August 28, 2006

• Would You be a “Friend of God”?

  Over the past ten years or so, Neale Donald Walsh has written as
  many books about God–a god rather different than the one portrayed
  (not to say libelled) in  traditional holy books.

  The god he writes of does not judge or punish; this god only loves and creates.

  This god is not to be feared, but  befriended.  Indeed, one of his recent books is entitled Friendship With God.

  This god sends no plagues or jihads–only blessings.

  My wife says she likes it when I read one of these books, because
  life with me immediately improves.  And my health gets better, my
  mood gets better, I become more serene and mellow.  In the past,
  though, in time I would slip back to my old ways of being angry and
  fearful much of the time.  This time is different.

  For the past month or so, I wake each day with joyous anticipation,
  knowing that the day will bring wonders.  I have never been
  disappointed.  I spend more time looking at the clouds and
  mountains–and yes, weeds and rain and mud–and feel awe and wonder and
  gratitude at the beauty and perfection of God’s work.  Every day,
  I find myself filled with more love for those around me–even people
  who used to annoy me, people I thought to be my foes.

  And so, after more than half a century of being a seeker of the
  Light, I have found it–not that it was hidden very well.  Now I
  would become a bringer of the Light.  I wish to spread the
  message–known collectively as the New Gospel–every way I can, short
  of buttonholing strangers and raving on street corners.  In other
  words, I wish to be a friend of God.

  This god reminds me of things like this:

  We are All One.  No man or woman or nation or religion is any better than any other.

  Life is Eternal.  Death is not an end, but a transition to another plane of being.

  There are no victims or villains.  I alone am responsible for how I experience life.

  There are no coincidences.  Nothing happens by accident, and God does not make mistakes.

  There is no Hell.  (If this one throws you, may I add that this
  view was shared by no less a Christian authority than Pope John
  Paul II, who said that Hell is not a place, but a state of mind we
  create when we cut ourselves off from God.)

  If these ideas resonate with the truth in your heart,  contact
  me.  See if you might wish to join me in being a Friend of God.

  I am doing this because I enjoy feeling joyous and free, and wish to
  share that feeling.  I am not working for or with Neale– as far
  as I know, he doesn’t even  know who I am.  I have no hidden
  agenda, no wish to start a cult or become some sort of guru, or get
  rich and famous through this.  I intend to accept whatever
  happens.  This “Friends of God” idea may fizzle out.  Then
  again, it may just be that a few people will read this and think
  “Yeah–I like this.”  And tell a few of their friends.

  And little by little, the planet will come that much closer to being
  saved, and the human race will become that much closer to being healed.

   

  • 12:24 pm
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