We Shall Never Hope in Vain: A Pre-Election Message from Bishop Skip
“In you, Lord, is our hope; And we shall never hope in vain.”
From Suffrages B, Morning Prayer
Book of Common Prayer, p. 98
Dear Siblings of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes,
Whether you have already voted or not, as we come upon election day on November 5, perhaps you are feeling anxious about outcomes. I would think this to be true no matter who you are desiring to be elected. We are flooded by election mail and social media. The level of misinformation, disinformation, threats of violence, and interference is rampant and disturbing. Of course we’re anxious.
In the midst of my own anxiety, I find when praying the Daily Office that I am drawn to the words cited above. They are a simple yet clear reminder to me of from where and from whom I am to find my hope. It doesn’t mean I don’t care about outcomes. It doesn’t mean I don’t work hard to hold forth and be informed in my opinions. What those beautiful words remind me to do, is ask myself where I find my hope. It is in God. It also gives me strength to know that my seeking is not in vain, all the while looking to be a person of reason, a person of peace, a person of reconciliation and of love, a person of truth, as I look to follow Jesus in his Way.
The Hebrew and Greek Scriptures are full of words of hope. Israel had to be reminded of this truth over and over again. The early Christian Church had to be reminded, thus we have an
entire liturgy of Holy Eucharist, rooted in remembering (re-membering), because we tend to forget where our hope lies. Even as we have been reading these last weeks from the Revelation
to John in the Daily Office, we see that the nascent Church was called to endurance over and over again, as it dealt with empire and persecution.
I leave you with words from Psalm 62, v. 8-9:
In God is my safety and honor; God is my strong rock and my refuge. Put your trust in him always, O people, pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
Know that in all things, I hold you all in my prayer and love.
Grace and peace,
Bishop Skip
Assisting Bishop
