"Hope for a great sea-change..."

Much-loved British poet Seamus Heaney died this week. Several people posted this poem on their facebook walls:

From Seamus Heaney: 

History says, Don't hope
on this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
the longed for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.

So hope for a great sea-change
on the far side of revenge.
Believe that a further shore
is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
and cures and healing wells. 

I love how he acknowledges that as well as justice there will be cures, and healing. I have come to see that hope is really the thing that keeps us going, gives us the will to keep on at this challenge of life.

Light at the end of the tunnel, the glimpse of the rope dangling down into the dark, only two more essays to mark, three more days till the holidays, five more days till next weekend, Spring will come after Winter, calm will follow the storm, justice will come in the end, God will bring it all together, there will be a renewed heaven and earth, Jesus will reign.