Completely offtopic. No, really, utterly OT, I promise. was Remembrances

On Sun, 1 Jan 2006, serene

hehe. Fair question. My soul communes with God (not with organized religion, man-made doctrines, religious dogma, etc).

It is like any other emotional experiece - love, hate, lust, greed etc. You can't hold it in your hand or take a picture of it or point it out on the street. But you know it, and know it to be real, when you experience it.

Many of us have "loved and lost" or loved and then hated or loved and then ran away as quickly as we could or loved and kicked ourselves for being so stupid. Was it the fault of "love" or was it the fault of bad choice, unrealistic expectation, bad timing, etc?

Love is not some magical thing you can buy in the store or order from the TV or visit some building where some person is proclaiming to give it away or show you the path to finding it. Love lives within and is a personal, unique experience that we cultivate with another - or with a small, furry animal or with chocolate. No matter with whom or what, it must originate from within - as do all the emotional experiences.

If one sits home 24-7 waiting for love to come knocking at the door, one will have a long, disappointing wait. It doesn't come find you. It must be cultivated. A relationship with God is the same. Each must find his-her way.

Spirituality (not religion or "faith", or man-made dogma) begins within, resides within, and sustains from within and it is a personal journey each must make for him-her self. Therefore, I can't give mine, or sell it or bargin with it, to anyone. I can't "convert" anyone or make anyone take the journey. Not only is that impossible, it is not my place to do so.

God is not for everybody. Christianity is certainly not for everybody. Organized religion is most certainly not for everybody.

I think we all are going to be surprised - especially those looking for

Elaine, too