Caught in deep grief over the death of his beloved wife, Steph quietly weeps behind the closed doors of his bedroom. He weeps… until his focus shifts away from himself. “It would have been more difficult for her had I left the earth first. I am glad she left before me.” For the first time in weeks, his cheeks widen as a smile envelopes his face. No longer fearful of loneliness without his wife, he supports her lovingly on her new journey and hopes to join her when his time on earth comes to an end. Every time sadness seeks to depress him, he quickly shifts his focus to his wife’s upward journey which brings a smile to his face.

In desperate need of cash, Simeon approached his good friend for help. Steph is barely surviving but parts with the little he has with the understanding that Simeon will pay him back before the end of the month. The end of the month arrives…Steph waits. He calls Simeon who gives one excuse after the other. Irritated by Simeon’s insincerity, he threatens legal action. The more he thinks of the situation, the sadder he becomes. The feeling of being duped burned deeply within him.

His sister-in-law and his niece stop by unexpectedly to say hello on their way to Chuck-e-cheese. “Uncle Steph!” little Dora yells excitedly as she runs towards him with open arms. Little Dora’s love melts away all his worries. She reminded him of the joys of trust and happiness. Subconsciously, he shifts his focus off himself and towards Simeon’s well-being. Love for Simeon welled up within him; the hope that he would one day realize his errors and make amends. No longer did he care about his money for he could make up for what was lost in due time. Worry and unrest soon gave way to inner peace and contentment.

Ruminating over these two experiences, Steph comes to the recognition of a great power. A power that can pull a man up from the lowest possible depths. The guiding light that always leads to the heights- Love!