| One of the greatest challenges of our times for | | | | the Great Divine. |
| individuals like yourself is to be connected to the Great | | | | To be happy means we make and keep a connection |
| Divine. Yes, I know, the "Great Divine" is another term | | | | with the Great Divine. To make that connection, you |
| for God. And that is one of the reasons we are | | | | need to be quiet. You need to find a physical and a |
| challenged so in these times. | | | | mental place to be quiet. Then you need to look |
| The word "God" is so full of baggage. Terrorists use | | | | inward, at the quiet there. This quiet place where you |
| the term to help them describe what it is they believe | | | | begin may be a small room in your abode. It could your |
| they are doing. (I am not defending terrorists. I am | | | | office when you have told your staff you are not to |
| merely stating a fact; they often use the term "god" to | | | | be disturbed for the next 15 minutes. It can be any |
| somehow justify their heinous acts.) Further, so many | | | | place where you can get a few minutes of quiet. |
| people in the Baby Boomer generation have come to | | | | (Even if you have children in your home, you can teach |
| this time with all kinds of ideas of what God is and is | | | | them to be extremely quiet for few minutes each day. |
| not. Many still hold that God is a punishing Agent when | | | | Believe me, you'll be teaching something valuable for |
| we have done "wrong." Many still hold that God | | | | their lives as well.) |
| created a place called Hell where those who have not | | | | How do you start? The very first thing you can do is |
| repented, or follow in a certain way, will burn for all | | | | concentrate on your breathing. Just listen. Just listen to |
| eternity. Still more believe that God is a rule | | | | your breath going in and out of your lungs. Don't be |
| maker-extraordinary. He (maleness is another piece of | | | | alarmed if you mind wanders. It's what minds do. Just |
| baggage) has a "Book of Life" where all our actions | | | | gentle bring your concentration back to your breathing. |
| and thoughts are recorded and we are judged, at | | | | See if you can do this for 10 to 15 minutes at first. |
| death, by what is written there. | | | | Now, then, tomorrow, go find yourself a method of |
| So, I choose to try to drop all the luggage and use | | | | meditation that fits you. You can do this online. You |
| terms that may be neutral, at least for some folks. | | | | can physically go to a book store and look in the |
| Back to the point. You want happiness but your find it | | | | section for meditation. Begin immediately to learn to |
| hard to have. Because of all the challenges you face in | | | | meditate - - make contact with the Great Divine. I |
| this time. Even cell phones with all their blessed means | | | | promise, if you learn to meditate, you'll truly be on your |
| of communication in ways we had not even dreamed | | | | way to lasting happiness despite all the challenges of |
| of 20 years ago, help separate from us connection | | | | our times. I have been where you are and, through |
| with the Great Divine. They can ring or beep at any | | | | meditation, have found more happiness than I knew |
| moment, calling us to communicate with, perhaps, | | | | was possible. |
| someone important to us. But not as important us as | | | | |