Finding Hope

Every one of us has used the phrase "I hope so" at one time or another. And it has many contexts and meanings, from the inane hoping to make it through a traffic light to the critical hope that a loved one survives open heart surgery. There are as many uses of the word as there are situations we encounter.
Today I want to talk to you about the deeper hopes. You know, the ones that come from your passions and inner yearnings. This being the season of hope we encounter many folks trying to spread some along with a little joy. I'm particularly interested in joy...for obvious reasons. But, let's focus on hope for a little bit, okay.
Here is where my mind is on this topic. In Christian ministry I have had many opportunities to be with people in seemingly hopeless situations: hospital bedsides, gravesites, when someone gets bad news like a positive HIV report, and many others. Sometimes it is difficult to see the light in such darkness. It's there. I promise. Take a little trip with me to Orlando, FL. No, not to visit The Mouse, but to a place with much more meaning. In the Central Florida Reception Center, located at the southeast corner of Orange County, there is a unique place of hope. In 2006 the Florida Department of Corrections decided to establish a palliative care (hospice-like) unit for male inmates from all over the Florida DOC. I had the wonderful responsibility of establishing a chaplaincy for these end-of-life patients. After training the necessary corrections and inmate orderly staff in the spiritual and emotional needs of folks in this condition, we were ready to receive qualifying inmates. An internal physician had to authenticate the inmate's condition, the inmate in turn signed the proper forms and they were then transferred to the CFRC South Unit for palliative care.
So, where does hope come into the equation? These inmates, with their families present, were given a special opportunity to die, while incarcerated, with some dignity. I know, there are many who do not see the need for this type of care for these criminals, but as human beings, there is a need. As a matter of course, when the attending physician determined that the inmate's life was on "death watch", his family was allowed many more visitation privileges. Here is where Chaplain Joy (me) was allowed to witness a refreshing hope in a normally hopeless environment. It was in the faces of the family and of the dying inmate himself. During these last hours willing loved ones were allowed to stay in the medical unit with the inmate and offer comfort and familial care. I even saw a couple of inmates allowed to return home under the warden's Compassionate Release, to die surrounded by their loving families. Most often the patient lasted only 24 to 36 hours before they passed on, but the family members were given time that they normally would not have had. I saw hope dispensed...and even offered some myself. We spoke of faith matters, family matters and anything that mattered. There were believers, agnostics, athiests and folks from every faith represented. Each dying their own way. Some with more hope than others. They were either afraid or at peace, but each was glad to have had the privilege of present family members.
A strange example of hope you say? Yes indeed. But it comes in all forms. Like the guys on Florida's death row who receive home made cookies at Christmastime from Al Paquette of Al Paquette Ministries. Tough men who soften just a little at the gesture. Hope comes in all shapes and sizes.
I cannot close without letting you all know that the real hope of the world is the little baby born in Bethlehem, growing up to sacrifice Himself for our redemption. Just for the record, my hope is built on nothing less...than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
Here is hoping you have a great Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Until next time,
Vinny Joy