The world is heavy, isn’t it?

I can tend to grow quiet while I just FEEL it all.

How do we move through our ordinary lives in the middle of this? Is there anything to do? Or say? I don’t really think so. We just FEEL. And pray.

I took a breather over the weekend and drove my son to a soccer tournament in Nevada.

Away from the news and scrolling. Away for just a little while from all those photos of pain and devastation. I was grateful for my poor internet connection! And when I pulled back the curtains in our hotel room, the red cliffs and green sage lined by snow covered peaks reminded me of the world’s beauty. Even now.

At games throughout the weekend, the boys played tough. We cheered from the sidelines, “Way to go!!! You got it!!! Nice ball!!! Gooooo!!!” and the air escaping from our lungs into shouts through the wind felt so satisfying. It felt so good to cry out!

In between games, the kids laughed and chased on the hotel’s basketball court. They threw horseshoes and played soccer tennis or pickleball. And while they roughhoused and hollered and spread their infectious joy, the moms played cards at a picnic table in the sun. We laughed and shouted and flipped cards and when the wind picked up a little, we threw ourselves on the stacks of cards and hooted with glee!

Then every night my daughter wrapped her little arm around my neck in our shared hotel-room bed while I prayed for Ukraine, and I fell asleep wrapped in the arms of love.

At the finals, as I let the warm sun hit my face in the cool desert breeze, I basked in that familiar presence I’ve ALWAYS known. I am here, it whispered. Even here, even now. And I exhaled. Again. Then when the boys held their gold plastic trophy high in the air, it felt just like HOPE.

The world IS heavy. Sometimes we carry it all and it’s hard.

But sometimes in the middle of pain and sadness and anger and fear and devastation and despair, there is beauty and laughter and joy and love and warmth and hope.

We are invited to feel it ALL.

This is the human condition, and there is still hope.