“For the whole law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” Galatians 5:14 AMP

I have been so incredibly blessed in my life to consistently know and be connected to many truly amazing people. This is one of the ways I have been able to see God’s hand constantly at work in my life. From the day I was born, the Good Lord blessed me with a heart that seems to be a bottomless well of love for those around me. I’ve found many times along the way when the people in my life struggled to understand and accept that the love I offer them is simply part of who I am and how I was built. I’ve never been able to let people behind the walls I built by way of self-preservation, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been filled with love for them in spite of those walls.

I was given a mother who loved me with all her heart, and in spite of her rocky road, continued to love me the best she could until she passed from this world. Then God balanced things out by giving me a daddy who has also showed me great love, and has been a wonderful teacher, leading me by example in the things that matter most in life. I was blessed with amazing friends, teachers, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all of whom knock my socks off on a regular basis, just by being themselves. Wherever I’ve worked, I’ve been surrounded by incredible co-workers, many becoming treasured and lifelong friends.

Driving to work this morning in the pouring rain, I felt tired and stressed. Driving in the rain is one of my biggest challenges on the road, especially in the dark. I will be rolling along, starting to feel a little less anxious, and then BAM! I hit a virtually invisible pool of standing water on the road, and as I feel my car hydroplane for the umpteenth time, my heart skips a few beats and as the tires grip the pavement on the other side of the pooled nightmare, I feel my held breath make it’s escape from my lungs.

In many ways, this is how it is as we are rolling along through life. We get a false sense of security, begin to let our guard down, and that is when Satan pounces. Much like driving in rough weather, we must move through life with an awareness that there is standing water everywhere. We must move at a thoughtful speed, as it is when we go barreling forward unchecked that we risk hydroplaning into an uncontrolled spin. That doesn’t mean we won’t hit those “Oh crap!” stretches of road, but we can be prepared by knowing that, when we do, God is right there ready to take the wheel. He will stay with us as we spin, He will hold us close and calm our spirits as we wait for the paramedics, and He will make sure we have a way to get our vehicle repaired and ready to get back on the road once our injuries have healed.

Another thing we need to remember is that there are other drivers on the same stormy road, and they, too, are at risk for hydroplaning into their own uncontrolled spin. There are times when they will spin right into those around them, causing a major pile-up. Being able to accept that this is going to happen and that we are inevitably going to suffer when we get caught up in somebody else’s spin, is a big part of the battle. We must be able to forgive them for taking their eyes off the road and rolling into the pool of water at too high a speed. We need to remember that we all get tired and lose focus, which makes it all the more important that we be there for each other when that happens. In the face of those mistakes, we should choose to find a way to see the child of God underneath the actions of a poor driver on the road of life.

Always remember that the Spirit of God lives in every single one of us, though it can be buried deeper in some than in others. When you reach out to people, remember that your goal should be to connect God’s Spirit inside of you to God’s Spirit inside of them. So, knowing that God is love, we can deduce that the best way to reach that Spirit is by showing them love and looking at them through the eyes of that very Spirit. In doing so, it will be much easier to see them as their Heavenly Father does, thus clearing away the cobwebs of humanity to make way for the light to shine on both of you.

“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” Philippians 4:8 AMP