In the heat of battle, I look for allies. With a recent battle, it felt as if darkness were closing in. There was no one at my side. Even one who had always had my back seemed to be on the other side.
As I repeat a psalm as a mantra, the battle replays. Divinity, “when I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, with your other hand save me.” (Psalm 138.7)
The battle looks different from the soft light of a new day. In that battle I had an ally at my side, saying words which were Divinely inspired. I could not hear them because my filter said allies and God spoke my language and take my side. In this case, I was focused on two inadvertent slights, totally missing the bigger story unfolding around me.
The lesson reminders for me today come in three parts.
Divinity is always with you and me. In good times and bad, in moments we can be proud of as well as disasters, Divinity is present. In my case, because Divinity’s whispers were calling me to something better, I was unable to hear the call. I did not realize I was rejecting Divinity, however because Divinity did not appear in a construction of my making, I wrongly concluded that I was alone. You and I are never alone.
In times where I do not think God is present, I need to stop whatever I am doing and seek Divinity’s presence. My belief in Divinity presents needs to be affirm with my intent to connect. In the recent battle, I found demons of my own making and Divinity herself! In the darkness of being alone there is a call to seek Divinity’s embrace.
When battles come, it is good to ask if this is my battle. As painful as the battle was, in hindsight it was not mine to fight. The real battle was fear and separation. Pause, prepare, and fight when called. Leave the rest.
