Gloria to God:

Dear God, recently I sent emails to two people. I thought I was being nice in each one, and even particularly generous in something in one. I was really surprised at the responses. My emails were taken as judgmental, in one case, and controlling in the other!

So I ask myself: Was I judgmental? Was I controlling? In each case I was certainly showing my preference. Is showing my preference intruding? Maybe I needed to express myself more delicately or not at all. I wish I had not written to either and saved my energy and so forth. I'm wondering if it would have been wiser just to drop it. I have not heard back in either case, though in one it would be too soon anyway.

What am I saying? Am I trying to maintain friendships that only pass for friendship? Are there people I should stop investing energy in? Am I still trying to have everyone like me? When is it best to ignore something and just let it go?

God:

It is not the words you use. It is not what you say. It is the energy behind. It is the energy you want to shift.

In each of these cases, you had some annoyance — or preference — and it came through. And their annoyance back came loud and clear to you.

You certainly give too much energy to too many things.

Withdraw your energy. Use Mine.

And, yes, you do not have to answer every email.

Gloria:

I want to say that for myself, I'd rather get an answer than no response, but as I say it, maybe that's not really so. Maybe I am controlling to even want an answer or to feel I must give one.

God:

Maybe you are.

Friendships are not tennis games, where one hits the ball and the other hits back.

Sometimes in friendships, you just stop. If there is pretending, just stop. If there is expectation, just drop it. Bless your friends to their way whether it coincides with yours or not. You have too much to do to dilly-dally over hurt feelings, yours or others, but especially over yours.

Release, release, release. Let go, let go, let go.

Consider yourself in an empty room, a pristine chapel. What are you going to fill it with? You can fill it with anything you want. Flowers, perhaps. Or just Me. But you cannot fill it with everything. You can't put everything you have ever known or seen into it.

The chapel is your life and your mind. Know what you are putting into it. You can choose to harbor every hurt there or you can leave them where you last met them.

You do not have to carry everyone and everything with you.

Take with you only what you want. Keep with you only what you want. Divest yourself of what isn't handy for you. Divest yourself of what isn't beautiful for you. Kiss all the past good bye, and say hello to today.

There is a light on in this chapel, and you are an art collector. You do not have to collect post cards or rolled-up prints. You don't have to cram everything in. Choose only the art you want.

Remind yourself that I will fill up the room for you.

Give My love, and keep yours sacrosanct.

You do not have to collect anything at all.

There is a natural refining process.

Keep your chapel pure and only the beautiful will enter.

And the light in your chapel will shine further. It will mix with the sunlight and the moonlight, and you will be a star that keeps its place and yet shines brightly on all.

Gloria:

Dear God, I feel that You always come to the rescue. I am drowning in something, fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and then You come riding in and lift me up and carry me away to a place where there is only You.

God:

And that place is right where you are.

You come in and carry yourself off to where you and I reside.

To enter this place, you leave else behind.

Come here any time.

Remember Me, and you are here.

Problems are effervescent.

Not I. Not you.

We are forever.

Sometimes you see Our love as an ocean basin.

Sometimes you see it as the depth of the earth.

Sometimes you see it as the height of Heaven.

Our love is as a drop of dew that shines in the morning light.

Our love is a cool cloth on your forehead.

Our love is a light breeze so fair passing your face that you wonder if you felt it.

Our love is undeniable.

It punctures your heart.

Our love flows and grows flowers and grass and a million living things.

Our love entwines like a daisy chain.

Our love floats like a dandelion puff blown by a child.

Our love makes whole.

Our love connects everyone and everything.

Our love pours like cream on strawberries.

Our love is like ripe fruit, bursting with itself.

Our love.

What is there beyond it? or near it? What can enter it or disembody it? What exists besides Our love.

It is all I know, Our love.

It is your existence, and Mine.

Our love shimmers and shines like light on water.

Our love ripples.

It ripples the universe and gives it exquisite joy.

Yes, Our love is rippling. Let it ripple. Let it be.

Bestow Our love on your friends, and then get to work for Me.

* * *

Gloria to Heavenreaders:

Just got back from California and had a wonderful time with my family and the new people now included in it. Coming back to Iowa and the Heaven of your emails, I am bowled over with the power of what you write and how your questions and comments bring God out. What can I say but thank you.