Dont let mankind sour your perception of God.

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A few months ago, I had a dream. I was in a prison of some kind. I wanted so desperately to leave the prison for just one week and go on a cruise ship for my friends’ birthday party. My Warden was a blond woman dressed in a white lab coat. She had a stern face, but kind, compassionate eyes. In the dream, I was bargaining with her. I was trying to convince her to let me leave the prison for just one week… I’ll do anything she asks of me. I really wanted to go on the cruise. She seemed reluctant at first. She told me that she could not ensure my safety… and I would be taking a risk. I told her that I am ready, and that I was not afraid. I told her how much I have changed over the years, how strong I have become. She finally gave me permission to go… but only for a week. She also made me promise that I would check in with her once a day. I asked her, how should I contact her to let her know my whereabouts, and let her know I’m ok? She said one word. “Pray.” And then I woke up. I have thought about this dream a lot over the past few months… and pondered its meaning. I remember the way her eyes looked when she said that final word. “Pray.” It was penetrating, and resounding. Since that dream, every night I have “Checked in” with God to let Him know that I am safe, and I thank Him for it. I also go on to thank Him for His continued guidance, and even if His methods and motives are unclear, I thank Him for his blessings… even when they are disguised as curses. My point is this. And I want to pass this on to anyone who will hear it. Don’t let mankind sour your perception of God. Don’t let the self imposed prisons of organized religion, bible thumpers, extremists…. don’t let the fear mongering fire and brimstone preachers or the guilt riddled street preachers scare you into thinking you have no business checking in with God. They have their own motives. they are driven by something else. Don’t let them fool you into thinking they know Gods mind. I live a life that many would say God does not condone. And for too long, I allowed those people to control my perception of Him. But I famally sat down and had an honest coversation with myself, and God. I know now, that God loves me, and it dosent matter what anyone else says. I have a relationship with God, and it WASN’T because of a door to door salesman who scarred me into getting baptized. It WASN’T because of a zealot who brainwashed me into thinking that my soul was in danger of burning for all eternity. I found God on my own terms. And for the first time in my life, I feel like I really “get” it. So I encourage you all… no matter if you see God as a man, a woman, as one, or as many. Find God. But do it on your own terms. You can find God in quiet moments, or in the collective voices of a thousand person choir. You can find God when you smile at a stranger... or when you hug an old and dear friend. He's with you when you feel alone. He is underneath that stone. You do not need permission to seek Him out... and you can take any path you wish to tread. And if you have any doubts… tell Him about them. Have a conversation with Him. Do it however, and wherever feels right for you. Talk to God about your place in the Great Plan. But first – get rid of all your preconceived notions. Forget everything that organized religion has hammered into your head. Dont let mankind try to minic God, and dont let them fool you into thinking you have to follow the same path they did. Let God tell you Himself whatever it is that He needs to say. DON’T let mere mortals speak for Him. And if your feeling like you are lost out at sea… just check in with Him. It’s easy. Just Pray.