Faith Loss/Dream Deferred
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
I was surfing the blogger, I ran across this post. It helped me out to make this reflection.:
By Jeff Doles:
“The Greek word for substance is hupostasis and refers to the underlying (hupo) state (stasis) of a thing. Similarly break down the English word “substance” and we find: sub (under) and stance (stand). Substance is that which stands under a thing.
In Greek, the word hupostasis had a legal meaning which signified a foundational document, such as a title-deed. That is why Greek scholars Moulton and Milligan rendered this translation: “Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.”
A title-deed is an important document. It shows ownership. For example, I have a car sitting in my driveway. I know that it is my car because I possess the title-deed, which demonstrates my ownership. If anybody wants to do anything with my car, they have to come and see me, because the car belongs to me. If I decide to sell the car or give it away to somebody, I will have to sign the title-deed over to them, because that will be their proof of ownership
If I have the title-deed to a piece of property, I do not even have to see the property to know that it belongs to me. I know it is mine by reason of the title-deed. As long as I possess that title-deed, there is no question that I am the owner.
Let’s talk a little bit about hope. Today we often use the word “hope” in a wavering, doubtful sort of way: “Gee, I certainly hope such and such will happen, but maybe it won’t.” Not so in the Bible. The Greek word for “hope” in the New Testament is elpis. It refers to an anticipation, a positive expectation. The same is true of the Hebrew word for “hope” in the Old Testament. In the Bible, “hope” is not a word of doubt, but of confidence, and that is how it is used in Hebrews 11:1.
Now, let’s put it all together: Faith is the substance, the underlying reality, the title-deed of things we are expecting.”
I know that my boyfriend has some faith, but I am not sure that he has enough to make our relationship work. He says that he can believe that certain things can come true, but he can’t behave as if those things are already here. He will start to react the way that I want him to react once I have given him what it is that I are saying I will do. Let me make this clear: I do NOT want him to live in an alternate reality. BUT I DO want him to believe in me and what I say. He says that he believes. But does he really?
Our relationship has been on the rocks lately. Its been this crazy rollercoaster we have been on this high for months. We kept climbing higher and higher. Now we are plunging swiftly and violently into deep lows. I hate the way it makes me feel. I am quite sure that he dislikes it as well. I just feel as if I am alone in our relationship. Its never a good feeling to be pulling the weight of two people. The whole idea of a relationship is two people working together for the common good. They lean on each other. They make each other better people. They sacrifice themselves for each other. When you are in love that is what you do.
After having a very spirited conversation with my boyfriend, I liken lost to a dream deferred. Langston Hughes wrote a poem about that:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
-Langston Hughes
My question is: what will happen to our love? Will it dry up? Will it explode?
Hebrews 11:1
I was surfing the blogger, I ran across this post. It helped me out to make this reflection.:
By Jeff Doles:
“The Greek word for substance is hupostasis and refers to the underlying (hupo) state (stasis) of a thing. Similarly break down the English word “substance” and we find: sub (under) and stance (stand). Substance is that which stands under a thing.
In Greek, the word hupostasis had a legal meaning which signified a foundational document, such as a title-deed. That is why Greek scholars Moulton and Milligan rendered this translation: “Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.”
A title-deed is an important document. It shows ownership. For example, I have a car sitting in my driveway. I know that it is my car because I possess the title-deed, which demonstrates my ownership. If anybody wants to do anything with my car, they have to come and see me, because the car belongs to me. If I decide to sell the car or give it away to somebody, I will have to sign the title-deed over to them, because that will be their proof of ownership
If I have the title-deed to a piece of property, I do not even have to see the property to know that it belongs to me. I know it is mine by reason of the title-deed. As long as I possess that title-deed, there is no question that I am the owner.
Let’s talk a little bit about hope. Today we often use the word “hope” in a wavering, doubtful sort of way: “Gee, I certainly hope such and such will happen, but maybe it won’t.” Not so in the Bible. The Greek word for “hope” in the New Testament is elpis. It refers to an anticipation, a positive expectation. The same is true of the Hebrew word for “hope” in the Old Testament. In the Bible, “hope” is not a word of doubt, but of confidence, and that is how it is used in Hebrews 11:1.
Now, let’s put it all together: Faith is the substance, the underlying reality, the title-deed of things we are expecting.”
I know that my boyfriend has some faith, but I am not sure that he has enough to make our relationship work. He says that he can believe that certain things can come true, but he can’t behave as if those things are already here. He will start to react the way that I want him to react once I have given him what it is that I are saying I will do. Let me make this clear: I do NOT want him to live in an alternate reality. BUT I DO want him to believe in me and what I say. He says that he believes. But does he really?
Our relationship has been on the rocks lately. Its been this crazy rollercoaster we have been on this high for months. We kept climbing higher and higher. Now we are plunging swiftly and violently into deep lows. I hate the way it makes me feel. I am quite sure that he dislikes it as well. I just feel as if I am alone in our relationship. Its never a good feeling to be pulling the weight of two people. The whole idea of a relationship is two people working together for the common good. They lean on each other. They make each other better people. They sacrifice themselves for each other. When you are in love that is what you do.
After having a very spirited conversation with my boyfriend, I liken lost to a dream deferred. Langston Hughes wrote a poem about that:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
-Langston Hughes
My question is: what will happen to our love? Will it dry up? Will it explode?
posted by SdotK at 2:51 AM
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