Gloria to God:

Dear God, did everything in our lives have to happen the way it did? Annette has asked this question of You, and I wonder the same. Do we have to go through in life what we go through in order to know You?

I would do it all over again if that's how it has to be, but I do wonder if some steps couldn't have been skipped; couldn't I have come closer to you sooner? I mean, it took me sixty years!

And, also, in looking back, I don't quite see what actually did bring me to You. I don't know what really led me to you. I can think of certain high marks, but those seemed to be initiated by You and not me.

God:

When can the apple be picked?

Certainly I came in and swooped you up. And certainly I had been knocking at your door for a long time, and you didn't hear Me. I can knock and knock, but you have to hear Me, and get up and open the door.

In truth, there is no door to open. It was open all the time. Only you didn't know it. You didn't see that it was open. You didn't look. You didn't know where you were going. If someone had told you where you were going, you still wouldn't have known.

Gloria:

Someone did tell me about ten or more years ago, dear God. He said I was going to do spiritual writing, and I kept saying, "But I write fiction." And he kept saying, "But you will do a lot of spiritual writing."

And even after You took over My life, dear God, I didn't remember that until, quite by chance, when I was testing an answering machine, I played the exact part of the tape on which this astrologer had said I was going to do some kind of spiritual writing!

God:

A reminder. Naught is by accident. And yet, it did not all have to play exactly the way it did. You could have skipped parts of your life but, at the same time, you could not. So it played the way it had to play for you at the time.

You were on a scavenger hunt. You did not even know what you were looking for. And you looked in a lot of wrong places. And you even found Me and didn't know what you had found. And after more looking, you recognized Me.

All the false starts, all the detours, brought you exactly to My feet.

Blessed be your life as it played.

Blessed be every turn, every nook and cranny, every burned finger, because, look, you found Me where I was looking for you.

You may not be able to look back in your spiritual journey called life and see the steps that actually awakened you to Me, but you can look back and see all the places where you were seeking me although you did not know My name. You thought it was happiness alone. You didn't know it was I you were seeking. You didn't know it was I Who tingled your heart. You didn't know it was I Who lifted you.

And you can look back and see certain signposts that were there for you.

There is not much value in going back over your life and wondering what you could have done differently. What if you had taken one opportunity instead of another. What if you had taken a different bend in the road instead of the one you took, so do not sigh over the road untraveled. Bless the road traveled.

Bless all the mistakes you think you made for they were stepping-stones.

You were playing Monopoly, and you kept going back to Go. But finally you got past Go. You finished the course. You graduated!

You found the pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow. No, you found the rainbow. Yes, you found the rainbow, and you are crossing over it now.

That is how all must think of their lives now. This is a sacred part of your journey. This is where you are on new ground. Before you walked on pebbles and stones. Now you walk on a rainbow on your walk to Me.

Gloria:

At the last Ask God workshop, Annette and Abby both presented their spiritual journeys. They were fascinating. And they had the idea that we should make a book of Heavenreaders' spiritual journeys.

God:

An account of your spiritual journey is a noting of where you began, the signposts you saw (at least in retrospect), and where you are now. By all means, look at the signposts of your lives, and note them. There is good value in this. But do not bemoan too much the signposts you did not see, for you passed them nevertheless. Start this now.

Gloria:

Dear God, is there more You would like to say about this?

God:

Start this now. You, too, Gloria.

* * *

Mila to Heavenletters:

Congratulations! I am glad that the book is going to come out. God does His job, you do your job! Certainly there were some Heavenletters that hit me more than the others. I just do not know how to find them now among all. I'll try. I am sure that common collective consciousness will select the best of the best. I wish a smooth path for this book to be published in the fall. Good Luck!

Abby to Heavenletters:

Wow! These most recent few heavenletters have been dynamite! Amazing stuff! (And you can quote me on that!)

I just wanted to share with you some of my recent Godwritings. So recent, in fact, it was only a few minutes ago and I'm so happy about everything God tells me! I don't know whether this is one that you'll want to publish or not, but I just thought I'd share anyway.

P.S. I'd love to contribute to the book! I'll give you my suggestions after I reread all the old Heavenletters!

Gloria to Abby:

Definitely your superb new Godwriting will appear in the next Heavenpetals. Just missed this issue. Just so other Heavenreaders know, God tells you about fairies and mermaids!

Yes, please send in right away the dates (and subjects, if easy for you) of Heavenletters in 2000 that stand out for you. We need the dates in order to locate the Heavenletters you suggest.

Thank you!

Nancy O. to Heavenletters:

I really enjoyed Lauren's question and God's answer June 19, since it also fit me to a t. These Heavenletters are so good: I am sure The Best Of will be appreciated!

Annette to Heavenletters:

I'm so happy that someone is finally putting Heavenletters into book format. It would be a great service to the whole world. My deep gratitude to God and to Nancy O. and everyone else involved!

The idea of putting Heavenletters into book format will benefit more than just those who don't have e-mail; it's a lot easier to find things in a book format (unless you save everything on the computer and do a search function), and books are far easier on the eyes, plus a lot more portable.

I know we weren't asked to comment about the title, THE BEST OF GOD: HEAVENLETTERS 2000, but personally I would prefer a title a little less provocative, though equally catchy. My feeling is that anything from God is the best of God, and that God, being God, can ONLY give the best. Even though that may be obvious to us, some people may take offense.

Here are some questions that came to mind:

Who can decide what is the best of God but God Him(/Her)self? Even though God might not wish to make the selections directly, we can at least ask God for guidance or inspiration in making our choices. (Although, for all I know, maybe that was already done!)

Won't a lot of people find that title offensive, especially people who consider the Bible the best of God?

Doesn't that title suggest that there is a Worst of God or mediocre stuff from God?

(Of course, if God suggested that title, I would say, "Hey, no problem! God must know what He's doing.")

The Best of Heavenletters 2000 somewhere in the title or subtitle could be another option, although Selected Heavenletters or Selections from Heavenletters 2000 would be a little more accurate.

Of course, the title should also include something catchy in order to sell.

What does everyone else think about this?

Gloria to Annette and Heavenreaders:

Annette, you are certainly making me think. Maybe this is the sort of thing Karen was suggesting.

Heavenreaders, please do respond to Annette's perception.

You may be sure that your ideas are wanted and appreciated and will be given every consideration.

Diane to Lauren:

Dear Lauren, I love your passionate expression June 19 of what you don't want and what you do want. When you express your passion, both negative and positive, then you get to choose which you want more of. I feel that my life took a big jump forward when I was able to get angry. I was angry for a long time, but it is a path to releasing resistance. I see a big door opening for you, Lauren.