HOPE IS A LEADER IN ITS OWN RIGHT

You might say there really is no evidence that hope can make a difference
Given that we still have wars
And Poverty,
And injustice,
And cruellest illness,
And people dying.

But if you’d been with us last night at Audrey’s memorial service
To hear how every grieving person
Spoke of Audrey’s devotion to hope
Her unflagging will to be hopeful
Her diligent attention to hope’s manifestations
Both human and symbolic,

Then you would have seen the firsthand evidence
That hope is contagious,
That hope is comforting,
That hope is inspiring,
That hope pulls us together,
That hope leads to action,
That ultimately, even without the cooperation of the physical body,
Hope is a leader in its own right.