I’ve been walking past this building for over 3 years on my way to work from the station, but the fact that I had never noticed this before just shows how rarely I look up from pavement level!

This is a first floor balcony, so to start with, seeing a bicycle there is a bit of a surprise. But it was the child-like drawing on the glass and the more polished ‘HOPE’ that actually caught my eye a couple of days ago when I walked past at lunchtime.

I like the style and the colour combinations. But there’s nothing to give a clue as to why this word has been chosen to ‘shout’ to the passers by, or what kind of hope the artist had in mind.

Is it the wishful thinking hope that is most commonly what people mean?
“I hope it doesn’t rain today”
“I hope she likes me”

Or is it hope in the Christian sense - a solid, confident faith in a promise being kept, because it was made by one who never breaks a promise? Like in the hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
no merit of my own I claim,
but wholly trust in Jesus’ name.

  On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand,
  all other ground is sinking sand,
  all other ground is sinking sand

Perhaps one day I’ll see who lives here and will be able to ask them.