I have a friend who was contemplating suicide.

He called a suicide hotline and, thankfully, received some really good advice.

They told him was to be on the lookout for his next, best day. And when he was having that day, to write down what was happening around him and how he was feeling. Then, the next time he contemplated suicide, to take out that description and remind himself of how wonderful life can be.

I’ve heard the word despair defined like this; being certain that tomorrow will be no better than today. And because we all have bouts of despair, it is really good for us to have some way of imagining that things almost always get better.

This weekend we will celebrate our last Sunday before the season of Lent. And we will hear this advice in a biblical context. We will see that one reason many of us have some amazing days, is so that we can be encouraged on those days that are not so good.

So where are we right now? If we’re in the bowels of despair, how can we remind ourselves of the good times? If we’re on the mountaintop, how might we commit to memory the exhilaration of being there?

I’ve heard a pastor say that we’re either headed toward a crisis, experiencing one, or recovering from one. While this may be a rather fatalistic description, it does illustrate the cyclical nature of our human experience.

Cheer up, things get better, there’s plenty to live for. God is always nearer than we think.