I call someone today about something. And I say “Well probably for you it’s better if you take the most organized system because your family works like that. But our family just doesn’t work like that.”

And the person jumps up. Or at least that’s what it feels like on this end of the phone.

And he says “What are you saying?! You also must take the most organized system. It can work for you as well.”

I disagree. But he keeps arguing.

“You have to believe. You have to shape it like you want it. You have to think positive.”

Mister I think I don’t think you’re getting this.

But he goes on with so much strength and conviction “You have to have emunah that it will all be as you want it to be.”

And I was just calling about a small job. But he took it so seriously that even through my light tones he heard the truth and the tint of pain.

And I thought there’s nothing like good Jews.

And for that moment I actually think Yes. We can be that.

And for that moment that very short but sweet moment we could be that.

But then reality a lot of reality walks in.

And I see we can’t be that.

But it was so nice to hold on to for a moment.

Later that day my husband and I get onto the subject of swimming. Of how hard it is to swim at this stage of life when you haven’t swum for so long how two minutes are like running half an hour.

And I say “Half a minute of swimming is like running for half an hour.”

So my husband asks” Then how is it that the rebbe said I should swim at least 40 minutes a day?”

And I say “Because even though you’re not there today that’s where the rebbe wants you to get to.”

And we finish that conversation and go on with our day.

My husband goes out to an old friend’s wedding.

I stay home with the kids.

Not because they need me to stay home with them anymore but because I like to.

And we cook dinner.

Talk and laugh.

Discuss some ideas for life business.

Slowly everyone goes his or her way. Some here some there and the girls go up to their room to listen to something.

And I decide to sit down relax and think in the rare quiet.

And what I think about is the conversation with that person I spoke to earlier who’s actually a house painter.

And I think about his completely unexpected inspiring words of hope and faith about the importance of believing that things will be as we want them to be.

And I think how appropriate it is for this person to be a house painter. Someone who brings new color fills in patches covers smudges. And creates a clean slate.

And I think about how for those few moments when I saw or more accurately I believed that the world could be white clean and crisp.

But when I turn around the walls are still drab chipped and peeling.

How could they ever be restored? I think.

But then I remember the rebbe’s advice to my husband that he should swim 40 minutes a day even though today even two minutes is too hard.

And I realize that’s the point.

The rebbe knows my husband can’t swim 40 minutes. But faith expectation and the mere suggestion that he should means he could and can get there.

If you want it to happen it will.

It comes down to one thing. Expect it.