How I Feel About GOD, Religion, and Related Concepts ...

A gentle reprimand from above ...

My Dear Children (and believe me that's all of you):

I consider myself a pretty patient being, I mean, look at the Grand Canyon. It took millions of years to get it right.
And about evolution? Boy, nothing is slower than designing that whole Darwinian thing to take place, cell by cell, and gene by gene.
I've been patient through your fashions, civilizations, wars and schemes, and the countless ways you take Me for granted until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again.
I want to let you know some of the things that are starting to tick me off.

First of all, your religious rivalries are driving Me up a wall.
Enough already!
Let's get one thing straight. These are YOUR religions, not Mine.
I'm the whole enchilada; I'm beyond them all.
Every one of your religions claims there is only one of Me (which by the way, is absolutely true). But in the very next breath, each religion claims it's My favorite one.
And each claims its bible was written personally by Me, and that all the other bible's are man-made. Oh, Me. How do I even begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense?
Okay, listen up now. I'm you Father AND Mother, and I DON'T play favorites among MY children.
Also, I hate to break it to you, but I don't write. My longhand is awful, and I've always been more of a "doer" anyway.
So ALL of your books, including those bible's, were written by men and women.
They were inspired, remarkable people, but they also made mistakes here and there.
I made sure of that, so you would never trust a written word more than your own living heart.

You see, one human being to me -- even a bum on the street -- is worth more than all the Holy Books in the world.
That's just the kind of guy I am.

My Spirit is not a historical thing.
It's alive right here, right now, as fresh as your next breath.
Holy books and religious rites are sacred and powerful, but not more so than the least of you.
They were only meant to steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with each other, and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with Me.

Which brings Me to My next point about your nonsense.
You act like I need you and your religions to stick up for Me or & "win souls" for My sake.
Please, don't do Me any favors. I can stand quite well on my own, thank you.
I don't need you to defend Me, and I don't need constant credit, I just want you to be good to each other.

And another thing: I don't get all worked up over money or politics, so stop dragging My name into your dramas.
For example, I swear to Me that I never threatened Oral Roberts.
I never rode in any of Rajneesh's Rolls Royce's.
I never told Pat Robertson to run for President, and I've never EVER had a conversation with Jimmy Bakker, Jerry Falwell, or Jimmy Swaggart!
Of course, come Judgment Day, I certainly intend to...!!

The thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of loyalty pledge to Me.
The true purpose of your religions is so you can become more aware of ME, not the other way around.
Believe Me, I know you already.
I know what's in each of your hearts, and I love you with no strings attached.
Lighten up and enjoy Me.
That's what religion is best for you.
What you seem to forget is how mysterious I am.
You look at the petty differences in your Scriptures and say, "Well, if THIS is the truth, then THAT can't be!"
But instead of trying to figure out my Paradoxes and Unfathomable Nature -- which by the way, you NEVER will -- why not open your hearts to the simple common threads in all religions?
You know what I am talking about: Love and respect everyone.
Be kind, even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be good of cheer, for I am always with you.
Learn how to be quiet, so you can hear my small still voice (I don't like to shout).
Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity and gracefulness, for you are My Own Child.

Hold back Nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die surely will, and the parts that can't won't.

So don't worry, be happy!! (I stole that last line from Bobby McFerrin, but who do you think gave it to him in the first place?)

Simple stuff.
Why do you keep making it so complicated?
It's like you're always looking for an excuse to be upset.
And I'm very tired of being your main excuse.
Do you think I care whether you call Me Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Wakantonka, Brahma, Father, Mother or even the Void of Nirvana?
Do you think I care which of My special children you feel closest to - Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed, or any of the others?
You can call Me and My Special Ones any name you choose, if only you would go about My business of loving one another as I love you.
How can you keep neglecting something so simple?
I'm not telling you to abandon your religions.
Enjoy your religions, honor them, learn from them, just as you should enjoy, honor, and learn from your parents.
But do you walk around telling everyone that your parents are better than theirs?
Your religion, like your parents, may always have the most special place in your heart, I don't mind that at all.
And I don't want you to combine all the Great Traditions in One Big Mess.
Each religion in unique for a reason.
Each has a unique style so that people can find the best path for themselves.

But My Special Children -- the ones that your religions revolve around -- all live in the same place (My heart) and they get along perfectly, I assure you.

The clergy must stop creating a myth of sibling rivalry where there is none.
My blessed children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotry's and confusion.
The whole planet is connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases, and mutual needs and concerns.
Get with the program!
If you really want to help then commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry, clothe your naked, protect your abused, and shelter your poor.

And just as importantly, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor.
I've given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, loving, and laughing together.

Finally, My Children everywhere, when you think of the life of Jesus and the fearlessness with which He chose to live and die ...
As I love Him, so do I love each one of you ....
I'm not really ticked off, I just wanted to grab your attention because I hate to see you suffer.
But I gave you free will.
I just want you to be happy.
Always.
Trust in Me
Your One and Only,
God

**************************************

GOD, ARE YOU THERE?

So the child yelled
"God, speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky
But the child did not listen.

The child looked around and said,
"God let me see you"
And a star shone brightly
But the child did not notice.

And the child shouted,
"God show me a miracle!"
And a life was born
But the child did not know.

So the child cried out in despair,
"Touch me God, and let me know you are here!"
Whereupon God reached down and touched the child.
But the child brushed the butterfly away
And walked away unknowingly.

Often times, the things we seek are right underneath our noses. Don't miss out on your blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

****************************************

"I do not pretend to know, where many an ignorant man is sure -- that is all `agnosticism' means." - Clarence Darrow

"The DIVINE is not something high above us. It is in heaven, it is in earth, it is inside us." - Osensei Ueshiba Morihei

Thoughts On Inner Peace

Symptoms of Inner Peace ...

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace.
The hearts of great people have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions.
This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
A loss of interest in judging other people.
A loss of interest in judging self.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
A loss of interest in conflict.
A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom).
Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
Frequent attacks of smiling.
An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

WARNING:
If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable.
If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.

**********************************

I'm reading more and dusting less.
I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.
I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working around the house.
Whenever possible life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure.
I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.
I'm not "saving" anything; I use my good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amarillo blossom.
I wear my good clothes to the market.
My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.
I'm not saving my good cologne for special occasions, but wearing it for waitresses in McDonalds and tellers at the bank.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary.
If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm not sure what my many friends and relatives who are no longer with us would've done had they known that they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted.
I think they would have called family members and a few close friends.
They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles.
I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, or for what ever their favorite food was.
I'm guessing, I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited.
Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days.
Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my family members often enough how much I truly love them.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to my life and to the lives of those whom I hold dear, and every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is a special morning.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift.

The Station

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, our dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. Restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes - waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

"When we reach the station, that will be it!" we cry. "When I'm 18." "When I buy a new 450sl Mercedes Benz!" "When I put the last kid through college." "When I have paid off the mortgage!" "When I get a promotion." "When I reach retirement, I shall live happily ever after!"

Sooner or later, we realize there is no station, no one place to arrive. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

By Robert J. Hastings
from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Patty Hansen

Thoughts on Friendship ...

SPECIAL PEOPLE ...

You never know who these people may be
(possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger),
but when you lock eyes with them,
you know at that very moment
they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes
things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first,
but in reflection you find
that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized
your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.
Illness, injury, love,
lost moments of true greatness,
and sheer stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests,
whatever they may be,
life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.
It would be safe and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life,
and the success and downfalls you experience,
help to create who you are ... and who you become.
Even the bad experiences can be learned from.
In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart
forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious
to when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you,
but because in a way, they are teaching you to love
and how to open your heart
and eyes to things.

Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment
and take from those moments everything that you possibly can
for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people
that you have never talked to before,
and actually listen.
Let yourself fall in love, break free,
and set your sights high.
Hold your head up
because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual
and believe in yourself,
for if you don't believe in yourself,
it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.
Create your own life
and then go out and live it
with absolutely no regrets.

Most importantly,
if you love someone tell them,
for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
And learn a lesson in life each day you live.

*********************************************

COMES THE DAWN

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security.
And you learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
With the Grace of a Woman, not the Grief of a Child.
You learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure ...
That you really have worth.
And you learn and learn ...
With every "Goodbye" you learn.

******************************************************

My Friend

***************************************************************

The Promise

I made a promise then,
that we would meet again,
That I would search for you wherever you might go,
And bring you home.

But I didn’t realize,
I wouldn’t recognize,
Your shining eyes, or glowing face,
You’re cheerful smile or warm embrace.

And so to keep my vow, and search you out somehow
I lift my lamp to every wanderer in the night,
To bring you light.

And someday a passer-by, will hear my cry and
We’ll look eye to eye;
our tears will show,
Remembrances of long ago.

And so to keep my pledge,
I search earth’s farthest edge,
I raise my voice and pray,
my message will be heard,
I keep my word.

Friend I am calling you,
oh hear me calling you,
I keep my word.

************************************************************

Thank You for Being My Friend

When something good happens
You are the first person I tell
So I can share my happiness

When I don’t know what to do in a situation
I ask your opinion
And weigh it heavily with mine

When I am lonely, I call you
Because I never feel alone with you

When I have a problem, I ask you for help
Because your wiseness helps me to solve it

When I want to have fun
I want to be with you
Because we have such a great time together

When I want to talk to someone
I always talk to you
Because you understand me

When I want the truth about something
I call you, because you are honest

It is so essential to have you in my life
Thank you for being my friend

*************************************************************

A Friend
Is one to whom
One may pour out
All the contents of
One’s heart,
Chaff and grain together,
Knowing that the
Gentleness of hands
Will take and sift it,
Keep what is worth keeping
And, with the Breath of kindness,
Blow the rest away.

**************************************************************

Long Time Friends ...

How fortunate for me
That I have such a friend.
For years we’ve been so close
And shall be ‘til the end.

Old gold shines bright and looks,
Much richer than the new.
And long time friends are best,
Especially one like you.

QUOTES

The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is. - Phillips Brooks

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke.

"Education ought to foster the wish for truth, not the conviction that some particular creed is the truth." - Bertrand Russell

I find [in mathematics] a wonderful beauty. This is no science, this is art, where equations fall away to elements like resolving chords, and where always prevails a symmetry either explicit or multiplex, but always of a crystalline serenity. - Turjan of Miir (Jack Vance)

"Talent instantly recognizes genius, but mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself." - Arthur Conan Doyle

"If people did not sometimes do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done." - Ludwig Wittgenstein

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The part is greater than its role in the whole." - Tom Atlee

"It is better to weep with wise men than to laugh with fools." - Spanish Proverb

Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. - James B. Conant

If a `religion' is defined to be a system of ideas that contains unprovable statements, then Godel taught us that mathematics is not only a religion, it is the only religion that can prove itself to be one. - John Barrow

"I used to think the brain was the most fascinating part of the body. Then, I realized: well, look what's telling me that." - Emo Phillips

"Alas, I do not rule the world and that, I am afraid, is the story of my life: always a godmother, never a God." - Fran Lebowitz

Without deviation from the norm, "progress" is not possible. - FZappa

Natural Highs.......what is life about.....

Falling in love.

Laughing so hard your face hurts.

A hot shower.

No lines at the Super Walmart.

A special glance.

Getting mail.

Taking a drive on a pretty road.

Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

Hot towels out of the dryer.

Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.

Chocolate milkshakes.

A long distance phone call.

A bubble bath.

Giggling.

A good conversation.

The beach.

Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter.

Laughing at yourself.

Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

Running through sprinklers.

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

Laughing at an inside joke.

Friends.

Falling in love for the first time.

Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

Your first kiss.

Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

Playing with a new puppy.

Late night talks with your roommate that keep you from sleeping.

Having someone play with your hair.

Sweet dreams.

Hot chocolate.

Road trips with friends.

Swinging on swings.

Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love.

Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog.

Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.

Going to a really good concert.

Getting butterflies in your stomach every time you see that one person.

Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

Winning a really competitive game.

Making chocolate chip cookies!

Having your friends send you homemade cookies!

Spending time with close friends!

Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends...

Holding hands with someone you care about.

Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

Discovering that love is unconditional and stronger than time.

Riding the best roller coasters over and over.

Hugging the person you love.

Watching the expression someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.

Watching the sunrise.

Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

Some things to reflect on as we go into a new century....

I've learned....
that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned....
that when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned....
that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.

I've learned....
that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned....
that being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned....
that you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned....
that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned....
that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....
that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned....
that simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....
that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....
that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....
that money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....
that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned....
that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....
that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....
that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....
that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....
that love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned....
that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....
that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....
that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I've learned....
that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned....
that life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned....
that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned....
that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned....
that I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned....
that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned....
that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....
that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I've learned....
that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....
that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned....
that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.

I've learned....
that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

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