2 Corinthians 5.16-6.2 gives us some of the most hopeful verses in scripture, but they were born out of St. Paul’s reflections on hardship, rejection, and suffering. The hope Paul had of the glory to be revealed in him not only gave him endurance to face everything life threw at him, but also helped him to see when glory was showing up around him. Today as we remember some dear friends of the Alton Mission, we follow Paul in determined hopefulness. And we commit ourselves anew to the work of God in us, new creation that begins to show up for all those in Christ.