Greetings!

A new year has begun and we are already at day four. There is no denying the fact that time, does not procrastinate; we are the ones who do. Here’s to wishing you, therefore, and all that concerns you, a healthy and blessed 2023. May every thought and action be towards the glory of God; that way, you can rest assured that divinely inspired joy will provide you with strength for each day, and bright hope, for every tomorrow. 

It has also been four days since I returned home from sabbatical leave abroad, where I had the blessing of spending quality time with members of my family, whom I had not seen since before the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic. The word sabbatical is loaded with meaning, and suggests a time in which rest and refreshment, pursuant to the objective of renewal, is is both journey and goal. I suppose only time will tell whether I achieved that objective, in the two months I was away. One thing is certain, however, the environment in which I was, allowed me more than the physical space, to be quiet. 

In quietness, therefore, I reflected…upon my vocation and its exercise, upon what I had been sensing in my spirit for some time, about the unfolding of a new season and hence life changes, for which physical but more so interior preparations are key. I reflected upon the desire for and implications of a new and different approach to life, as I inch ever closer to the years when pleasure is derived from a deep appreciation for the gift of God’s unmerrited favor, joy is experienced amidst pain and the blessing of knowing oneself to be truly loved, becomes the axis upon which life turns.

Now, in retrospect, it was not surprising that I was awakened this morning, with words from a well known hymn filling my mental space. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation. In the stillness of the early morning, I went and sat in my prayer room (thank God, there were no visible croaks), with one lit candle as a visible reminder of the real light, dispelling the surrounding darkness. I allowed the hymn’s words access to my soul, as a choir accompanied by a full orchestra sang them. Some found particular resonance within my heart and mind…

“Praise to the Lord who doth prosper thy work and defend thee…Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do; who with His love doth befriend thee.”

When I departed Jamaica’s shores in early Novembsr, I was physically and mentally exhausted. I was in need of rest as well as space to think and reflect upon the Lord’s movements and what if any congruence my thoughts had with His perceived will.

I would like to think that over the time, I had a number of revelations. I was inspired to rise above my fears and to step out in faith, always trusting God. Yes, trusting: that verb of being, that must be fully embraced, especially when I can neither see nor understand God’s reasons for the paths along which I am led to walk…even for a season.

And so today, having descended from the mountaintop, I must now engage the trek through the valley. I return to work, therefore, holding closely to Him, pondering anew what the Almighty can do, who with His love has deigned to befrend me.

Blessed love,

Grace+