"Responsibilities and expectations are the basis of guilt and shame and judgment, and they provide the essential framework that promotes performance as the basis for identity and value. You know well what it is like not to live up to someones expectations." (p. 206)

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)

The Possibility of Love

"This world is not a playground where I keep all my children free from evil. Evil is the chaos of this age that you brought to me, but it will not have the final say. Now it touches everyone that I love, those who follow me and those who don't. If I take away the consequences of people's choices, I destroy the possibility of love. Love that is forced is no love at all." (p. 190)

A promise we fulfill...

"But can you clean your face with the same mirror that shows how dirty you are? There is no mercy or grace in rules, not even for one mistake. That's why Jesus fulfilled all of it for you - so that it no longer has jurisdiction over you. And the Law that once contained impossible demands - Thou Shall Not...- actually becomes a promise we fulfill in you." (p. 202)

"Mackenzie, this world is full of tears, but if you remember I promised that it would be Me who would wipe them from your eyes." (p. 228)

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)

It's all about relationships

"It's simple Mack. It's all about relationships and simply sharing life. What we are doing now - just doing this - and being open and available to others around us. My 'church' is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can't build it. It's my job and I'm actually pretty good at it." (p. 178)

People are afraid...

"People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures, and ideologies are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn't any. It's all false! Systems cannot provide you security, only I can." (p. 179-180)

All woven together

"Have you noticed that in your pain you assume the worst of me? I've been talking to you for a long time, but today was the first time you could hear it, and all those other times weren't a waste, either. Like little cracks in the wall, one at a time, but woven together they prepared you for today. You have to take the time to prepare the soil if you want to embrace the seed." (p. 176)


What's YOUR favorite quote from the book?

Without something Wonderful...

"What's important is this: If I were simply One God and only One Person, then you would find yourself in this Creation without something wonderful, without something essential even. And I would be utterly other than I am. ...And we would be without love and relationship. All love and relationship is possible for you only because it already exists within Me, within God myself. Love is not the limitation: love is the flying, I am love." (p. 101)

If you could only see...

"When a disaster happens those same people will turn against the false powers they trusted. In their disappointment, they either become softened toward me or they become bolder in their independence. If you could only see how all of this ends and what we will achieve without the violation of one human will - then you would understand. One day you will." (p. 125)

What love does...

Mack: "But why do you love someone who is such a screw-up? After all the things I've felt in my heart toward you and all the accusations I made, why would you even bother to keep trying to get through to me?"

Papa: "Because that is what love does..."

Power

"It is impossible for you to take power over the future because it isn't even real, nor will it ever be real. You try and play God, imagining the evil that you fear becoming reality, and then you try and make plans and contingencies to avoid that fear." (p. 142)

What right...?

"Judging requires that you think yourself superior over the one you judge."

"What right did he have to judge anyone? ... All his judgments had been superficial, based on appearance and actions, things easily interpreted by whatever state of mind or prejudice that supported the need to exalt himself, or to feel safe, or to belong." (pp. 159-160)

Strangely at Home

"I mean, look at this mess. But it really is beautiful, and full of you, Sarayu. Even though it seems like lots of work still needs to be done, I feel strangely at home and comfortable here." (p. 138)

Not the way that you understand

"I'm quite a mess aren't I?"

"Yes, you are a glorious, destructive mess, Mackenzie, but you are not here to repent, at least not the way that you understand. Mackenzie, you are not here to be judged." (p. 158)

WHO I AM

"He came to show people who I am and most folks only believe it about him. They still play us off like good cop, bad cop most of the time, especially the religious folk. When they want people to do what they think is right, they need a stern God. When they need forgiveness they run to Jesus." (p. 186)

Lost any basis...

"And if there is no reality of good that is absolute, then you have lost any basis for judging. It is just language, and one might as well exchange the word good for evil." (p. 135)

To Trust

"I don't want to be a judge anymore. I really do want to trust Papa... But I'll need help." (p. 165)

"So what do I do now? "

"What you're already doing, Mack, learning to live loved. It's not an easy concept for humans. You have a hard time sharing anything."

Learning to live loved... I am simply amazed. Some days when I open up the book to find the quote for the day I wonder if I have already found them all, but lo and behold my eyes just land on another good one!

"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)