This past month I have been looking for opportunities to respond immediately with love, especially in the small events that I encounter throughout the day. One night I came home late and checked my voicemail.

Earlier in the day a friend with whom I am working on a project had left a message to call her. She lives three time zones away.

It was midnight and I was ready to call it a day. But it occurred to me that it was only 9:00 pm where she lived. I realized immediately that this might be the little voice of the Holy Spirit, suggesting that no matter how tired I felt I should return her call. When she answered, the tone in her voice confirmed for me that I'd made the right choice. Her joy paid me back a hundred times over for the small amount of fatigue I was feeling. I experienced, in that moment, the love of God.

We were able to work for another hour on the details of the project, and we made great progress. But for me, even more important than the work on our project is the confirmation that when I pay attention that "little voice," I discover ways of performing acts of love that have a truly lasting effect for me and for my neighbors. Making that call proved to be an act of love that made my day complete.

E.J.  Indianapolis