I suppose it sounds corny – “God is love”.  We’ve heard the phrase so many times. It sends a beautiful direct and subliminal message making us feel comforted just in seeing the words and bringing them to our consciousness. What this week’s experiences have shown me, reminded me of, is the immense power of that love.

I really have not landed home from Florida yet. I’ve been back, to the Shabbaton, to services, and a brief unload of packed belongings to my home. On the heels of that trip, however, I flew to NYC for work and then to Dallas to be with my sister on her big birthday.

In the Dallas airport Monday afternoon, as I was looking forward to returning home (or to my second home at my sister’s house near Boston), inclement weather caused the delay of my flight. The only choice I had was to fly two hours west (not east) to Denver and connect on a later flight to Boston from there so I rebooked and began the journey back.  Unfortunately, my baggage would arrive without me but that was the least of my worries at the time.

As I landed in Denver Monday evening to make my connection I had a choice – go home or visit with my family there including my adorable granddaughter. Love triumphed so my son and wife lovingly welcomed me despite the late hour and lack of preparation by any of us!! That night I booked a return flight home for Thursday. It was a grand surprise the next morning when Gramzy was there to say “Good morning”!

As Tuesday overflowed with joy, however, parents and Gramzy noodled a bit and it turned out my granddaughter’s last day of school is tomorrow and nothing was planned for her for all next week and the following weekend,

so . . .

She’s coming home with me!! For 10 more days!! Heaven on earth. I even can see her ballet class tonight!

How this all played out so serendipitously made me consider the reality that just as there are evil forces, the good forces include the power of love. How amazingly perfect this has been feels as though when we love others intensely, and sacrificially, the actual power of love, God’s Divine Love of us, can create opportunities to experience and share His Love that are otherwise impossible.

Although I did not look at the trip to Dallas as sacrificial, I guess it was in some sense for the travel aspect of it cost time and money. Perhaps choosing to stay in Denver with loved ones was another powerful choice of love over comfort and personal desire to be home. Perhaps my not even thinking of these decisions in those terms at the time is what intensified the power of love that was at work.

It felt supernatural – getting the last seat at the last minute on the flight to Denver that was oversold and had a huge standby list already formed, that getting to Boston from Dallas by way of Denver could even be the only choice available that night, that my children were open to me moving in for the week unannounced, that my granddaughter was completely available for me to be able to extend my time with her and . . .

Sid and I were already planning to go both weekends (after services) to see our other grandchildren who live within driving range of home. Now all three of us will be able to see their ballet recitals and cousins will have time together to share love too!!!  There are even additional grandparents and aunt and uncle there to expand the love circles even further.

We can so easily feel discouraged and become overwhelmed by the darker influences and forces at work in our lives. Yet the ability to love one another, meaningfully and sacrificially as we are commanded to do, is always at our fingertips, just a decision away. This week’s powerful add-ons of love opportunities so beautifully orchestrated have convinced me that when we live with hearts filled with love of others, we are walking in His Divine Love of us. It is He who takes our willingness to make that extra effort to love another and opens portals of His Light and goodness that are unimaginable, beyond human ability to effectuate by even the best planning.

Oh, and miraculously, my baggage arrived in Boston safe and sound just waiting for me.

God is love, for us, and for us to share.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane