A Hopeful Journey

“Waiting is the hardest work of hope.” 

~ Lewis B. Smedes

Take a moment to reflect on the beginning of the school year or semester, meeting your students for the first time. What were your initial impressions? Where did your hope begin for these learners?

Now, take a brief journey from the beginning of the year, through the weeks and months, to where you find yourself today. How has your hope and belief changed in this time? Have your hopes become more specific and intentional, based on the students’ needs? Do your hopes feel frayed and worn due to challenges and unmet expectations? Have you seen evidence of growth and progress, igniting even deeper hope for the future?

Hope can show up in different ways during different seasons. If your hope has been strengthened, I invite you to use this belief and confidence to build up those around you who may not be feeling hope in the same way today. If hope feels lost or distant in this moment, it is okay to recognize that. You are not weak or a failure for finding it difficult to feel hopeful right now. Sometimes you need to wait to even feel hope. But just like a seed breaks through the weight of the soil above it, being drawn to the sun’s rays and nourished by the rain, something strong lies within you that will break through the barriers of doubt and exhaustion, propelling you to take the next step forward.