During and through the practices I mention here, elsewhere in this blog and through my near-death-experience I have encountered an unconditionally loving, conscious, all-knowing, compassionate and understanding power. For simplicity, I and many others call that power God, though the name you choose seems to make no difference. That power loves me enough to allow me to go through difficult or painful situations if they promote growth. The growth is a gift which is always there, if I look for it. That power is now allowed or surrendered to as part of my life. The power was always there, but I did not allow it.
In 2006 I had a Near-Death-Experience when I died or almost died and went to the “other side”. I met with the God I describe and felt the overwhelming, unconditional love and a peace beyond all human understanding which is often described. I knew that I would do anything in my power to be part of that love so I chose to come back to the living world and “be of service”. I knew that by giving it away freely and unconditionally, I could have that love be part of me.
At the present time (2026), I am 77, retired and working on recovery from my disability (cerebellar degeneration/atrophy). I also work with dead and living people in order to promote their growth, understanding and love. Actions and beliefs such as judgement, criticism and sin are no longer part of my world since they are not part of the unconditional love I have been taught. These concepts are not part of the force/power I know as God, though they are sometimes ascribed to he/she/it. These ideas are unquestionably human so they creep into my life periodically and remind me that I am not done yet.
Whether talking about animals, people or, supposedly, inanimate things, the part I connect with is the God or love part in everything and everyone. This loving, conscious, harmonious force, power or energy that is behind and part of everybody and everything in the universe. As Jesus said, ‘I am the light which is before all things. It is I who am all things. From me all things came forth, and to me all things extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there; lift up the stone, and you will find me.’” from the gospel of Thomas as quoted on p 52-3
Today (2026) I follow no particular religion. However, I do attend Quaker meetings for worship twice a week for hour long periods of silent meditation. I find that I benefit from being among groups of people gathered together in order to listen. During that time I quiet my mind, as described, and then focus on love an/or gratitude.
“To understand better the value of silence in daily life, and its relation to this spiritual transformation for which we yearn, it is useful first to consider the limitation of language, of words”
“It is next useful to contemplate the limitations of logical reasoning.” from Silence: Our Eye On Eternity, by Daniel A. Seeger
As Paul Lacy put it in Nourishing the Spiritual Life, “I take the spiritual life to be a life of which aims to discover human wholeness, the integration of all aspects of our humanity - body, soul, mind, emotions - and the connection of the self to all of creation.”
“Seek Him we must, with a headlong love, with enthusiasm and romantic ardor, but also with lowliness and patience, and that is a hard combination.”
“Seek not humility. Seek God. Through God you will find humility. Sought as an end, humility will run in a circle and bring you directly back to pride.
“Seek not for faith to move mountains. Seek God first. Perhaps the mountains do not need moving, perhaps He will lift you up above the mountains which may be better than moving them.
“Seek not pleasure neither of body nor of soul. This too is a gift, eluding those who seek it seek God, for He alone is able to give joy, which is infinitely finer than pleasure.
“Seek not power, not even power to do great deeds. Seek God and Him alone, and power will flow from you in ways and times which are hidden from you.”
from Our Hearts Are Restless, by Gilbert Kilpack
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