Last night I had one of those moments. One where fear tries to eat at you. My life was not in danger and there was no threat. It was just something invasive trying to take me off the balance I was maintaining. I can’t always explain those things. But I know this, that most of the time it is like being in the rain. Whether you know the cause or not, you are going to get wet. And so are others.

Yesterday it seemed like everyone had not slept well the night before. Dozens of times I heard someone say it during the course of the day. I know the reasons one might not sleep but why everyone in a day seeming to talk about it? Those things interest me. (I get you either sleep or you don’t so it is a 50/50 deal, but usually everyone is saying “I slept so well” or “I did not sleep well at all last night.”)

So, I began to look at some trends or threads if you will, I had uncovered this week while praying.

• Marriages and the quality.
• Children and their future.
• People’s sense of being “lost”.
• Fear.

I will leave it there because the list is not so important as what is triggering some of this. Clearly there is an attack. Clearly there is the need for change. Clear that a solid future of quality and care is at risk.

I think the answer is love. It is the only thing that we often have to give, but clearly it is the best. Love changes all of those.

This week I had one of those interesting conversations. The kind that you want to have, but hope you have time to have. Why? Because it allowed me to express the love of the Father to someone needing love. As they looked at me, clearly there was desperation in their eyes. “Will He accept me?”

That is the question on the table for many. And for many because they think He won’t accept them they avoid Him, pushing away, living in hatred and bitterness, hurt and pain.

I can not live like that. I will love the unlovable. Will I be hurt? Will I be misunderstood? Will it cause me problems? I am certain it is “yes” to all of those. But only love casts our fear. Only love can heal a person, a community, a nation.

Will it be messy? Pretty sure it will! Will it be painful? I think so at first. Will it have results? Absolutely!

When all else fails, love.