It is not so very different with God. She gives us toys with which to fashion most wonderful "games" (read that, life) and a safe place in which to play. Then, He leaves us alone to have our experience, and has absolutely no preference whether we play Tag, or Hide-'n-Seek. But if we call for help, God is there - right there - to make everything better.

That is not someone who "doesn't care" about our daily experience - that is someone who loves us enough to give us our freedom to do as we wish, and promises to be there for us whenever we need Him. Sounds like a pretty neat God to me.

So now, call on God to answer you. Ask God to show you a sign, give you some help, and provide you with some special insight that might help you now. But be on lookout. Her response may come in a form other than one you are expecting. It could by lyrics of next song you hear, story line of next movie you see, text of next book that falls into your hands. It could be chance utterance of a friend on street, or a thought that comes to you in middle of night.

So watch! Look! Listen! For you do not know Hour, nor Form, in which God will come with your word of encouragement. For all you know, it could be something you read in a book somewhere...

By Neale Donald Walsch

Neale Donald Walsch

As improbable as this scheme might seem, that is theological construction which millions upon millions of people have laid upon their so-called "loving" God. So I think most important thing books have done for me and do for me daily, is free me from shackles of a belief in an angry, vindictive, judgmental God. I am now more open to creating my life as I want it, not as I imagined it had to be.

The second most important thing I've learned from books is that there is only one reason to do a thing - anything - and that is to be and to decide, to create and fulfill, Who I Really Am, and Who I now Choose to Be. You see, I thought there were all sorts of reasons that I was supposed to do this or that. My father told me. The world expects it of me, God demands it of me. Whatever. Now I'm clear that God demands nothing, world's expectations are distorted and misplaced, and my father's orders no longer need to be followed.

The ironic part of all this is that I am now acting more in accordance with what old teachings asked of me than I was when I was told to act that way, or else. In other words, I am finding that "being good" (whatever "good" means) feels...well...good...when it isn't having to be done because I'll be condemned if I don't.

Put another way, I tend to rise to higher expectations of me, and aspirations for me, when these expectations and aspirations are mine, not someone else's. This is a Great Secret which God understands, but which Man refuses to believe: we are basically Good...not basically bad. We do not need an angry, vindictive, punishing God to scare us into doing what is "right," act in interests of others, or "show up" grandly. Our basic nature - human nature - is loving and kind. We are taught greed. We are taught fear. We are taught ugliness, prejudice, violence. We are LOVE... and we are taught to be something else!

By Neale Donald Walsch

Neale Donald Walsch