At the time of this writing, I’ve just celebrated my sixtieth birthday. I am a mother of three beloved, grown children–though I can hardly believe it. (I can’t account for that much passing of time!) I am healing from a chronic illness triggered by a virus found in my spinal fluid when I was 45, in 1997. I spent 1997, ‘98 and ‘99 mostly in bed, but when I could get up some, I started a fantasy novel for teens. Then, ‘thoughts beyond me’ began to come and in June, 2009, I began writing them down—and shared them at Notes Along the Path. I am still unable to work (disabling lack of energy and stamina, among other things) so I’ve simply taken up writing, as I am able. Turned out it’s healing for me to write about my life journey, my struggles, perceptions of the Spirit in us, in this world, and in the world we cannot yet see.

When I turned 57 in May, 2009, the realization of how much our Creator loves us really hit home, right in my heart. Replacing my guilt/doubts was a profound inner awareness that God (Love, Christ, Higher Self, Universe, Allah, Buddha, Goddess, Great Mystery) loves us so completely and so passionately that what is dark, and our memories of the darkness, are literally burned away by the light. The hairy, prowling shadow-creatures from our dreams are only a temporary experience, should we so choose. I give my heartfelt gratitude for this awakening to our Maker and my spiritual teachers and guides, who have each added something of great value to my journey.

Here in this cyber-place and time I have found a bit of courage and have shared the ‘thoughts beyond me’ along with some musings about my personal and spiritual growth—and I hope you’ll share some of yours with me. My spiritual ideals are inclusive and non-judgmental, for what could be a more significant and personal decision than what we believe, or not believe, about the Being who created us? At Notes Along the Path, as Paramahansa Yogananda, lovingly refers to them, God is our Heavenly Father, our Divine Mother and Jesus Christ, our Lord and dear Friend. I often think of God simply as Love, in all its forms. Wherever there is Love, there also is its Source.

And despite, or perhaps because of, our human imperfections, individual egos, opinions and problems, I feel compelled to seek what unites us. How are we the same? How do we humans measure true worth? Is God our father, our mother, our sibling, a field of light and energy and Spirit, or something else? Is God all these things and more? How do we know? How do you see God? We may not agree, but why fear contributing to the communication? Should the love of God be something that divides us from ourselves and each other? I don’t think so, and I hope we can share about these ideas and our experiences with mutual respect, and without rants and name calling (which will not be published at NAtP).

Last, the older I’ve grown, the more stunned I am by the sense that there is so much more than we can see with our physical eyes or sense with our minds. Thus, I make this disclaimer: The words on these electronic pages came through me and with me, in spite of my ego, opinions and judgments. You should read them fully aware of this, and take from them only what feels right to you. All I know for sure is, Love calls to all of us and we must climb, and when we fall, get up and climb again. This is life on Earth. If we can remain focused on Love and compassion, and finding forgiveness and peace, no matter what happens, we will join hearts and make the journey together, whether it is in our changing world or on the other side. God bless us, everyone.