Hope is a grand word, yet possibly one of the most misused and least understood words. When most people use the word ‘hope’, it can be replaced by the word ‘wish’ in their sentence and their intended meaning is kept intact. It is often thrown about when one has a whim of what could be, even if it has as much chance as money growing on a tree.

Why stand by the refrigerator with an empty bowl and hope that it gets filled with ice cream, even though there is none in the freezer? Why leave the umbrella behind in hope that the forecast for rain is flawed? Why do we hope by not telling anyone what we did wrong that we won’t get caught?

Hope is desire accompanied by expectation, so it should be more like hoping through a long, dark night that the sun will rise in the morning. Hope does not imply a conditional statement. If that becomes true, then things will be wonderful.

I hope that you think better of me for now sharing some of my hopes. Being a bit vulnerable with some of these, but perhaps, they will make you smile.

I hope that I am considered a teacher, that I can sometimes be needed by my adult children, and will never pass gas in the reception line for one of my grand children.

I hope that I make a difference, through my teaching, my leading, my writing, my faith, or through my actions. I hope that I have the wisdom to know it is not because of my great skill or power that I will make a difference.

I hope that people see me for the gentleness that I try to share, as an example of a loving husband, and as a man that will do anything for his family. I hope that I always build community with people, that by staying active I will be present for many years, that I never consider myself complete, and always keep on learning.

I hope that the most interesting man in the world has something more interesting to say than, “Stay thirsty my friends.”

I hope that this is a Happy Friday for you.