Personally, I believe that hope, regardless of its source, is the vehicle through which we survive and thrive. My hope is derived from supportive and loving community, and I strive to build and nurture it wherever I can. Professionally, I am committed to creating spaces where people can express their hope and transform it into action.  

Each Tuesday, in the artists cooperative, folks are transferring their hope into action as they create beautiful works.  When I work with someone to get their ID so they can get a job, I am watching them transfer their hope into action to propel themselves forward.  When I watch someone push their way through a housing referral and finally move into their place, their hope is becoming action and bearing fruit.  I am forever grateful to be in a place to witness this hope in action

In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” This sentiment underscores the importance of sustaining hope to build a better future, even in the face of challenges-I think we can all relate to this.   Dr. King’s work in fostering individual and collective hope for the greater good continues to inspire me.   There are so many ways to continue this work and I think every day about my part in it.

To all of you reading, regardless of your background or where your wellspring of hope lies, I invite you to consider these questions:

• How do you express hope in your daily lives?
• What do you do to build and nurture hope wherever you are?
• What would it mean to have lost hope?