A New Image for the Star of Hope
I’ve been preparing my notes for a day of reflection for Campus Ministers. The theme is “Hope”. With hope on my mind, I’ve also been working with a homeless man named Tom. He’s given me an interesting image of hope that I thought I’d share.
Tom’s in his sixties, walking with a cane, a survivor of two heart attacks, and sleeping in the woods. Tom came to me and said he needed to update his driver’s license with a “star”. A star means the TSA has approved the ID for air travel. He wanted to fly to Sanibel Island in Florida. I gave him a letter so the DMV would waive the fees because he is homeless.
A week later, he said he needed to go to Social Security. He said can’t get the star on his ID because his current ID has “Jr.” at the end of his name, and the social security card does not. A minor mismatch, which is a major ‘no’ between two governmental agencies. I set up the appointment. The next week they issued a new card, but said he needs to schedule another appointment because his name on his card now doesn’t match the name on his account.
At his second appointment at social security, Tom was frustrated and getting a little agitated. I distracted him. “What’s on Sanibel Island?”
“I was a groundskeeper for a resort. It was a great place. The billionaire owner talked to me, was always patient with me, and taught me things. He gave me Reader’s Digest and National Geographic so I could get better at reading.”
“He cared for you.” I reflected. “He made you feel like you mattered. It was a wonderful place to be.” Tom enthusiastically agreed.
Tom had a hope. On the surface, his hope was to return to Sanibel Island, and for that he needed a star on his ID. Whether he gets there is another story.
Beneath the surface was a deeper hope, a hope that God had planted deep within his heart. Tom longed to return to the place where he would be known and loved, where he truly belonged.
This is the hope God plants in all hearts, a hope that is fleetingly experienced on this side of the veil. But our hearts are restless, as St. Augustine said, until this hope is fully realized.
The star on Tom’s ID was his sign of hope, a hope that maybe one day he will return to the blessed memories of his past. The true star of hope is Christ, who in the words of Pope Benedict in Spe Salvi, is “close to those facing difficult challenges.” Not only close, but this “star of hope has risen” and has become “the anchor of the heart reaches to the very throne of God.” (37)
May your eyes remain focused on the true Star of Hope, who guides you on the path of love and belonging today, and anchors your heart the beautiful throne of God forever.
Act of Hope
O Lord God,
I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins
and after life here to gain eternal happiness
because you have promised it
who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful.
In this hope I intend to live and die.
Amen.
