I walk with angels. And, yes, sometimes I walk with God—startling statements, I know. As a spiritual seeker, my path wavered, but it was all meant to be. Confusion. Denial. Self-importance. Doubt. More. After fifty years of exploration, I felt a gentle tug with a slender thread to He who says Follow Me. It was an unequivocal call. I have known that still small voice since before birth: His protective arms saved me in a tortured womb and throughout my life, sojourning from one eternity to another. I choose to follow God, whom I call Jesus or Abba. I expect respect for my choices, for I do not judge others for their beliefs or unbelief. Ultimately, I traveled most of those highways, even nonbelief. I understand now that my achievements were not mine but His plans for me. I failed only when I ignored His still, small, and gentle voice, leaning on my understanding and will, not His.
Admitting that God’s gifts and blessings were not my doing was my 80th birthday-revelation. I needed and wanted to commit to walking in His footsteps. If not now, when?
I share this with you because while our world is on fire, I have faith in our humanness, no matter how vile it gets. It is at these times of hate, anger, and evil crimes inside and outside the context of war that my heart opens as I follow His teachings of forgiveness, love of enemies, and prayer.
Love is the centerpiece from which the world has distanced itself. We have forgotten we are dust. Like a flower in the field, we flourish for a mere moment in the span of eternity, but when the wind blows, we perish, and the place we once were is no more. Our days are so few, and our momentary beauty swiftly fades away! ( My loose translation of Psalm 103: 15-16.) We have blotted out that in one sunrise to sunset, we can choose to be angry, live in fear, react with vengeance, and project our life into the vortex of a living hell. Or we can follow a path that fills our hearts with what is viewed today by so many as cliché: kindness, compassion, and a willingness to understand another’s point of view.
I know our world and great nation will be better. I have faith. We will have more tribulations, pain, and suffering before it does. But we will survive. I have faith. We must not walk away from the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and…self-control.
Given the atrocities of wars, the anguish of victims, and the massive and frequent gun shootings in our country, I may appear naïve. I am not. I have not turned my face from tragedy. Though I sadly observe these happenings, I remain at peace. I have faith.
So, yes, I walk with angels and God, looking to the majestic curtain of heaven and over the rainbow.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Eva Cassidy, a remarkable singer and guitarist, died at the age of thirty-three. She sang folk music, blues, jazz, and gospel all equally well. This version of Over The Rainbow is a remastered version from her album Songbird. It is worth every second of watching and listening to this master give rise to a cry from the heart to fly over the rainbow.
After all, isn’t this a metaphoric desire, if not an absolute need, for humanity to fly over that rainbow to a better place in hearts, minds, and souls? I believe we can. I sincerely hope you do, too.
Affectionately and humbly,
Notes & Links
Janet, I think Eva's rendition of this song is the best ever. It is soulful, and her artistry with phrasing and her singular voice make it so. We lost Eva too soon as we did my good friend, Linda. All too soon. Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
We played Eva Cassidy’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” at Linda’s memorial. So poignant. It still brings tears to my eyes.