Hope Is Rugged

It is hard to find real hope when everything seems dire. There are so many short cuts to empty distractions and false hopes that we forget sometimes that real hope is sustaining. Real hope knows the truth of suffering and finds even the tiniest path forward and through. Hope is rugged. This meditation includes breath prayers to remind us that while we breathe, hope breathes. Do this simple meditation any time you need a little grounding in hope.

Image by Michael Knoll from Pixabay

Transcript

Settle into a comfortable position.

You should feel supported by whatever you are seated or laying on,

Be it the ground,

A chair,

A bed,

Or a stool.

Take the deepest breath you have taken all day.

Feel the air fill your lungs and then push it all out at once.

Fill your lungs again with a powerful breath and then expel it.

Let your breathing return to normal.

Close your eyes and listen.

Your breath continues,

In and out,

The sound of wind entering,

Circulating,

And exiting your body.

Focus on this sound for a few moments.

It is the sound of your life,

Of everyone's lives.

Our breath sustains us and connects us.

Leave your eyes closed or softly focus them,

Whatever is most comfortable for you,

As you continue to listen to your breath.

I will lead you through some phrases to say or think with your breath,

Sometimes called breath prayers.

You can use these to go inward or to speak with the divine,

Or both.

Repeat it as many times as you need.

With your inhale,

Hope is,

And exhale,

Rugged.

Hope is rugged.

Hope is rugged.

And now with your inhale,

I nurture,

And with your exhale,

Hope in my soul.

I nurture,

Hope in my soul.

I nurture,

Hope in my soul.

Hope is rugged.

Hope has seen everything.

Hope has seen the darkest of nights and the haziest of dawns.

Hope has seen death.

Hope watched a loved one slowly decay and slip from life.

Hope has seen war cut young lives short,

Suddenly and brutally.

Hope has been clutched while starvation slowly withers a child away.

Hope has been grasped at while listening to the worst news.

Hope white-knuckled it through screaming,

Anger,

Violation.

Hope stood against the wave,

The avalanche,

The hurricane.

Hope breathed through the pain.

Hope peered at despair.

Inhale,

Hope sees.

Exhale,

Everything.

Hope sees everything.

Hope sees everything.

Hope is rugged.

Hope sits at the bottom of the pit.

Hope proceeds and follows each tear.

Hope stands in front of the soldier.

Hope sits behind the mother of a newborn.

Hope holds the lonely.

Hope comforts the victim.

Hope sparks through whatever darkness it can manage.

Hope wheezes.

Hope coughs.

Hope breathes.

Hope surrounds and hope supports.

Inhale,

Hope surrounds.

Exhale,

Hope supports.

Hope surrounds.

Hope supports.

Hope surrounds.

Hope supports.

Hope is rugged.

Hope will scratch its way forward.

Hope will leap in a shout and tiptoe in a cry.

Hope will broaden shoulders and outstretch hands.

Hope can be oppressed,

But it cannot be exterminated.

Hope will always return.

Hope imagines.

Hope creates.

Hope exists where life exists.

Hope will not surrender.

Hope declares victory.

Inhale,

Hope declares.

Exhale,

Victory.

Hope declares victory.

Hope declares victory.

Inhale,

Hope is.

Exhale,

Rugged.

Hope is rugged.

Hope is rugged.