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Thoughts, spiritual experiences, happenings and insights
from the woman who discovered the Personal Connector Word to God
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Thursday, April 30, 2009 DO CHURCH AND TORTURE GO HAND-IN-HAND?Survey results are in the news today that show that the
more people go to church, the more likely that they support the torture of suspected terrorists. Interestingly,
those unaffiliated with any religious group were the least likely to back torture. Now, that's certainly something
to think about for awhile with an open mind. Why is that, do you think?
One would think that most Christians (followers of Jesus, right?) would
abhor torture for any reason. After all, what would Jesus do? Torture? Or would he forgive his enemies and turn the other
cheek? Seems to me that the man who underwent the most horrific and notorious torture ever should be somewhat of an
expert on this topic. What would Jesus do, do you think? I just can't see him waterboarding a suspected terrorist, or
condoning it. Yet, it seems most of today's followers of Jesus would. To me, that appears to be quite a disconnect.
I've always found it odd that most Catholic churches (and other denominations
to a certain extent) glorify the torture of Jesus. I mean, walk into the church and what do you see, front and center? A large
cross with a bloody Jesus nailed to it. Look at the side walls and what do you see? Probably the stations of the cross, depictions
of each horrible step Jesus took to his bloody, tortuous end. What images to subject children to each and every Sunday!
Why not, instead, have a statue of the resurrected Jesus, hands outstretched,
smiling, perhaps on a cloud, above the altar? Wouldn't that send children--and all of us--a much better message, a much better
image? And one that Jesus would approve of? Jesus wasn't about crucifixion, Jesus was about resurrection. Jesus wasn't about
suffering, He was about love.
The history of the church, of course, is steeped in violence, torture
and crucifixion. The crusades were not unlike the terrorism we see today from religious extremists. The church
in medieval times could write the book on torture. Torture is woven into the religious fabric of traditional churches, so
it is no wonder that those who attend church more often would see it as a viable alternative.
Which leads me to what I've been advocating on this website and in
my Youtube videos--isn't it time to question traditional religion and "the church"? Isn't it time to actually look at the
images and messages that traditional religion is sending? Have they made us a better people or advanced humanity? Or have
they kept us in medieval times? Modern times call for a means of communication with God that is direct, personal and
full of love. It's time to take the bloody cross down. It's time to stop supporting torture.
Monday, April 27, 2009 IT'S HARDER TO BE HAPPY THAN IT IS TO BE UNHAPPYEver wonder why it seems more people in this world are
UNHAPPY than HAPPY? It's simple: It's harder to be happy. That's why our forefathers wrote
that we were entitled to the pursuit of happiness, not that we were entitled to happiness. They weren't
guaranteeing that we'd ever catch it, because catching happiness takes some disciplined, focused thinking. It takes
work--work in your mind and your soul.
We create our own reality with our thoughts. Happiness is nothing more
than a state of mind. You can be unhappy in the most glorious of situations and you can be happy in the most dismal. It's
all just a matter of perspective--your perspective, no one else's. It's easy to be happy when things are going your way; it
is the enlightened soul who can be happy when, on the surface, things don't look so rosy. But true happiness can be found
no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.
To create a happy reality, you must have happy thoughts.
You must look for the best in your environment and the people around you, even when they seem to be bleak,
negative or pulling you down. You must always remember that you are a perfect child of God and that God wants you to be happy
and well. When negative or unhappy thoughts enter your mind, you must not let them take hold. Go for a walk, help out a neighbor,
look at nature, watch a funny movie, sit in the sun, remember all the GOOD things that are going on in your life right now.
Be thankful for your blessings. Turn your mind purposely to positive things; as you do, your life as a whole
will shift to a happier state.
It's much harder to maintain a happy outlook than it is to give into
the feelings of depression, sadness, and hopelessness. Fighting negative thoughts take energy and determination--but most
of all it takes faith. Faith in not only God, but in yourself. Faith that the good in life outshines the bad. Faith
that we all are on a slow, but ever-upward, incline toward better things. Faith that happiness is achievable, natural and
available to all of us. We just have to get out of our own way--we just have to stop blocking it with our own unhappy thoughts.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 AN ASTRONAUT MAKES "NON-BREAKING" NEWS!This week at a conference, Edgar Mitchell, an astronaut
who walked on the moon, very seriously and rationally re-announced something he's been saying for quite some time. Simply
put: the aliens have arrived. They are here. They are real. The government has been covering it up. He said it decisively,
unquestioningly, and matter-of-factly. This is not some crazy guy living in a trailer in Arizona with his dogs and a cheap
telescope. No, this is a respected scientist and astronaut. This is Edgar Mitchell.
Read one version of the story for yourself here:
So, where are the headlines? Where is the front-page story? Where are
the news shows covering the biggest story since Jesus walked the earth? No where to be found. An astronaut says that there
are extra-terrestials and UFO's, without a doubt, but the government is covering it up. But what do you see when you
turn on your TV? Stories about "American Idol" and Madonna. I wonder what the people in Galileo's time were "watching"
and "listening" to when he tried to tell them the Sun was the center of our universe, not the Earth. As they called him a
loon and the church persecuted him, I wonder what THEY were paying attention to instead. Perhaps they were "twittering."
Actually, if you think about things, all of this makes sense. The aliens,
I mean. It makes sense that soon all of this will come to light as Edgar Mitchell says it will. Listen to his radio interview
with a foreign radio station back in July and tell yourself that it doesn't make any sense. Go ahead. Tell yourself that.
Tell yourself that Edgar Mitchell is just a loon; it may make you feel better.
Listen hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhNdxdveK7c
Isn't it amazing that "out of the blue" the Vatican announced last
year that for Catholics it is now "OK to believe in aliens." Curious announcement, at this point in time, no? How about the
movie, "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" and its rather surprising conclusion? How about a current movie now out--"Knowing"?
(If you haven't seen it, it is worth seeing if just for the special effects.) Is pop culture trying to prepare us for
something? How about Barack Obama trying to get all nations of the world to cooperate and be friendly? Might there be
more at stake than just turning them from anti-Bush sentiment? Are all these things just coincidences?
Many talk about the year 2012 and how it may be the end of the world.
After all, the Mayans (who have been linked to ancient Alien visits) predicted December 21, 2012 would be the end of the calendar.
The end of time? Or the end of our time living it as we know it--thinking we are the only intelligent life in the Universe?
It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the "uncovering" and acceptance of the alien and UFO stories happen at about that
time. Not the end of the world, but the beginning of a whole different one.
So, do I believe in little green men? I believe that there are other
planes of existence and that for some reason, entities on another plane (perhaps a spiritual plane) are lowering their frequencies
and making themselves visible to us at this time. Why? Who knows? Maybe these planes are on other planets and maybe these
planes are simply are on other dimensions, other vibrations. But to think that we are IT in the whole Universe is a little
narrow-minded and egotistical, don't you think? Especially lately, when we've managed to about destroy the Earth we live
on.
Today is Earth Day, and perhaps, just perhaps, that is why these entities
from another plane are ready to pop into reality once and for all here in our world. Maybe we've passed the point of no return
in saving our planet ourselves. Maybe we need some "outside help." I, for one, would welcome it.
The most thought-provoking thing said by Astronaut Mitchell, I believe,
is the following statement:
Probably my most visionary moment was when I actually landed on the
moon with Apollo 14.
I felt an overwhelming sense that the universe itself is in some way a conscious being in its own right. This means that all life-forms, whether on Earth or elsewhere, are all part of one giant consciousness. Now, to me, this doesn't sound looney. It sounds profound.
Monday, April 20, 2009 DOES ANYONE REALLY LOVE PEOPLE?Recently I had both a 17-year-old boy and a 26-year-old
woman confide in me on separate occasions that they "really didn't like people." They both admitted it in a tone similar
to that of a football player who just dropped the game-winning pass in the end zone. After all, aren't we all supposed
to love people? Isn't that the ultimate test of spirituality--of popularity--of goodness? What does it say about yourself
if you don't love people?
How often, when someone is trying to impress you with their outgoingness
and general well-being, have you heard them say, "I really love people. I'm just the kind of person who loves people." You
almost expect them to start belting out Barbra Streisand's old song, "People who need people, are the luckiest people in the
world. . . ." However, I've found that most of these folks don't really love people, what they really
love is an audience. These extroverts may brag about how they love people, being around people, and needing people; but, on
closer observation, you'll often find they are more focused on themselves than on other people. They talk non-stop and
rarely listen. They are controlling and loud and sometimes obnoxious. Yes, they love people, provided those people let
them rabble on and on. Provided they are the center of attention. Saying you "love people" doesn't make it so. And, interestingly,
saying (to yourself) that you "don't love people" doesn't make it so.
I've struggled with this you-have-to-love-people-to-be-spiritual
concept myself for quite some time. For a lot of years, I, too, felt like that football player dropping the pass in the end
zone. I just didn't get it; I just didn't understand it. I felt like a spiritual failure. I didn't love people; in fact, most
of the time I didn't even like them much. People in general got on my nerves. Yes, I had family and friends that I loved,
but did I love all people? Hardly. The world seemed to be full of cheaters, liers, killers, gossipers, and stealers;
people seemed rude, crude, stupid, inconsiderate, inept, arrogant and hurtful. How could anyone say they loved people
and really mean it?
But, with time, I came to learn that I was not unusual. If people were
as honest with themselves as the 17-year old boy and the 26-year old woman were, they would probably admit to
not loving people either. Because most people do NOT love people. As far as I can determine, there are very
few people in the world who really do.
Jesus was one of them. He had the ability to see and believe that all
of us are one--that all our energy emanates from God and is connected to God--that we are all made out of the same stuff,
and that stuff is God-stuff. We are all part of the same divine source. Therefore, to love another person is equivalent to
loving yourself. Jesus put it simply: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus loved himself because he KNEW he was a
perfect child of God. Jesus knew he was SPIRIT and part of the divine. Jesus didn't question his self-worth or his innate
goodness. Jesus could easily love another as himself, because he saw the other person as himself. We are all one.
But how many of us understand what Jesus understood? Or better
yet, understand it and actually apply it? Which brings me back to
the 17-year-old boy and the 26-year-old woman and what they had in common. Both of these individuals were struggling with
loving themselves. They did not see their own self-worth and innate goodness. They did not love themselves. And if you don't
love yourself first, you can never love people. For, after all, you are one of those people. We are all one. Understanding
that will lead to forgiveness, acceptance and love--for both yourself and others.
So, you see, saying to yourself that you don't like or love people
is simply admitting to yourself that you don't like or love yourself. Once you move beyond that, you will begin to see others
in a whole new light. But, you can't "love your neighbor as yourself" until you DO love yourself. And what's not to love?
You are a perfect child of God. God doesn't create junk--God created you in His own image. So start loving yourself FIRST,
and before you know it you may be one of the few people who really love people.
Friday, April 17, 2009 LIFTING US UP INSTEAD OF TEARING US DOWNIf you've read my previous blog entry, you will see that
I don't have much respect for reality shows like American Idol because they humiliate and tear down people on national
TV for "laughs." But what happened this week regarding Susan Boyle on this show's precursor (Britain's Got Talent)
restores my faith in humanity and clearly sends a message about what is right, good and needed in this world.
Most everyone by now has seen Susan Boyle's face on the news or on
YouTube (it's gotten over 20 million hits already) and heard her glorious voice sing "I Dreamed a Dream." In true American
Idol fashion, though, she had been paraded out on stage with the express purpose of being demeaned and ridiculed not
only by the so-called judges, but by the so-called young, hip audience. I'm sure the producers thought she would be good
for more than a few laughs, sarcastic comments and dismissive sneers. That is, after all, the real attraction (or so they
falsely think) of this "hit show."
After all, here was a 47-year-old Scottish spinster from a small village,
lacking the glamour, sophistication, clothes, hairdo, and make-up that the American Idol crowd expects in its
so-called "stars." What comedy it would provide! What fodder for Simon Cowell! But I think our divine source has become
as fed up with the nonsense on this program as many of the rest of us--I think God stepped in with a lesson for not only the
Simon Cowells of the world, but for all of us. I think God looked down and said, "It's time that young people learn what really
matters in this world. Their parents and the media seem to be sending them the wrong message. It's time to lift each other
up, not tear each other down. It's time to focus on what is good, not on what is flashy."
What has American Idol or Britain's Got Talent been
about all these years? Certainly not talent. These shows have done little to uplift the human spirit. They have been
about "tearing down" the human spirit and about brainwashing the world into thinking that the shallow and the superficial
deserve to be put on a pedestal. They have glorified a cloned look for the ideal female "star": a young make-up
laden face; blonde flowing hair; a size 4 tight, short skirt; a slinky leather top, showing just the right amount
of cleavage; and a dismal, if not totally lacking, singing voice. They were never looking for talent, they were looking for
that cardboard-cut-out, cheerleader look. Brittany Spears clones. Nothing distinctive. Nothing original. Nothing that
brings chills to your arms. Certainly nothing memorable.
Then along came Susan Boyle and did something none of the previous
clones had done. She sang a song with real talent and real emotion from a real body. She did bring chills to your arms. She
was original. She was distinctive. She was memorable. And it turns out that, after all, that is what people DO WANT. They
want to hear a voice that is exceptional. They want to see someone like themselves excel (because only about 1% of us look
like Brittany Spears) because of real talent. They were craving justice and fairness and goodness and virtue the whole
time! The producers had it wrong!
People were tired of seeing someone like themselves being made
the butt of jokes--they were tired of schoolyard bullies--they were tired of mediocrity being rewarded--they were tired of
the cute blonde with no brains getting the promotion at the office--they were tired of trying to lose weight and lose weight
and lose weight in order to "fit in"--they were tired of looking in the mirror and feeling un-beautiful--they were tired of
being told they were not "good enough"--they were tired of being the girl no one asked to the prom--they were tired of make-over
shows telling them that people like them needed to be made over--they were tired of being the pimply geek that the jocks laughed
at--they were tired of seeing themselves as failures. When Susan Boyle came on that stage and performed in a way that made
all the "perfect people" pale by comparison, every one of us won. The "real people" of the world finally showed the false
celebrities of the world what is worthy of applause. Susan Boyle stuck it to the cheerleaders, the prom queen, the celebrities,
the cover girls, the models, the talk show hosts, the stars, and all the so-called "beautiful people" of the world. And the
rest of the world--the majority of the world--loved it!
Susan Boyle was applauded because she had a tremendous voice. That's
the way it used to be. People got recording contracts because they could sing! Barbra Streisand is an example. I'm sure if
she debuted on American Idol today, she and her crooked nose would be laughed off the stage. How nice to see that
Susan Boyle has reminded us why Barbra Streisand was NOT laughed off the stage years ago. We judged singers on their talent
then. Just as we judged writers on their talent. Today, an endless string of "celebrity" books, poorly-written, line the shelves
of bookstores where no one is buying them. Yet publishers keep putting out this superficial crap. These books do not uplift
us, do not inform us, do not enlighten us. They just tell the "dirty secrets" of celebrity lives; most have no redeeming message
or value. Publishers need to learn the lesson that Simon Cowell learned from Susan Boyle this week. People are looking
for inspiration, truth, fairness, value, and experiences with meaning. People are looking to be uplifted, not brought down.
Susan Boyle showed the record producers, the TV show writers,
the book publishers, the movie-makers, and all us that the days of glitz, materialism, showiness, superficiality, mediocrity,
lies, sexual innuendoes, negativity, sarcasm, nastiness, gore, violence, grossness, crash scenes, stunts, and crudeness may
be coming to a much-needed end. People crave the miracle--the uplifting message--the positive--the good--the connection with
each other--and a connection with their divine source (God). People are finally turning away from entertainment for entertainment's
sake to love, meaning, and spirituality. We are learning that we are here, not to tear each other down, but to build each
other up. We are learning that we are all one.
In God's eyes, we are all perfect. We applaud Susan Boyle because we
are all Susan Boyle.
Monday, April 13, 2009 BE GRATEFUL FOR LAUGHTERLaughter is no laughing matter. Without humor, without
the chuckles, without laughing ourselves out of our troubles, life would be one dull, hard run. I am forever grateful that
God decided to endow human beings with the gift of laughter and humor. It makes the hard times softer and the soft times fun.
It turns sour countenances into pleasant faces. It gets the endorphins going and actually makes us physically feel better.
It eases the stress and the tension. It makes enemies into friends. It connects human beings in a non-verbal way.
To laugh is to enjoy life at its sweetest. Yes, next to love, I'd say laughter is the thing I'm most grateful for.
And that is why of late I've become so concerned. It seems that
people--particularly young people--have lost their funny bones. What passes for situation comedy on TV today is nothing more
than a humorless string of sexual innuendoes. Even the laugh tracks can't make endless comments about sex, bodily noises,
and people's private parts funny. They are just tasteless. Gone are the intelligent and rib-tickling shows of old like "Golden Girls" and "Mary Tyler Moore" that painted
real life with uproariously funny situations, memorable punchlines and likeable characters. And they also managed
to do this while making some serious points about current issues of the day. The shows had a theme; they had a moral.
Today people forward videos they think are funny, many of which
were placed on YouTube by young people. But what passes for funny on YouTube is mostly a boring parade of attention-craving
adolescent boys falling off scooters, falling off bicycles, falling off skateboards, falling off bridges, falling off . .
. well, you get the point. Somehow accidents have gone to #1 on our funny list. And if it isn't something violent and hurtful,
then the video has to be "stupid" to be funny. So some guy tied to a goat for hours on end or a kid swinging around
a Star Wars laserstick knocking over lamps suddenly becomes all the rage. I wonder if people are watching these
videos because they are truly funny, or because they just feel better watching people who are in more pain
than they are or who are dumber than they are. It's "funny" only because THEY haven't fallen on THEIR heads lately or
THEY haven't done something THAT stupid lately. How sad.
I blame much of our lack of laughter and humor these days on programs
like "American Idol" and other lackluster reality TV shows. The whole point of these shows is to watch so-called normal
folks (like me and you) in the limelight making fools of themselves, while so-called spectators, voters, critics, and audiences
ridicule them. We laugh at other people's pain. We laugh at other people getting ridiculed. We rejoice at their rejection
and we smile as they fail. How is any of this funny? How is any of it humorous? Yet these shows are wildly
popular. Why? Not for the humor, not for the laughs, I think, but because once again, we feel a need to feel superior to other
people. It's not US getting laughed at, it's not US getting humiliated on national TV, it's not us getting VOTED OFF. Sarcasm
has replaced comedy. How sad.
If we became more centered in ourselves and more connected to God,
we wouldn't require these false ego boosts that pass for humor these days. We'd return to true laughter, true humor--which
is always uplifting, always enlightening, and always takes us on the high road. Laughter and humor--true laughter
and humor--make our spiritual path lighter and brighter and improve the lives of not only ourselves, but all those around
us. I am so grateful for laughter and humor--let's not let the real stuff slip away.
THE UNIVERSE ANSWERS ALL INFORMATION REQUESTS I have learned through experience that if you truly want
to know something, the answer will be sent to you by the Universe. You don't have to seek it, you don't have to look for it,
you don't have to "google" it. Whatever you want to know, will come, if on a subconscious level the request has been made.
It doesn't seem to work quite as well when the request is made on a conscious level; concentrating on something or trying
to "will" an answer seems to backfire. But if, in your deep thinking and feeling times, a "question" or need for information
pops into your mind and you hold it there with a real desire for it to be answered, the Universe will happily comply. It doesn't
matter if the question is important or trivial, the Universe will comply. And the way the answer comes is almost always amazing
and far beyond coincidence.
I really have had no doubt about this "universal law" for
quite some time because it has proven itself to be true to me many times over. But even I was awestruck by what happened the
past week.
A couple weeks ago, while in my "reverie" and daydreaming time,
I began to think about a girl who was in my high school graduating class. She wasn't someone I was particularly close to and
I hadn't thought about her in years and years. I'm not even quite sure why she popped into my thoughts, except I might
have been reading or thinking about "awards," and this particular girl had gotten the award for outstanding Senior girl in
my graduating class. This, of course, led to an obvious mental question: Hmm, I wonder what ol' C.K. is doing today?
I wonder whatever happened to that most outstanding Senior class girl?
I briefly thought to myself that I should "google" her name sometime,
as her name back then was quite unique; however, I was sure she probably married and went by a different moniker these days.
As quickly as the thought had popped into my head, that's how quickly I forgot about it. I forgot all about C.K. and looking
her up. My mind went on to other things and it never did return to the mystery of C.K. That is, until the Universe returned
me to it.
It couldn't have been even two weeks later that the Universe, who apparently
didn't forget my musing, sent me the answer. As I was skimming the hometown obituaries, my eyes stopped on a particular one.
No, it was NOT C.K.'s. The Universe is never quite that blatant in its answering. Actually, I don't know why I stopped to
skim this particular gentleman's obit, as his name meant nothing to me, although his age was in my age category. Of course,
his obit listed his wife and children and salient points about him. But what else it listed seemed out of place and frankly,
seemed put there just for me.
Most often, names of aunts and cousins aren't listed in a person's
obit, but with this gentleman, they were. And there it was. Apparently this man's aunt was the mother of my outstanding Senior
class girl. And not only did it list the aunt and her husband and where they currently lived, but for some reason (just for
me, I suspect) it listed their daughter--HIS COUSIN--my own C.K. (who, by the way, was still going by the name she had in
high school)! It even said she was in St. Louis! I couldn't believe my eyes. I just laughed.
I laughed because I had sent out a whimsy thought and the universal
law of answering all information requests had promptly sent me the answer in some man's obituary, even taking the rare step
of listing his cousin and where she was now located! That's how it happens. If you want to know something, the answer WILL
come. And most often, in an offbeat way.
Now that I had a location, I, of course, did "google" C.K. and was
rewarded with both a current picture and the fact that she is a real estate agent now. Not life-shattering or "needed" information,
but then again, the Universal Law of Information doesn't care. It makes no judgment on the importance or need of any information
request. If you send out a thought wanting to know something, voila! The answer will come.
Take notice in your own life of this amazing universal law. Of course,
you need to spend quiet time alone to see its workings. You need to "unplug" from all your tech devices and just spend some
time daydreaming. Get lost in your thoughts now and again. See what it is you'd like to know. Then, smile in amazement as
the answer comes your way.
There is a supreme being in the Universe who wants to answer all your
information requests and your needs. God provides. From the trivial to the sublime. God provides. Believe it, and it will
happen. It's as simple as that.
Saturday, April 4, 2009 THE MESSAGE OF EASTER: ITSY-BITSY SPIDERItsy-bitsy spider went up the waterspout,
Down came the rain and washed the spider out,
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again.
Nothing summarizes the message of Easter, in my opinion, better than
this simple old children's rhyme. We are all itsy-bitsy spiders climbing up the waterspout of life. Sometimes, the rain comes
down (economic hard times, loss of loved ones, health problems, etc.) and it seems to "wash us out." Just like the spider
we feel "itsy-bitsy" and overwhelmed by forces so much bigger than us. Just like the spider, all our progress goes down
the drain in a flash. We tumble to the cement--we are thrown for a loop, just like the poor little spider.
But the itsy-bitsy spider, even though he's been knocked back down
to the ground, can take heart, and so can we. He knows, as we should know, that things change. He gets back
on track, as we all must, because "up came the sun and dried up all the rain." No matter how stormy and rainy our life
becomes, the sun eventually does come out and things do get better. And just like the itsy-bitsy
spider, we will climb up that spout again. Provided, of course, we have the strength, determination, faith and focus
that itsy-bitsy spider has.
Rebirth and resurrection are the themes of Easter, spring and of the
itsy-bitsy spider. The message of Easter is not that Jesus was crucified and was at the lowest point that a human could possibly
be at--the message of Easter is that He arose. The message of Easter is that things change for the better. The message of
Easter is, "Wait. Wait 3 days. You'll see. Just wait 3 days." The sun will come out. The itsy-bitsy spider will
go up the spout again. Christ will resurrect.
If Jesus and the itsy-bitsy spider have such faith in God, why can't
we? If you are ever tempted to give up on life, simply wait 3 days (not literally, but figuratively, as your 3 days may be
3 months, etc.). But wait, knowing that change will come. God guarantees change for the better. That's the message of Easter.
And of itsy-bitsy spider.
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