“Girlfriends” Guest Blogger Hope Jammes

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Hope Jammes

(pronounced  jaw- mees – not,  James)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent many years chasing after anything that I thought might fill the empty hole inside me. I wasted a lot of time trying to fill it which resulted in my exchanging one addiction for another. That hole in my heart was a God-shaped hole. One Sunday morning, in January 2004, I found myself at The Life Centre (my home church). I didn’t know Jesus and I didn’t understand that He was the Way to freedom and a full life, until that day. He became my anchor of Hope. I gave Him my heart and surrendered control of my life to Him and I’ve never looked back. Today, I am filled with joy and hope. I have a passion for the hopeless, addicted, and single moms, who don’t yet know the Way to find what will complete them.

I live in Ottawa, Canada with my two sons and my faithful black lab Buddy.

 

 

Unveiling Hope Meets Real Life. 

 

 

It was August 1, 2007. A woman named Heidi left a comment on my blog post (http://www.unveilinghope.com/unveilinghope/2007/08/still-waiting.html#trackback).

 

This was our first exchange. I’ve always been the kind of person who searches for that deep calling unto deep. Small talk and shallow exchanges, while sometimes necessary, don’t encourage intimacy – rather often times these types of conversations are a veil that we wear to keep others at a safe distance.

 

Discovering the mysteries of life has always been my pursuit . . . finding life … real life – finding intimate friendships – finding the love of Jesus Christ in others. I was tentative about responding to Heidi’s comment. “Shame on me; shame on me,” were words I spoke over myself too often. This day I chose to say, “Shame off me.”  

Heidi posted a quote by C.S. Lewis on August 17^th, 2008:

 

 “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another:

 ‘What! You too? Though I was the only one.”

 

It was a similar thought that moved me to respond in authenticity on August 1, 2007.

While superficial exchanges can be wearisome, they can often be the beginning of relationships that are forged by the unveiling of  truth – the truth about ourselves – the unveiling of who we really are, and who we were.

 

 

Who we are created to be can germinate in the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected times, for a reason, a season, or a life time.

 

My “new friend” left herself open; she wore her heart on her sleeve – nothing hidden. Something God inspired me to post touched her to her very core. Love was the truth in her response. Over the next year, through our blogs, personal email exchanges and phone calls, we grew from strangers, to friends, to sisters. The reticence to reach out and take a risk at the beginning could have turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

 

 If her blog is called, “Find Me…Find Life…Real Life” I thought, “she can handle the truth about who I was, who I am and who I want to be.” I unveiled myself and found Real Life in real life.

 

Who was I?

 

 I was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a victim of child sexual abuse, a victim of rape, self-centred, withdrawn, angry, resentful, and filled with far too much unforgiveness.

 

 Who am I?

 

 I am filled with the hope of Christ. I cling to the hope of Christ. I’m a recovered (yes recovered) drug addict and alcoholic. I’m a survivor of child sexual abuse and rape. I’m less self-centred and withdrawn. Sometimes I feel angry but I don’t wear it. I am no longer resentful. The selfishness – that now works to my benefit – you see I want forgiveness so I pray for a heart that forgives.

 

Who do I want to be?

 

 Me – Hope – a new creation every day. I want to be a thriver, not a survivor. I want to be others-centred. I want to embody the character of Christ and reflect Him in my beliefs, my thoughts, and my actions.

 

Real life is about sharing hopes and dreams, disappointments and fears, success and failure, pain and peace. Real life is about trusting someone enough to unveil who you were, who you are, and who you were created to be.

 

“What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” Laying out it is laying it down.

 

 

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” John 15:13.

 

 

Check out Hope @ UnveilingHope.com

 

 I was intimidated to approach this bible scholar of a woman, because I felt so inadequate. Here is a woman who taught the bible, had a high position job in enforcement, and could just write from her heart.  How would I have anyhing in common with her?  

 A year and 21 days later 

Hope we share our secrets, we laugh at our accents (yours not mine) and even cry and constantly battle over who loves more (oy!). We have so much in common; concerns, likes and dislikes. Our friendship is entwined by tender velvet chains that link our similar dreams of life and love.

A  tender and gentle loving God guides us in our individual struggles to succeed at the things we pursue, to stand out from the crowd. 

In you I have found so much of myself (the realness the authentic), including many of the same insecurities and philosophies, complete inner-peace and happiness.  

What makes it so special?? is that we do it together and there are no boundaries… 

You are my kindred spirit, my sister…. and I love you so deeply.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

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