When I was in my early 20s, a friend gave me the book, “Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah” by Richard Bach. I wasn’t much “into” religion and would have rejected anything dogmatic. This was the perfect book for me at the time and had a profound affect on my understanding of, and relationship with, God.
In this book, God, Universal Consciousness, Higher Power (however you relate to it) is called “The Is.” Throughout the story, Richard reads “The Messiah’s Handbook” which is a book full of sayings that help him come to a deeper connection to The Is, and to himself.
The quote I remember most often is, “Imagine the Universe beautiful and just and perfect. Then be sure of one thing: The Is has imagined it quite a bit better than you have.” In these days when it seems like we are inundated with tragedy, with bad news, with natural disaster after natural disaster, with political upheaval, I can look at a book I read nearly 30 years ago and be reminded that this universe is indeed a beautiful, just, perfect place created by a beautiful, just, perfect Is.
This week, may we remember that we are surrounded by justice, perfection, and beauty.
Marnie Leinberger, Pastor
Milagro Christian Church
Faith Leaders in Action, Southeast Colorado