Feeling Hopeless?

The stock market (DOW) is down over 1,000 points in a little over two months, the price of gasoline is apporaching $4 a gallon, and everything costs more. Did I mention that there are fewer and fewer good jobs available? There's a long list of bad stuff that could be added to the above, but why get depressing. Are you feeling hopeless? I'm sure you can come up with a lot of reasons why you are like you are; however, I've got some GOOD NEWS for you.



As the prophet has said, things are not what they seem! That IS good news, if true!



The philosopher has also said that the world is full of so many big problems, most of which have never come true in spite of all the time that we've worried about them. We're so good at worrying you know. When I am really honest with myself (I wish I could do it more often), very little comes out as badly as I think. Or is it because when I'm on the other side of the trial, that I see the benefit?



That said, I am reminded of the first time I ever tried out "preaching" before a group of what I'd call outsiders. These were street people. We too often call them bums! They are homeless and without hope. But the power of love is greater than anything we can imagine.



On this cold evening, they'd come to this homeless shelter in Houston called Star of Hope! You gotta love that name. I was going to get my first opportunity to speak before 100+ men. The first shocker came when I looked at the end of the room and saw this big clock. I mean BIG. I was going to have twenty minutes to speak adnd that was it. No mas! No mas!



Sometimes hell is heaven's guardian gate.



It was my version of HELL. I decided right after I finished that I was finished. Some yelled, some booed, some raised their hands to ask questions (others just asked without raising their hands). Neither were allowed but who's to tell these (many were drunk) guys they couldn't do anything. Thankfully the man who invited me, the founder of the organization, and my wife's grandfather (John McIntyre) wasn't in the room.



So, I turned to the director who was overseeing the group and I remember saying in a low vocie to him, "Well, that was sure a hopeless effort wasn't it." And then I got the answer that cut my knees out from under me as he responded back to me, "I used to be one of them before I became the director here." Ouch. That left a mark. We are ALL accepted and affirmed!



Feeling hopeless? Don't!