Last summer my daughter gave me the book, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom.  She had just finished reading it and told me she thought I would enjoy it and it would really make me think.   I’m sure most of you have heard of this author.  I had read several of his books and I enjoyed them so I decided to read it.  The book, based on a true story that chronicled the lives of two different men who in their own ways demonstrated what faith is all about, is excellent. It shares with the reader, belief can come to us when we least expect it and the people we learn from might be hiding in plain sight.

The following is an excerpt Albom shared from one of the Rabbi Albert Lewis’s sermon’s. Mitch called this man who became his friend and who is a character in his book, the Reb.

A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. It reads simply, ‘He can sleep in a storm.‘

The owner was desperate for help, so he hires the man.

Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley. Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his hired hand, but the man is soundly sleeping.

So, he dashes out of the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed. He runs out into the field. He sees bales of wheat have been bound and wrapped in tarpaulins. He races to the silo. The door is latched and the grain is dry.

And then he understands. He sleeps in the storm. 

“My friends, if we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of ‘I could have, I should have.’ We can sleep in a storm. And when it is time, our good-byes will be complete.

This short little piece spoke volumes about how we should strive to live. It may not always be easy and sometimes, we don’t have complete control over this situation with others, but it is a balm to the soul if we can have that peace.  God loves us unconditionally and while we tend to put conditions on our love for others, let’s endeavor to “get right” with others, be kind, make peace and live our best life for the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

Patty