Even in uncertain time, there is always something inside you reaching for possibility.

A number of years ago my daughter, Alexandra, and I were hanging out having an ordinary Saturday. We had an ordinary lunch. We were on our way to an ordinary shopping trip to find a special pair of shoes.

By ordinary, I mean enjoyable. Good. Even delightful.

It was the two of us driving and talking and laughing and sharing secrets like we do.

There had been a comfortable long pause in our conversation, when Alexandra, who was in high school at the time, said this extraordinary thing that is so vivid to me that it feels like I can reach out and touch the words.

She said softly, “People fall in love during war.”

“What?” I asked, wanting to make sure I heard her correctly.

“People fall in love during war.” She repeated.

For any number of unknown reasons the words she spoke instantly stirred an unexpected and deep emotion within me.

We were stopped at a stoplight. I turned and looked at her soft insightful face. Her eyes caught mine and the depth of the statement overflowed within me as tears flooded my eyes.

My heart was captivated by this simple sentence. And the two of us discussed the possibilities that the words held.

The idea that in the midst of the most brutal of situations surrounded by destruction, death, and injustice, that even in horrific circumstances people have the capacity to open their hearts and fall in love is powerful.

It is true.

It is beautiful.

And it is hopeful.

We all know that being in love and falling in love are two very different activities.

Being in love is beautifully solid. Being in love is the kind of love that has endured time and trust and lives in a solidness that wraps its arms around us and makes us feel safe.

But falling in love, whew, now that is something altogether different. It is vulnerable.

Even the essence of the word “falling” indicates a sense of rapid and without control motion.

Falling in love is about being fully exposed to another person without protection and without assurance.

Falling in love is risky. Unpredictable. Without a guarantee.

Falling in love is also delightful, enchanting, mesmerizing, riveting.

It is true.

It is beautiful.

And it is hopeful.

Falling in love is a time when we are open to all the goodness, the deliciousness, and the magic in the world.

Falling in love is one of our deepest expressions of ourselves; it is all about possibility.

Pause for a moment, and think about in the middle of war, which by definition is struggle, conflict, bloodshed, collision, attack, battle, siege, hostility, that we as humans have the capacity to open our hearts to one of the boldest, one of most thrilling, most vulnerable experience that is humanly possible to experience; falling in love.

I love love love knowing that even in the worst situations, that love demands to be created and to be seen and to be known.

I love knowing that LOVE insists on expanding, stretching, spreading, increasing, multiplying itself even in war.

“People fall in love in war.” She said.

Deep breath… pause...heavy sigh.

Even in war, when destruction, fear, grief is all around us, the deepest part of our humanity, the deepest part of our humanness reaches out and searches for our fullest, most positive self expression.

Love and possibility live within us even in the worst situations.

Even if we can't feel it, or see it, or imagine it, love is there just waiting to be exposed and wanting to be expressed.

During this time when the world can feel uncertain, while there is destruction, fear, and grief around us, know that there is something deep inside of you that is reaching, stretching, desiring itself to find something good, something beautiful, something powerful.

You can find comfort when you are surrounded by fear.

You can find goodness when you are surrounded by grief.

You can find love, magic and possibility in a pandemic.

It is true.

It is beautiful.

And it is hopeful.

“People fall in love during war.” She said.