Reflections on Hope Project
September 30th Deadline Approaches for the 'Reflections on Hope’ Project
Parishioners Spread the Message of Help and Hope through the Reflections on Hope Project of Catholic Charities.
The Catholic Charities of Central Texas’ "Reflections on Hope" project has received an overwhelming response from residents of the Diocese of Austin. Since the project launched on June 1st, people from all over the Diocese of Austin have submitted touching and inspirational narratives that answer the question, “What does hope mean to you?”
Catholic Charities launched the “Reflections on Hope” project as a way to collect stories of inspiration and hope — from students, parishioners, clergy/religious, and other residents of the Diocese of Austin who have overcome a difficult challenge, loss, or situation in their lives and whose hope in God was impacted as a result of it.
A select number of “Reflections on Hope” entries will be compiled into a book of hope for daily inspiration and direction which will be published during the Lenten season. It will be used to help raise funds for Catholic Charities and will be distributed to friends of Catholic Charities and to families who have sought assistance during times of personal or financial crisis.
“We are very pleased that so many people have shared their stories and thankful to everyone for their dedication in providing help and creating hope for the poor and vulnerable families throughout Central Texas,” said Cynthia Colbert executive director of Catholic Charities. “I want to encourage anyone who has not yet participated to please consider taking a few moments to share their experience, the strength that they found in it, and the hope that they wish to share with others.”
Deadline:
The deadline for entries has been extended until September 30.
An informational packet is available on the Catholic Charities website, and can be downloaded at: http://www.ccctx.org/news_view.php?id=61
The information packet includes an entry form and some examples of stories of hope and inspiration that have been submitted, to date.
TWO SELECT WRITING SAMPLES
Hope after Sorrow, by Cynthia Colbert
I’ll never forget the phone call that came one March evening. “Cindy, your brother is in the ER; he’s had a heart attack,” said my mother. I couldn’t comprehend this news – my brother was only 22 years old. How could he have had a heart attack? “I’m on my way,” I said. I hung up the phone, notified my husband and we began the two hour drive to my hometown. By the time we arrived, my sweet, wonderful, healthy and vibrant young brother had died.
Nothing in my life had prepared me for this overwhelming loss. For the first several days after his death, I moved through the days in shock. How did this happen? Why did this happen? I begged God for answers.
When I didn’t get the answers I thought I deserved, the shock turned to anger. God, you could have taken anyone, but not him. Why Charles, why now? I missed him so terribly and didn’t know how I would get through the grief of his death.
Acceptance came many, many days and months after he died. With prayer, meditations, and reading books on grief, I could once again think of my brother and not dwell on his death or his absence in my life, but, with acceptance, remember all of the good times that we had shared. Like…the his entry into Kindergarten, learning to ride a bike, losing his first tooth, our trip to Disneyland, his high school graduation, and our ski trips.
And with that acceptance, the rays of hope shone through in my life once again. I could pray with thanksgiving and joy. I could pray knowing and trusting that God heard my cries of anguish and loss and that His grace healed and sustained me during my journey of grief. I knew that although Charles was not with me physically on earth, that I would one day see him again. I discovered that life does go on after a significant loss. It’s not easy, nor do we necessarily want the experience, but we can be healed and become even stronger through the loss of someone close to us.
After what seemed an eternity of sadness and grief, joy and hope slowly returned to my life. I could laugh and be at peace despite the loss of my brother. Even today, more than 15 years after his death, I still think of him and ache with the loss. But most of the time I smile a big smile as I think of him. I am grateful for the gift he was and I know following the nighttime of grief, with God’s grace and help, HOPE rises in the morning.
THINK: Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Hope after Divorce, by Anonymous
The divorce had taken its toll. My once cheery, positive self had vanished. I found myself going over and over in my head what he said, what I should have said, what I’d really like to have said. Then there was picking up the pieces of what was left of the divided family, half the time with the children, the home, furnishings, banking accounts, investments. Things weren’t split, they were torn apart. Mostly, my gut was ripped with sorrow and sadness. Nothing was funny, nothing was bright. I had a bad attitude. My ex-spouse may have been right. I saw everything “half-full”. My cup, my life was definitely half full.
In desperation, I signed up for a retreat. Being half-hearted about going, thinking nothing could help my attitude, I arrived half-way through the opening prayer session. The woman next to me handed me a prayer book and pointed to where they were half-way down the page. There in print, God spoke to me in Psalm 16. “Your inheritance is assured, the measuring line falls at a pleasant line. The cup is yours.”
In God’s wisdom and humor, He knew I needed help immediately and I got it the first minute of the retreat. I was loved by God. I was His daughter. He would provide me with what I needed and I could decide where the measuring line in the cup would rest. I could fill my life to overflowing or deplete it to the last drop. With God’s loving kindness, I decide how full my life can be.
THINK: Psalm 16:5-6 “Your inheritance is assured, the measuring line falls at a pleasant line. The cup is yours.”
How to participate in the Reflections on Hope Project:
Students, parishioners, clergy/ religious, volunteers, families who have sought assistance from Catholic Charities, and other residents of the Diocese of Austin can participate. Visit the Catholic Charities website for complete information or print the entry form at:
http://www.ccctx.org/news_view.php?id=61
In 500 words or less, please describe a time in your life, when you experienced a difficult challenge, loss, or situation. What were the circumstances? How did this impact your hope in God, or the future? How did you overcome this situation? What gave you a renewed sense of hope? What does hope mean to you? Is there a scripture or a person that inspired you in your faith?
Submitting an entry:
Participants can submit their entries by mail to ATTN: "Reflections on Hope” Project, Catholic Charities of Central Texas, 1817 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78702 or by email to catholic-charities@austindiocese.org or via fax to 512-651-6101. All entries must be received by September 30 and must include a Release Form to be eligible. For more information visit www.ccctx.org or call 512-651-6100.