When life hits hard, it’s easy to forget that we are the beloved. Reflecting on what it means to be a ‘Pilgrim of Hope,’ inspired by Pope Francis’ call for the Jubilee year, one thought has risen for me in recent weeks: to embody hope and become a sign of hope for others, we must first own and acknowledge our ‘belovedness’–that intrinsic state of being that does not waver with our status or circumstances.
How can we recognize our ‘belovedness’? We can begin by no longer wavering or stumbling in our search for worth, even in the face of adversity. This unshakable truth anchors us and grounds us in the knowledge that our value is not conditional. This awareness connects us to others and to the world and becomes a source of hope–not just for ourselves, but for everyone we encounter.
Our ‘belovedness’ compels us to love once more, to forgive once more, to extend kindness once more, and to rise after we fall. It reminds us in moments of doubt that we are worthy, precious, and enough.
What does it truly mean to be the beloved? How does this identity manifest itself in our daily lives? And what happens when the world tells us otherwise especially when faced with rejection, disappointment, or pain? Who do we choose to believe, ourselves or the external voices?
Being beloved is not a status we earn; it is a gift granted to us as humans. It is a state of grace that all must nurture and protect. Only after doing so do we begin to perceive the world through the lens of someone loved, valued and nourished. For children, this ‘belovedness’ often comes more easily–provided they are surrounded by safe, stable, and loving environments. Like flowers in a garden, children flourish when they are nourished with affirmation and their inherent preciousness is cared for by those around them.
Yet, our world is far from ideal. Many of us did not grow up in environments that affirmed our ‘belovedness.’ Instead, we were taught–through words, actions, or neglect–that we were burdensome, unlovable, or broken. These wounds linger, and shape how we perceive and interact with the world. They become narratives we carry silently, hidden from the light, distorting our sense of worth.
So, the question becomes: How can we change this narrative? How can we break the cycle and create a world where we reflect one another’s ‘belovedness,’ reminding each other of the sacredness of our worth?
It starts with us. Individually, we must embody this truth and allow it to transform our hearts. Like salt to food or yeast to bread, our transformations can have rippling outward effects that create collective change. We rise together to build and create, but this must begin with a commitment within ourselves.
This transformation manifests when our families and communities embrace the spirit of ‘belovedness.’ They must become spaces characterized by sacrificial love, patience, endurance, and joy. ‘Belovedness’ should become the standard by which we make decisions, treat our neighbours, operate workplaces, and connect with one another–even across our differences. By practicing this, we cultivate environments where hope and love flourish.
Admittedly, this vision may sound idealistic, even unattainable, in light of the destruction, suffering, and pain surrounding us. But I find hope in the cracks of our brokenness. It is through these cracks that light enters. The rejection and pain inflicted by those we once trusted may leave scars but also create openings for healing and transformation. When we address those wounds and release their hold over our hearts, we begin to return to the state in which we were created: beloved, worthy of love, and capable of sharing love with those around us.
If each of us commits to entering this season of life with the conviction of our ‘belovedness,’ we can create ripples of transformation. Over time, these ripples grow into waves, building families, neighbourhoods, and communities where people recognize their own preciousness and treat others as precious too. From this conviction springs radical hope–a hope that the world can be transformed, one light at a time, as we hold our light up to one another.
Let us live as the beloved and become pilgrims of hope. In a time and place where hope is scarce, let us fight cynicism and fear by embracing our ‘belovedness’ and sharing that truth with the world.
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