Last week I shared with you the joy and peace that I was experiencing as a result of the visit by our 7 year old granddaughter. Now after days of Disneyworld, camping in our RV, travel to a five year old grandson’s birthday party in St. Petersburg, more beach and swim days, and travel home,  I can only say I’m not the least bit tired. Rather, I am renewed and refreshed. That is not of human capacity. That is of the Lord.   

I honestly feel that the power of love is so strong that it really can overcome inexplicable challenges and even darkness. It is that latter aspect that has intrigued me, especially this week.   

What is going on in the world???!!!! It only gets crazier. Just as I thought it couldn’t be worse, it becomes so! I’m not just talking about cognitive dissonance that occurs, the difficulty in reconciling feelings of joy with knowledge of hardships elsewhere. I’m suggesting ways we can make a difference not just in dealing with our emotional challenges but perhaps even in brightening the dark realities that surround us.   

The lasting effect of my granddaughter’s visit, the way it not only nourished me during her time but has stayed with me afterward, convinces me that I experienced the presence of the Ruach Hakodesh, the Holy Spirit. Through the love in her and my relationship, which is from our Creator, I was healed of tiredness and worry. Though I continued to care for Sid, and for my granddaughter, nevertheless, it didn’t feel as if I were doing anything difficult. Rather my days seemed easier than before she arrived! In addition, her very cherubic presence was just that, a mysterious angelic assistance through her which brought such holiness to our days, made even more meaningful by the exquisite timing of last week’s Passover seder while she was here.  

I am encouraged to grow the depth and quality of my love relationships, to meaningfully love and serve those who are part of my world. For when we prioritize that active loving interaction it enables us not only to feel His Presence through those interactions, but we also invite positivity into our days. The Light powering these relationships through our loving others helps to heal the darkness.   

I can’t explain how this works. I just know it happened. This week’s euphoria doesn’t mean I stopped worrying about the growing international crises. Yet I know that when I laid down my personal burdens literally and felt them being replaced with joyful power of the Lord taking them from me, in my deepest sense I knew that He’s got the big problems too. It was my faith in our Creator that was at work. My part was just to remember that very crucial fact at a time when my personal burdens may have otherwise seemed overwhelming.   

There is no question that over these past several days I often and profusely said, “Thank you, God”. Even when something went wrong I was able to see the blessings which were gifts from God. Pushing Sid’s wheelchair through Magic Kingdom was hard but we were able to get a good one with an elevated option for his injured leg. We were able to park close with the handicapped placard loaned to us by a loving friend. Our granddaughter was understanding and patient. So many blessings seemed so obvious. The weather was gorgeous. On the beach a miraculous perfect conch shell washed ashore right at our sandcastle. Our time camping in the RV was so amazingly fun and comfortable. The fact that we were able to go at all given Sid’s injuries and that he had a great time was the best blessing of all!  

These are the times when we must invite Him into our lives deliberately. We must acknowledge the blessings and be thankful. When the world around us is so uncertain, be it from unforeseen accidents, personal hardships, or the greater chaos that frames our days, our faith is our lifeline in the most profound sense of that word. Seeking support in our faith communities, reinforcing interaction with His reality in our prayer times, immersing regularly in Scripture reading, faithfully attending services in our houses of worship are all ways of inviting Him to walk with us and with those who are part of our days. In leaning into Him and bringing Him into our daily lives we invite the Holy Spirit into intimate relationship with us through Yeshua – and He shows up big time!  

In these ways of inviting our Creator in we feel God’s Presence in our days. That faith in Him not only carries us through our small daily activities but frames our worldview generally which helps us not to be overwhelmed by its sometimes horror. I am at peace for I have just experienced an intimate connection to the Divine reminding me of how real God is. I was also reminded that as we love others our open and loving hearts help to bring His Light to this world tangibly allowing us and those around us to viscerally experience its power.   

It is that power of goodness, kindness, forgiveness, patience, compassion, understanding, generosity, and love that is the only way evil and darkness can be dispelled. These are the times especially for those who walk with Yeshua to model His Way, to live exemplar lives as did He.  

Living love filled lives and trusting in Him invites Him into our lives. As in the days of Yeshua, it doesn’t look like such behavior will be coming from the top down, but rather, may be possible from the bottom up. As we love others and they us and others and others, the spheres of the power of love will grow. Having a personal relationship with God through Yeshua brings this ability to each of us to do our part in this divine plan. In just the small example of my life I know this works. If it works for me, I know it will work for you, too.   

Shabbat shalom.   

Diane