Lost in Houston
Feb
27
Written by:
Sunday, February 27, 2011
A word of hope. It can change everything.
On Thursday, I joined a friend on a marble-hunting adventure. We were looking for ReStore – the Habitat for Humanity store that sells reclaimed materials.
Address: 6161 East Loop 610 – north on I-45, east on the loop, exit Wayside or so we thought. One word made all the difference. We went to 6161 East Loop 610 and could not find the store. The address is 6161 South Loop 610.
One word makes all the difference. Add please, take away never or always – no onions or extra onions. Before, after, left, right, south not east.
Sometimes one word makes all the difference. Henri Nouwen writes, “When I think about what it means to live and act in the name of Jesus, I realize that what I have to offer to others is not my intelligence, skill, power, influence, or connections, but my own human brokenness, through which the love of God can manifest itself. Ministry is entering with our human brokenness into communion with others and speaking a word of hope.”
A word of hope. It can change everything.
Eventually we found the store, 15 miles away, but not before making a series of wrong turns even with a map in hand. The wrong turns gave us more time to speak a word of hope to each other in the midst of the trials of life.
Today, I attended a luncheon honoring a doctor and a lawyer for their contributions. One founded a camp for children with cancer and other diseases and disabilities. The other advocated for a domestic violence court. In their own way they spoke a word of hope – compassion and courage – and it has changed everything.
A word of hope can change everything. Peace…..joy……forgive…..Friend.