Nicole’s e-Pistle

July 30, 2025

Greetings, Friends!

Bjorn is dutifully preparing for the new school year during the Teacher Work Week, which means that I have the kiddos with me in the office this week. We came prepared Tuesday morning with plenty of games and toys to keep them occupied, including an electrical circuit board. It is a STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – toy that is designed to teach kids about electricity.

Brother and sister were so excited to put the pieces together, linking the circuits together into a full square… (It’s hard to make a circle with a peg board). Then, the big moment came to flip the On Switch… and (drum roll, please)… nothing happened. Shoulders slumped, smiles dimmed, eyebrows raised. What could have been the problem? They followed all the instructions and everything fit together as it should. Then they discovered they forgot to insert the batteries!

Out came the batteries from my lavalier mic, in they popped in the correct direction to the battery pack on the circuit board, and then it was time to flip the switch once more… and (drum roll)…. nothing. Nada. Nosiree!

Now the frustration was palpable. They went back to the instruction board and checked every single piece. Sure enough, the L1 piece (which contained a light bulb) was missing with a piece labeled “RP” in its place. (We still can’t figure out what the RP piece is supposed to do.) One last attempt at putting the correct piece into the circuit and it was time to flip the switch… just skip the drum roll this time… and… There was light!! It was the tiniest lightbulb I’ve ever seen, but they had caused it to illuminate! They celebrated for the next two hours by disassembling one circuit and creating whole new configurations, all with different gadgets and gizmos that came to life!

How often do we feel our connection to God waning as though something is out of place or missing? Do you sometimes pray and feel that the divine spark just isn’t what you thought it would be? Perhaps you have tried at times to put different pieces into place on your own to find some way to make the connection stronger with varying results.

Take courage, friends. God’s divine presence, like electricity in the air, is always with us. At times, the connection will feel strong and powerful, lighting up all the dim places in life. At other times, we feel like we’ve run out of batteries, and we’re grasping for answers. Don’t give up seeking God, especially in the difficult times. Yet, unlike a circuit board, there is no amount of effort you can muster to increase or decrease God’s love for you. You are in this moment, as in your highest of highs and lowest of lows, beloved and held by your Creator. Whether you can sense the connection or not, you are never alone!

Blessings and peace, my dear friends!