It's not for us to say...

"By choosing to declare what's good and evil you seek to determine your own destiny. It was this turning that has caused so much pain." (p. 147)

Institutions

"Marriage is not an institution. It's a relationship. Like I said, I don't create institutions; that's an occupation for those who want to play God." (p. 179)

Simplicity Profound

"Actually, with her everything is normal and elegantly simple. Because you are so lost and independent you bring to her many complications, and as a result you find even her simplicity profound." (p. 172)

How much is enough?

"The trouble with priorities is that it sees everything as hierarchy, a pyramid, and you and I have already had that discussion. If you put God at the top, what does that really mean and how much is enough? How much time do you give me before you can go on about the rest of your day, the part that interests you so much more? (p. 207)

Distinctive yet Complementary, Empowered Uniquely

"Power in the hands of independent humans, be they men or women, does corrupt...We want male and female to be counterparts, face-to-face equals, each unique and different, distinctive in gender but complementary, and each empowered uniquely by Sarayu from whom all true power and authority originates. (p. 148)

FEARS

"I am not talking about rational fears regarding legitimate dangers, but imagined fears, and especially the projection of those into the future. To the degree that those fears have a place in your life, you neither believe I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it; you talk about it, but you don't know it." (p. 142)

Hierarchy makes no sense

"We don't need power over the other because we are always looking out for the best. Hierarchy would make no sense among us. Actually, this is your problem, not ours." (p. 122)

They simply don't matter

"It is quite simple really. 'Being' always transcends appearance - that which only seems to be. Once you begin to know the being behind the very pretty or very ugly face, as determined by your bias, the surface appearances fade away until they simply no longer matter." (p. 112)

"You will even lose a competition to accomplish love. It is not about winning and losing, but about love and respect." (p. 107)

Love...within myself

"You do understand that unless I had an object to love - or, more accurately, a someone to love - if I did not have such a relationship within myself, then I would not be capable of love at all?" (p. 102)

I am about being

"Remember, I am not about performance and fitting into man-made structures; I am about being. As you grow in relationship with me, what you do will simply reflect who you really are." (p. 148)

"Among the mysteries of a broken humanity, that too is rather remarkable; to learn, to allow change." (p. 154)

A danger to each other

"When you chose independence over relationship, you became a danger to each other. Others became objects to be manipulated or managed for your own happiness. Authority, as you usually think of it, is merely the excuse the strong use to make others conform to what they want." (p. 123)

The wonder of it all...

"I'll never get tired of looking at this. The wonder of it all - the wastefulness of Creation, as one of our brothers has called it. So elegant, so full of longing and beauty even now." (p. 113)

After a particularly challenging week I was sitting on the front porch Sunday morning and heard a strange buzzing sound. When I looked up I saw a beautiful hummingbird hovering and staring right at me. And then in a split second it was gone. I knew instantly what that was and felt so very grateful.

be free to love, to serve

"Religion must use law to empower itself and control the people who they need in order to survive. I give you an ability to respond and your response is to be free to love and to serve in every situation, and therefore each moment is different and unique and wonderful." (p. 205)

Created to be loved

"Most birds were created to fly. Being grounded for them is a limitation within their ability to fly, not the other way around. You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around." (p. 97)

Power is in the love

"I want to help you take on that nature that finds more power in love and forgiveness than hate." (p. 225)

What if we were to try to love that which we do not care for? I think I am going to to try it! :D

But only some choose...

"Forgiveness does not establish relationship. In Jesus, I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me, but only some choose relationship. Mackenzie, don't you see that forgiveness is an incredible power - a power you share with us, a power Jesus gives to all whom he indwells so that reconciliation can grow?" (p. 225)

But we do not

"You humans are so lost and damaged that to you it is almost incomprehensible that relationship could exist apart from hierarchy. So you think that God must relate inside a hierarchy like you do. But we do not." (p. 124)

Give Up

"Then why did you give us those commandments?" asked Mack.

"Actually, we wanted you to give up trying to be righteous on your own. It is a mirror to reveal just how filthy your face gets when you live independently." (p. 202)

Here in the Present

"When I dwell with you, I do so in the present - I live in the present. Not the past, although much can be remembered and learned by looking back, but only for a visit, not an extended stay. And for sure, I do not dwell in the future you visualize or imagine.

"Mack, do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictacted by fear of some kind, rarely if ever, pictures me there with you?" (p. 141-142)

Covered by my Goodness

"The real underlying flaw in your life, Mackenzie, is that you don't think that I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything - the means, the ends, and all the processes of individual lives - is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don't." (p. 126)

Simplicity Profound

"Actually, with her everything is normal and elegantly simple. Because you are so lost and independent you bring to her many complications, and as a result you find even her simplicity profound." (p. 172)

I will not abandon you

"Mack, she was never alone. I never left her not for one instant. I could no more abandon her, or you, than I could abandon myself." (p 173)

Hearing and Change take Time

"So when you don't hear me the first time, I'm not frustrated or disappointed, I'm thrilled. Only forty-six more times to go. And that first time will be a building block to construct a bridge of healing that one day - that today - you will walk across." (p. 187)

We are

"Then," Mack struggled to ask, "which one of you is God?"

"I am," said all three in unison. Mack looked from one to the next, and even though he couldn't begin to grasp what he was seeing and hearing, he somehow believed them." (p. 87)