>An Open Letter from God:
>
>My dear children, and believe Me, that is all of you, I consider Myself a
>pretty patient guy. 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.
>
>And I have been patient through your fashions, your civilizations,
>wars and schemes, and the countless ways that you take Me for granted
>until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again.
>
>I want to let you know about some of the things that started ticking
>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 'em all.
>
>Every one of your religions claims that there's only one of Me, which,
>by the way, is absolutely true, but in the very next breath each religion
>claims that it's My favorite one. And each claims its bible was written
>personally by Me, and that all of the other bibles are man-made. Oh, Me.
>How do I ever begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense?
>
>All right, listen up now. I am your 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 bibles, were written by men and women. They were
>inspired men and women, they were remarkable people, but they also
>made mistakes here and there. And I made sure of that, so that you would
>never trust a written word rather than Your own living heart.
>
>You see, one human being to Me -- even a bum on the street -- is worth
>More than all of the holy books in the world. That's just the kind of a guy
>I am. My spirit is not an historical thing. It's alive right now, right now,
>as
>fresh as your next breath. Holy books and religious rites are sacred and
>powerful, but they are 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, 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 is any of Rajneesh's
>Rolls Royces and I never told Pat Robertson to run for president, and I
>have never had a conversation with Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell or Jimmy
>Swaggart. Of course, come Judgement Day, I certainly intend to.
>
>Now the thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort
>of a loyalty pledge to Me. The true purpose of religion is so that 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 anyway
>with no strings attached. So, lighten up and enjoy Me. That's what
>religion's best for.
>
>What you seem to forget is how mysterious I am. You look at the petty
>differences in your scriptures and you 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 of every religion? You
>know what I'm talking about. Play nice with each other. Love and respect
>everyone. Be kind. Even when life is scary or confusing, take courage
>and be of good cheer, for I'm always with you.
>
>And learn how to be quiet, so that you can hear My still, small 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 gave it to him in the first place?)
>
>Simple stuff now. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It's like
>you're always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I am very tired of
>being your main excuse. Do you think whether you call Me God, or
>Yahweh, or Jehovah, Allah, Wakatonka, Brahma, Father, Mother, 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 names you choose, if
>only you will go about My business of loving one another as I love you.
>How can you keep neglecting something so simple?
>
>No, I am 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 of the great traditions into One Big Mess.
>Each religion is 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 in 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 bigotries and confusion. The whole planet is now
>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 me celebrate the birthday of My Son Jesus, then
>commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry and clothe
>your naked, and protect your abused and shelter your poor. And just as
>important, 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, and loving and laughing
>together.
>
>Finally, My children everywhere, remember whose birthday you honor on
>what you call Christmas Day, December 25th, and the fearlessness with
>which He chose to live and die. As I love Him, so do I love each of you.
>
>Now, I am not really ticked off. Not really. I just wanted to grab your
>attention because I hate to see you suffer. But I gave you free will,
>so what can I do now other than try to influence you through reason,
>persuasion, and a little old-fashioned guilt and manipulation?
>
>After all, you know I am the original Jewish Mother. I just want you to be
>happy, and I'll sit in the dark. I really am, indeed I swear, with you
>always. Always. Trust in Me.
>
>Your One and Only, God
>{{{{{{{________________________________________________________________}}}}}}}
>Peace of mind isn't at all superficial to technical work. It's the whole thing
>That which produces it is good work and that which destroys it is bad work..
>The way to see what looks good and understand the reasons it looks good.. is
>to
>cultivate an inner quietness, a peace of mind, so that quality can shine
>through.
>
> Robert M. Pirsig
>
>
Joe E. Dees
Poet, Pagan, Philosopher
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