From the Pastor - September 2006

The following poem was written by Bob Roscillo & delivered at the funeral of his friend Steve, who died of a heroin overdose at the age of 22. My thanks to Bob for both his words of wisdom and for his willingness to allow me to use his poem.

Pastor Tony

Eyes to See Hope

Hope withheld makes the heart sick; but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Why is hope deferred?
And why must so many die in vain and hopelessness?
Is it that our hope is vested in something that's already seen?

But what hope is found in that which is already seen?
Surrounded by hopelessness we reach for vanity upon vanity aspiring for there to be fulfillment -
But we've already traveled this road before.

No, there's no hope to be found in that which is already seen,
And there's certainly no hope to be found in endless repetition.

Perhaps, hope is a narrow way,
Not one that's easily seen with our eyes, but one that's perceived in our spirit.

Perhaps, hope is the road less traveled and one so easily ignored because you barely notice the tread on the path as you stand before it.

Hope never masquerades itself as something it's not.
Hope never beckons to you in order to leave you standing there with your hands still empty.
Hope never calls for your attention only for you to hear pretension, posing, posturing, and another front.

The voice of hope is void of deceit because it's one that promises peace and delivers on it.
Hope has already traveled that path that's been scarcely treaded upon.
Hope has seen the darkness, despair and emptiness for what it really is -- and conquered it.

It’s hope that says, “come to me all of you who are burdened and weighed down, and I will give you rest.”
Hope has shed countless tears and asks how many more have to die before they see me for who I am -
Jesus Christ, the light and hope of the world.