Each day we are presented with possibilities of what to do when. I have to say between working part-time as a lawyer, non-profit passions (especially involving Messianic Judaism and Scripture study), music endeavors, and exercise, I typically have multiple choices. Sometimes it’s mid afternoon before I realize it, the day having offered so many engaging opportunities.

I try to start with focusing on my relationship with God, in whatever format that morning may bring. I love to start slowly with prayers of thankfulness, Scripture (love, love, love the Daily Dvar!), often meaning a morning jog with Him. This is also the time of day I feel centered, focused on God, and best able to write these Shabbat encouragements.

Having said that, mornings are also often times to chat with loved ones, enjoying time together to touch base before our days so often get out of control, when the many unplanned events occur in addition to the ones already scheduled. Over the past few days it would seem that whenever I was about to do one of those morning God-centered activities I would get a call or text from someone in need, or someone who I don’t hear from regularly, or a loved one. In each case I would choose the person over the seemingly more spiritual path. It felt as if prioritizing a love relationship was the right choice even though I would get behind with my Scripture study or prayer time. After all, loving others is another form of modeling His love of us.

As I thought about it at those times it seemed as if these were the right choices, for after all, I could do all of these other endeavors (prayer, Scripture study, private time with God, Shabbat encouragement writing) later. As I pondered that idea, the conclusion seemed affirmed since by taking two of the calls from my children, in particular, I learned information that was very beneficial to a couple personal challenges in my life that were important and had been neglected. The other conversations were also very meaningful as well for they involved helping the people I spoke with through some hard times.

Although I think that conclusion, prioritizing these relationships, is true, in part, the very next day as I was jogging (with Him) our Abba gave me an even deeper tweak to that conclusion.

At oneg last Shabbat a group of us were in an amazing discussion about life, God, and our children (not in that order). At one point we were discussing the challenges our youth face, their crises of faith, how often they seem to be without hope. We even pondered whether it was possibly our generation in the wilderness, like Moses’, and maybe it will be our children and their children who will make this world a better place. We were focused on societal mistakes made over the last fifty-plus years that affect our children’s future, impacts of the older generations’ actions that formed the bases for our children’s insecurities about the world.

So “synchronistically,” the very next day’s Daily Dvar was 1Timothy12 with words of encouragement to the young. Even our conversation looking at the older generation as we had seemed reflected in the following day’s Scripture portion describing Aaron’s son Eleazar taking leadership of the Israelites after Aaron failed to follow God’s command.

As I was jogging and listening to these portions of Scripture I was reminded of the both/and that applies to all of the above ponderings– tending our love relationships is not to be in place of these other activities like Scripture study, but rather, it is that study that informs our daily lives, our thoughts, our choices, decisions, and our relationships. When we stay centered on Him breathing the Holy Spirit into our lives, the choice is not whether but when we will do all of the above. There are times people will come first. There are times Scripture study will come first. Our hearts and minds if properly guided will help us know when to do what but ultimately we are able to find time for both. It’s just a matter of when.

As if to affirm that even deeper conclusion, at that moment, a beautiful butterfly crossed my path.

We make time for what we want to do. If we stay focused on what God would want us to do, what Yeshua would do, we will want to choose wisely and with love, and we will do so. It’s just a matter of priorities of when, not whether, if we keep God, through His teachings and Yeshua’s model, at the forefront. For when we do so, miraculously, He through our interactions with Him in prayer and study of His Word, will infuse all of our activities and relationships with love and truth. We will recognize our choices are not either/or, but rather, are both/and in the most profound ways.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane