Deferred Hope

A Dream Deferred

My first grade teacher, Ms. Mahandrue, introduced us to the beauty of African-American poetry. The poet that I loved reading the most was Langston Hughes. By far, one of my favorite poems is entitled, "Harlem". Notably, Lorraine Hansberry chose a line from this poem as the title of her famous play, A Raisin in the Sun, which explores the idea of delayed dreams in the world of a black family living in the South Side of Chicago during the 1950s. I remember seeing the movie with Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee.

Harlem

BY LANGSTON HUGHES

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 used his words in this artform to describe his personal perspective of what the Urban American dream and experience was for the African American during the 1930's.

The inconsistent rhyme and rhythm as well as the usage of the powerful imagery used in the varied series of comparisons of what a deferred dream would look and feel like is probably why this is my favorite poem of all time. Perhaps it speaks to the depth of my own cynicism when it comes to even my own struggle with hope and faith...

Most importantly...this poem does not offer a solution.

Have you ever had your hope deferred? A dream unfulfilled, yet close enough to almost touch?

(NIV)

12 Hope (expectation) deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Deferred - mashak - to be drawn out; dragged or pulled away;

When my brother first got his license, he always played this mean trick on me, where he would get in the driver's seat...start the car...and when I came close to the passenger side door...he would drive off. I hated that game. Why? Because there was always a chance or hope of getting to the car...only to have that hope dashed away. The more he did it, the more frustrated I became.

Sick - chala - weakened; wounded; Its not dead...it becomes tired and worn...frustrated...reckless.

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Obtain - bana - to build or construct;

How much pain must Sarai be in...for her to offer her maidservant to her husband?

What must happen in the life of this woman for her to resort to this? They have been in this strange land for 10 years.

She left all that she knew because of a promise

he dealt with new people and living in tents because of a promiseShe dealt with famine because of a promiseShe dealt with the whole Pharaoh thing...because of a promiseShe dealt with being left with the scraps because of an ungrateful nephew...because of a promiseShe dealt with her husband leading a militia against a confederacy of 5 invading nations...because of a promiseDay after day...night after night...she tries to do her part in fulfilling this promise...and it comes to nothing. Then her husband tells her about a dream and vision...and how God is going to bless them. If I have to hear one more sermon about healing!! If I have to hear one more sermon about blessing!! What happens to a dream deferred?

She dealt with new people and living in tents because of a promise

She dealt with famine because of a promise

She dealt with the whole Pharaoh thing...because of a promise

She dealt with being left with the scraps because of an ungrateful nephew...because of a promise

She dealt with her husband leading a militia against a confederacy of 5 invading nations...because of a promise

Day after day...night after night...she tries to do her part in fulfilling this promise...and it comes to nothing. Then her husband tells her about a dream and vision...and how God is going to bless them. If I have to hear one more sermon about healing!! If I have to hear one more sermon about blessing!! What happens to a dream deferred?

Don't allow your deferred dream to morph into a realized nightmare.

What are those ideas that you are coming up with that are not from the Lord?

What thoughts and schemes are you coming up with...that are not in alignment with God's Word?

How can you expect divine blessings to occur outside of the will of God?

The pain and disappointment is great enough to the point where your idea is making more and more sense to you. Don't allow your deferred dream to morph into a realized nightmare.