Blessings and God's will. I now know that the terrible occurrences in the world are a part of God's plan. I accept the knowledge that when confronted with any level of pain or sorrow God is always there to help me get through it and He will ultimately impart a lesson that can be shared to help console others.

I now consider myself to be a true Child of God.

I have come to realize that everyone's path to the Lord is not an organized journey. There are still so many meandering through life unaware that even during their darkest and worst hour they are enveloped in God's love and that He is guiding their every step.

The problem with religion is that they want you to get it and accept it now. And because we all cannot function under that immediacy some of us choose to live under the pretense of getting it in order to prevent ostracism.

Behavior will always be the visible hint that tattles on those who truly do not have it now. "The Don't Have It Now" were the ones I happened to meet in church back in the day. The ones like me, who after much observation, came away believing that spirituality and religion share the same shadow.

Since we are not able to discern between the two, we throw both out with the proverbial bath water.

There isn't a set prescription or six easy steps to follow to develop the perfect God relationship. I believe that our relationships with Him are not based on the religions that we belong.

I believe that our feelings for Him emanate from our hearts and later culminate into the divine part of our soul center that manifests outwardly and enable us to lead changed and positive lives. Our relationships with God are as personal and different as our fingerprints.

If asked to describe the depth of our God relationship it would be as difficult as attempting to give them the exact piece of your heart you claim they occupy or as frustrating as trying to show them the actual love that you possess for your children.

A relationship with God may have several private components but the manifestations are shared throughout society. Like an education, once a person has become involved in a personal God relationship no one can take it away.

All paraphernalia can be ruined, confiscated, and destroyed but no physical harm can ever touch the love and spirituality of a true God relationship.

This single relationship has the power to alter a life and surrounding lives. Without this relationship loneliness, confusion and chaos will appear to be the normal unconscious lifestyle until the inevitable day when uncertain steps will lead directly into His magnificent Light.

All things become possible when this occurs. Fulfillment of the mind and spirit merge and acceptance of life's frailties is learned. Humanity is remembered and there isn't a need any longer to react to mistakes at a base level.

Exploration of a new life is no longer frightening but an exciting, challenging change of pace, especially with Him involved. The relationship will become defined and ultimately evolve to a place so divine that it can only be described as Home.

I can only speak of my own God relationship. I share my newfound Love with all that care to listen. I believe that answer to helping others discover their own God relationship is not forced conformity but encouraged individuality.

We can all meet at a designated location to sing His praises, but we should not presume to tell everyone how they should feel and how they should conduct their relationships with the Lord.

Instead of promoting a campaign of fear to the novice, voices should softly embrace their personal differences, and share their life experiences with Him to gently bring the new into the fold.

This will also help the new to realize that their God relationship does not begin when you are baptized, tithe, or finally acknowledge and accept it. Your relationship with God began the day you were born.

How you choose to live that relationship, as with all of your life relationships, rests solely within you.

You don't have to be a part of a congregation, be able to recite the Bible or be on a first name basis with the Pastor in order to know Him. All you have to do is open your heart and let His love spread through your life.

Constance Joyner

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