You rarely see

"Once you have a hierarchy you need rules to protect and administer it, and then you need law and the enforcement of rules, and you end up with some kind of chain of command or a system of order that destroys relationship rather than promotes it. You rarely see or experience relationship apart from power." (p. 123)

Freedom or Fear?

This one I posted in March but it's worth repeating. Have a wonderful day, my friends!

"So why do I have so much fear in my life?"

" Because you don't believe. You don't know that we love you. The person who lives by their fears will not find freedom in my love." (p. 142)

I am Love

"Both evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good. I am Love and there is no darkness in me. Light and Good actually exist. So removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness." (p. 136)

Often very contrary to my purposes

"As well intentioned as it might be, you know that religion can chew up people! An awful lot of what is done in my name has nothing to do with me and is often, even if unintentional, very contrary to my purposes." (p. 179)

A Totally Separate Other

"We are already fully fulfilled within ourself. You are designed to be in community as well, made as you are in our very image... Keep in mind, Mackenzie that I am not a human being, not in my very nature, despite how we have chosen to be with you this weekend. I am truly human, in Jesus, but I am a totally separate other in my nature." (p. 201)

Share life with me

"Because we want you to join us in our circle of relationship. I don't want slaves to my will, I want brothers and sisters who will share life with me." (p. 146)

There's no easy answer

"Honey, there's no easy answer that will take your pain away. Believe me, if I had one, I'd use it now. I have no magic wand to wave over you and make it all better. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship." (p. 92)

"I'm not going to ask you to believe anything, but I will tell you that you're going to find this day a lot easier if you simply accept what is, instead of trying to fit it into your preconceived notions." (p. 119)

Spectacular and Incredible!

"Emotions are the color of the soul; they are spectacular and incredible. When you don't feel, the world becomes dull and colorless." (p. 196)

Many complications

"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)

Simply opening they way...

"Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully: through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world."

"The whole world? You mean those who believe in you, right?"

"The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way." (p. 192)

"Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions... I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved." (p. 182)

In truth

"You have judged the actions and even motivations of others, as if you knew what those were in truth. You have judged the color of skin and body language and body odor. You have judged history and relationships. You have even judged the value of a person's life by the quality of your concept of beauty. "Tell me," she inquired, " if I may ask, by what criteria do you base your judgments?" (p. 159)

A two way street

"All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way. (p. 192)

If left unresolved

"Pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place." (p. 97)

In the midst of your pain

"Give up being his judge and know Papa for who he is. Then you will be able to embrace his love in the midst of your pain, instead of pushing him away with your self-centered perception of how you think the universe should be." (p. 165)

YOUR NEW NATURE

"When I am your life, submission is the most natural expression of my character and nature, and it will be the most natural expression of your new nature within relationships." (p. 146)

To see me is to see them.

"I am the best way any human can relate to Papa or Sarayu. To see me is to see them. The love you sense from me is no different from how they love you." (p. 110)

The richer the colors

"Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It simply is not possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you. And the more you know another, the richer the colors of that relationship." (p. 213)

"Just because you believe something firmly doesn't make it true. Be willing to reexamine what you believe. The more you live in the truth, the more your emotions will help you see clearly. But even then, you don't want to trust them more than me." (p. 197)

We've been seduced?

"So then we've been seduced into this preoccupation with authority?"

"In a sense, yes!" responded Papa, passing Mack the platter of greens, but not letting go until he pulled twice. "I'm just looking out for you, son." (p. 123)

Take me instead

Mackenzie upon being asked to choose among his own children who would be sentenced to hell.

"I can't do this.

You must.

I...will...not...do...this!

You must.

I can't. I can't. I won't! he screamed, and now the words and emotions came tumbling out.

Could I go instead?

Please let me go for my children, please, I would be happy to... Please, I am begging you. Please... Please..."

"Mackenzie, Mackenzie, now you sound like Jesus. You have judged well, Mackenzie. I am so proud of you."

(p. 163)

But I can give you freedom

"Mack, the world system is what it is. Institutions, systems, ideologies, and all the vain, futile efforts of humanity that go with them are everywhere, and interaction with all of it is unavoidable. But I can give you freedom to overcome any system of power in which you find yourself, be it religious, economic, social or political. You will grow in the freedom to be inside or outside all kinds of systems and to move freely between and among them. Together, you and I can be in it and not of it." (p. 181)

This whole thing...

"Sitting here with you, in this moment, it doesn't seem that hard. But when I think about my regular life back home, I don't know how to keep it as simple as you're suggesting. I'm stuck in that same grasp for control as everyone else is. Politics, economics, social systems, bills, family, commitments...it can all be a bit overwhelming. I don't know how to change it all."

"No one is asking you to!" Jesus said tenderly. "That is Sarayu's task and she knows how to do it without brutalizing anyone. This whole thing is a process, not an event. All I want from you is to trust me with what little you can, and grow in loving people around you with the same love I share with you." (p. 180-181)

Not even knowing why

"I am here to help you." If a rainbow makes a sound, or a flower as it grows, that was the sound of her laughter. It was a shower of light, an invitation to talk, and Mack chuckled along with her, not even knowing or caring why. (p. 154)

Sarayu: "You humans, so little in your own eyes. You are truly blind to your own place in the Creation. Having chosen the ravaged path of Independence, you don't even comprehend that you are dragging the entire Creation along with you. S very sad, but it won't be this way forever." (p. 132)

Fashioning something different

Sarayu: Mackenzie, a created being can only take what already exists and from it fashion something different...I created everything that actually exists, including what you consider the bad stuff. But when I created it, it was only Good, because that is just the way I am." (p. 131)

...more from Sarayu tomorrow...