And the rest of the above line in one of my favorite books is: “each time there is a choice to make.” \u00a0Perhaps uncertainty doesn’t ever trouble you. \u00a0And I am relieved to say it troubles me very little any more, but it used to haunt me. \u00a0I just knew there had to be only one way to do every thing and it was up to me to figure it out. \u00a0Alone. \u00a0I hadn’t yet made a friend of God.<\/p>\n
The idea that God could be one’s friend seemed a bit childish in fact. \u00a0It reminded me of my Sunday School teacher’s words when I was in grade school. \u00a0Surely my level of sophistication entitled me to something more than being “God’s friend.” \u00a0How silly this all sounds now when I write it.<\/p>\n
In the mid-seventies, in my search for God, \u00a0I read The Magical Mystical Bear<\/em><\/strong> by Matthew Fox. \u00a0At that time I didn’t know how to pray. \u00a0Nor did I believe in much of any thing but I knew I wanted to believe. \u00a0In the book Fox said talk to God like you would talk to any friend. \u00a0I can remember feeling a bit foolish when I began the process and I certainly didn’t talk out loud or tell any one I was doing it; but I did experience some relief from the near constant anxiety I carried. \u00a0So I kept talking to God, on the sly<\/em>.<\/p>\n At about the same time my mother-in-law, who was very perceptive, gave me a tiny little book written a couple centuries earlier by Brother Lawrence. \u00a0It’s title was Practicing the Presence<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0And in fact, that’s what the entire book was about. \u00a0Whether Brother Lawrence was doing dishes or walking in the gardens at the monastery, he was in silent communion with God. \u00a0Every minute. \u00a0And he spoke about the peace that filled his heart. \u00a0I wanted what he spoke of. \u00a0I wanted that silent mind and the awareness that God was a constant presence.<\/p>\n I wasn’t to get that constancy for many years but I can claim to feel it much of the time now. \u00a0What changed? \u00a0I think primarily my willingness to still my mind, releasing the chatter that always stood in the way of God’s quiet voice. When I truly opened my mind and heart to the voice of God I heard it. \u00a0Generally not in actual words but I could feel the right choice to make, the right words to say, the right actions to take. \u00a0God had become my guide. \u00a0My friend, and all I had to do was ask.<\/p>\n We will be told exactly what we need to do. \u00a0Always. \u00a0Isn’t that an amazing idea? \u00a0We are promised this. \u00a0Do you ask the question and then listen for the answer? \u00a0If you haven’t done so lately, why not make today the day to begin again. \u00a0It will change your life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" And the rest of the above line in one of my favorite books is: “each time there is a choice to make.” \u00a0Perhaps uncertainty doesn’t ever trouble you. \u00a0And I am relieved to say it troubles me very little any more, but it used to haunt me. \u00a0I just knew there had to be only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-what-i-believe-you-and-your-higher-power"],"yoast_head":"\n