This week teenagers (and perhaps my wife) will flock to see the opening of the vampire-romance film, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn,” once again unleashing vampire mania around the country.
While vampires have caught the public’s imagination, they aren’t the only fascinating creatures in mythology. In high school, I took a course on European history and heard about valkyries. Valkyries were mythical creatures who fought bravely, but they fought in the face of defeat (they already knew they were going to lose the battle).
Sometimes it’s easy to feel the same way about HOPE’s work.
There are days when it seems like lasting change is impossible. Governments in developing countries make assisting the poor difficult. Insecurity threatens to unravel progress. But I refuse to believe that we are in a losing battle.
In sharp contrast to the valkyries, we believe that we know the end of the story.
In Revelation, John writes, “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away'” (Revelation 21:4).
So we roll up our sleeves to fight valiantly in the face of the day that is to come. God has called us–and equipped us–to play a part in the story of restoration!
Every week I have the incredible privilege of hearing this story of restoration being carried out: Individuals in poverty are encountering the love of Christ and God has called them to use their gifts and talents not only to provide for themselves, but also to love their neighbors and transform their communities.
See stories of transformation here.
