Nearby

Trouble looms, for everyone, just around the corner.  Regardless of its birth, our creation, through the choice of someone else, or because of forces beyond comprehension, trouble, difficulty, or living nightmares can strike without notice.  The knowledge of how near trouble is can, for some, become a paralyzing force.  We are trapped by evil and destruction but I do not understand why we have to be trapped by it.
 
I was reminded today that hope rests within every moment.  A gentle word brings a smile and hope is on the loose!  If you take time to sit on the stoop and explore what is important, you will rediscover some of the important things in life.  If it is difficult when you are alone then do as I did – sit with a friend.  As I look around me, in New York, California, and beyond, I find people in a battle for their life.  It seems that those who have every reason to give up often are giving hope away to everyone they meet.  There is a source of power infused in their lives that we should take notice of. 
 
The harsh reality is hits many hard.  “The enemy's soon at Nob—nearly there!  In sight of the city he shakes his fist at the mount of dear daughter Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 10.32)  Yet this is never the end of the story, for anyone.
 
We hold within ourselves freedom.  We are free to choose.  We decide if we will accept Divinity’s offer of mercy, compassion, and a smile or let evil’s onslaught get to our heart.
 
Today dawns and we hold everything within our grasp.  When we hold onto compassion we are grasping Divinity’s hand.  When we give mercy to others our personal hearts overflow with hope.  When we act on the Spirit’s prompt we find ourselves walking in partnership with angels.  This is our destiny.  This is our mission. 
 
The enemy will lurk, stalking the good and the bad.  This is fact.  We also hold Divinity’s gift within our heart.  We choose the winner.