Hope Radio

Isaiah 2:1-5

 Romans 5:1-5

Deb: Hi John

John:  Hi Deb, how are you?

Deb:  Good and you?

John:  Good.  I’m looking forward to Christmas. 

Deb: You are?  I’m not so sure I am. 

John:  Why is that? 

Deb:  Well I have been hearing Christmas music and seeing advertisements for about 3 weeks.  I have already heard Bing Crosby sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” so many times.  Today is only December 2^nd!    I  want the Christmas season to be more about hope and peace, joy and love – but it really is about the almighty dollar which seems to govern too many of our activities and it influences so much of what we do.   And there is “only” 23 shopping days left until Christmas. 

You know what I think John?  I think I would like to just go to sleep on December 1^st and wake up on December 25 and then celebrate Christmas. Skip all the stuff about getting there – the Advent journey and all that.[1]  Wouldn’t you?

John:  Well….let me think.   That would be like that would be like…. no that wouldn’t be any fun at all.  I actually really like the waiting and the anticipation.  I like seeing lights go up and come on.  The counting down of the days.    It’s like tasting warm homemade bread -  you love it  - but somehow you savor the taste even more when you smell it cooking and you anticipate the taste that is ahead.   For me it is the same with Advent.  I keep my eyes open for the signs of Christ in our world right now and look for signs of hope. 

Deb:  You aren’t looking for the signs of Christ’s return are you?  You don’t mean those types of signs – do you?   You know the book of Matthew says that “no one will know the day or the hour of Christ’s return.” 

John:  No – I know that.  I don’t look for those kinds of signs.  I look for signs of faith at work from people of faith.   Are you familiar with the verse from Hebrews 12 that says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not yet seen?”  Well I believe that faith plus hope together – builds something of substance.    And faith is an action.  I have an idea - let’s go for a drive.  Let’s do something. Maybe we can see some signs of hope?  Let’s look for evidence. 

Debbie:  Sounds like a good idea.  Do you want to drive – or me?

John:  Well. I have heard your daughters suggest you are a slow driver – so maybe I should drive or we will never get anywhere. 

Debbie:  I don’t know about that – but you can drive.  I will look for the evidence.

**Sound effect (car starting and driving off)

Debbie:  So we are looking for signs of hope?  Look here is a sign that gives people a lot of hope in this day and age.  “MegaMillions jackpot reaches 151.9 million dollars this Friday!   Buy tickets here!”  Look at the line of people waiting for some hope.

John:    Wow!  $151 million dollars - that sure is a lot of money.    The things I could do with 151.9 million dollars. I could buy those new running shoes, snow board for my kids – and do you think they make a Jaguar minivan? Cathy would really like that!

Debbie:   I could probably buy Eddie a 1954 two-tone sunburst Stratocaster.  Wait a minute -   John you are supposed to be playing the wise man in this - so stay in character.  However this just shows how easy it is to slip right into the money trap.  

John:  You are right.  I didn’t even notice that.    But it is funny how the lottery and that large sum of money really makes people believe that the “one” winner could be you.  You could be the “one”.

Debbie:  Do you know that the odds are about one in 146 million that you could win the big “one.”  But people believe…..people have hope.   A misplaced hope I think.  

**Sound effect (car driving)

John:  Hey look at that sign “Fat Boy’s Restaurant.” And it’s next to a graveyard.  Hmm… wonder what they serve there?

Debbie:  Yeah but look right across the street.  “Keep’em Healthy Clinic”.

John:  I guess that’s a good and hopeful sign.  A healthy hope I think. 

 Debbie:   Here is a sign that always give me a lot of hope when I see it.   “Pleasant Lane Mall”.  Doesn’t that just so sound lovely?  It sounds so serene and tranquil.   Maybe we should pull in there…..it is just so inviting and I think it is calling my name.  

John:  I don’t hear it calling you…..are you sure? 

Debbie:  Listen to the names of some of the stores….A Simpler Life, Things Remembered, Easy Spirit….those seem to be signs of Hope.

John:  Well what about….Coach or Foot Locker or Olympia…. (pause)…what am I thinking?  We need to stay away from the Mall and when we do go there we should be realistic.  There is not much hope with any kind of substance in the Mall.  An empty hope I think.  

(pause)

John:  Hey look over there.  Look over there. That man in the red jacket and big glasses is going around giving everybody hugs.   I think it’s that guy from that Dave Matthews song and video “Everyday.”  The one where the guy goes around - giving people hugs.   Left to right, up and down – everyday.   Some walk away - but it looks like some are returning the hugs.

Debbie:  I see that.  Some people are shaking their heads, but some are smiling and then giving someone else a hug.  I wonder if he does that every day…

John: Everyday[2] - I think so.  A Radical hope, I think.

Debbie:  Hey look at that sign way up ahead.  It’s pretty big.  But my eyes are bad.  Can you read it?

John:   Yes I think it says Hope Chapel.

Debbie:  I think you are right. Do you think it’s a church?

John:  That is really big sign. And it is definitely a church called Hope.

Debbie:   I can see that since we are getting closer.  The rest of the marquee says; “Let your life be a radio of hope, sending hope out through the airwaves.”

** sound effects – harp ascending.

John:  That’s a cool thought.  Like Hope Radio.[3]

Debbie:  Hope Radio. That reminds me of Ronnie and his music which reaches into peoples hearts and gives them hope.

John:  Music has that effect. You know what they say “music heals”. That has a certain ring to it.  I think it is inspirational.

Debbie:  I agree.  Well do you think that it’s a sign? 

John:  It is a sign.  It makes me think theologically.  Sending hope out through the airwaves is something we can all do.   One of us at a time.  Like the man hugging.  He is sending out a little bit of hope through the airwaves. 

Debbie:  Well that’s true I guess.  I didn’t stop to think about the man giving the hugs.  I have also seen a lot of signs of hope in people.  For example when strangers offer to help you when you are carrying something heavy.  Or when you see all the generations – old and young-  coming to together to help each other and encourage each other.  When we treat each other like family – that is a sign of hope. 

John:   And I think that whenever people volunteer it shows hope and breeds hope in others.   For example coaches and youth workers give kids a lot, and those kids grow up to return the favor.

And a good song can be a sign to some people to go out and try to do some good.  Like the song Wind of the Spirit.   The Spirit pulls you forward - and hope fills the sails of your soul and keeps you going.

Debbie: Just like the airwave carrying hope to everybody that needs it.  I would like to fill up the airwaves with all kinds of hope. 

John:   See all those signs of hope and faith.  It’s the evidence that I was talking about.   The “odds” are that if we look all around us as we go through our daily life – we will see hope right before us.   We just aren’t used to thinking that way. 

Debbie: Good point.  Sometimes the other signs – like the lottery and the commercials really do distract us from seeing hope and faith being done by people of faith.  I do think we can all learn to see and think as Jesus did. 

John:  Jesus did see beyond the surface.  He saw the evidence of faith and hope everywhere.  The stuff of everyday life was turned into stories; a child with a couple of loaves of bread and some fish, a lost coin and a wedding banquet.   I try to help my children to see life like that.  I want them to see hope and faith right in front of them.  I don’t want them to miss it.

Debbie:  None of us should miss those signs either.  But we are also called to be signs of hope as a gift to someone else.  The power of one from a person of faith – can reach pretty far. 

John:  And that’s why I love Advent.  Because I think…that people do sense the trappings and razzle -dazzle of Christmas and that there are people who bring hope and make a difference.  I like looking for it and I always find it. 

Debbie:  I think you are right.  Well it’s a good thing we have 23 days left to look for signs of hope.  I guess I have a lot of look forward to.  Thanks for the help!  And great driving by the way.  

John:  To tell you the truth my kids say “let Mom drive!”   Well, see you later. 

Debbie:  You too.  I’ll see you tonight at the Tree Lighting!

**Sound effect (car)

©2007 Deborah J. Blanchard