When Faith, Hope, and Love Collide

During training week at the beginning of my YouthWorks summer, everyone in my area group was given a leather cord to act as a prayer bracelet for the entire summer — a reminder to pray for fellow staff in our own city and the 2 others in our area.

But while the original intent of this bracelet was to remind me to pray for my Milwaukee team and the two Puerto Rico teams in my area (don’t get me started on why Milwaukee and Puerto Rico apparently go together like PBJ), the purpose has shifted all these months later.

All these months later, my YouthWorks summer forever gone, I still wear this leather bracelet. Wear it as a reminder to pray, yes, but wear it for a far greater purpose and reminder — a reminder of the incredible summer I experienced, of the special bonds I shared with the Milwaukee community, countless students, and supportive staff.

A reminder of love.

One of this summer’s student devotionals entailed writing a positive word on our hands and living out that word throughout the day. Out of a host of possibilities, my word was “hope.” Because hope and I don’t always see eye-to-eye and heart-to-heart.

I have hope for my ultimate future in heaven, yes, but I really wrestle with hope for my earthly present and future. I often feel lost, aimless, unsure of whether I’ll ever attain contentment.

All these months later, I still find myself writing that powerful word on me — only now, because ink fades on my oft sweaty palm, I’ve shifted those letters down a couple inches to my left wrist.

A reminder of hope.

Recently at church I had my hands outstretched before me. I looked down at my lap and suddenly a wave a realization washed over me like a tide over many-a-shell.

I looked down at my lap and saw the three elements of 1 Corinthians 13:13 physically displayed before me: hope written on my left wrist, love tied around my right wrist, and faith as the gesture of outstretched, expectant hands.

Faith, hope, love.

I don’t really have any theological explications on the Bible’s “Big-3,” but seeing two pieces of my summer join up with my present made me smile. Reminded me that God’s still here. Even though I’m drawn to doubt.

He’s still here. Faith, hope, and love are still here.