| #ffffff;" /> | | | | managed to compose himself first. “Please |
| “Well, John,” said Gideon. “What are | | | | forgive us, John,” he said. “We felt that |
| you thinking?” “Thinking? I’m not | | | | this setting would prove to be interesting to you. It was |
| really thinking about anything. Why don’t you | | | | God who suggested it. Sometimes it’s fun |
| introduce me to this beautiful lady?” I asked. | | | | bringing humor and a slightly different perspective into |
| “Oh, I’m so sorry,”replied Marla. | | | | life.” |
| “I thought you knew her. You’ve met | | | | I was appalled at their seeming lack of respect in the |
| many times before and she knows you. John, please | | | | presence of God. In many of God’s churches, |
| meet God.” | | | | laughter was not looked upon with favor. Centuries |
| “God?” I stammered, looking at the lady | | | | ago, you would have been burned at the stake for |
| sitting so quietly on the floor before me. “God? | | | | such behavior. The voice of God interrupted my |
| You aren’t God, are you?” | | | | thoughts. |
| Her voice was music itself as she answered. “It | | | | “John,” said She,“most people |
| must have puzzled you that I’m in the form of a | | | | misunderstand me. This is a happy universe. I created it |
| female today. You’re so used to thinking of me | | | | so. I wanted all my creation to be joyous. Although I |
| as male. I just returned from visiting a culture where I | | | | am God, sometimes even I can’t understand |
| am thought of as Mother God instead of Father God. | | | | why people are so scared of me. Of course,some of |
| There are a number of such cultures, you know. But if | | | | your churches have been teaching their followers that I |
| it would make you feel more comfortable, you could | | | | am a vengeful, angry being, that I’m ready to |
| see me as male. It really doesn’t matter to me. I | | | | punish anyone for even the smallest infraction of rules I |
| am male, female, neither, both, whatever.I am | | | | don’t even recall making. It’s silly, of |
| everything. There cannot be two everything.” | | | | course. Come now, we have a lot to talk about. |
| By this time Marla and Gideon were laughing. Gideon | | | | |