Hope For The Future

For many Americans, the holiday season has always been a time for wonderful food, decorations, gifts, numerous parties and social gatherings.
However, this year’s holiday may be drastically different than in past years. A holiday that celebrated good fortune now must reflect on what was lost, what is most important, and what the future holds. Tragedy has struck families throughout the country with the death of loved ones, fear of terrorist attacks, unemployment, and an economic slowdown. Everyone has been affected by the current events in one way or another.
An article entitled, “One Family, Two Tragedies”, describes the wrenching heartache of a woman named Naomi Gullickson, and her two young daughters—Amanda, 3 and Isabel, 18 months. Naomi’s husband died at the World Trade Center trying to save the lives of countless others as a New York Fire Dept. Lieutenant. She thought that losing her dear husband was too much to bear, yet she was to suffer more deeply. In just a few weeks later, Naomi lost her grandfather on American Airlines flight 587 that crashed shortly after takeoff. Within two months, this one family has suffered two devastating tragedies and they struggle to find hope for the future.
Americans are learning to deal with their unsettling lives in various ways. In a TIME/CNN poll: 39% say the terrorist attacks of September 11 impact their lives a great deal, 75% say that they are more appreciative this Thanksgiving than in past years, 62% say they need to spend more time with family members, 55% say they have a greater focus or purpose in life, 32% are depressed or down, and 57% have thought more of their spiritual life since the attacks.
In the face of loss, many Americans are finding that the value of life, their family, and their relationship with God are more important than the material goals they had beforehand. The things we take for granted are often the things most precious.
Our hope for tomorrow sees beyond the dark shadows around us to a hope in God and life eternal. In II Cor. 4:16-18 NKJV it says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day, for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
There is still much to be thankful for. Be thankful for the loved ones around us, for God’s love and protection this holiday season, and remember that God has a better place and life prepared that He desperately longs to share with each one of us. There is hope, marvelous hope for the future.
Ly Lan Nguyen