Jenny Williams is Chief Executive of Habitat for Humanity Ireland. Read her reflection, the final in our series, below:
We live in a world that is haunted by conflict, poverty and greed – a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and across the Middle East, continuing war in Ukraine, more frequent climate-related disasters, a cost-of-living crisis here at home which is deepening the sense of division between those who have and those who do not. More than 2.8 billion people don’t have a safe place to live.
Hope can be hard to find.
I love everything about Christmas, but especially the lights that remind us that with the birth of Jesus, God demonstrated his active love in action response to a dark world.
Jesus’ birth is a story of hope for all time reminding us that we too, are called to be a love in action response in our dark world.
In our challenging world I am thankful for all the ways that Habitat’s love in action mission builds hope.
Last week at our staff away day as colleagues shared their highlights of this year, I was struck by how every one of the stories was about hope. New hope for the young person who had support to make their house a home. New hope for the ReStore volunteer who had support to find a job. New hope for displaced families in Lebanon whose living conditions were improved – not yet back home but safe.
Just this week we had confirmation that three homes in Malawi, which were built with funds from Ireland, would be completed before Christmas. Those three homes, like the many others Habitat has built this year, are more than four walls and a roof; they are a love in action response to a critical need and represent new hope for the future.
As we look ahead to 2025 let’s be the hope at the heart of Christmas.
May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships So that we may live Deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger At injustice, oppression, And exploitation of people, So that we may work for Justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless us with tears To shed for those who suffer from pain, Injustice, starvation and war, So that we may reach out our hands To comfort them and To turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with enough foolishness To believe we can Make a difference in the world, So that we can do What others claim cannot be done. Amen
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him...” Romans 15:13a
