"And even as each one of you stands alone in God's knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth."

-Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Oh when, oh when, oh when is the hour of our calling?

Reciprocity and Perfect Action

Your actions have consequences.

What you do causes a series of events to unfold. There is hardly ever a choice that you make that does not have countless events chained to it. When you do something positive, a series of positive events unfold, and eventually something positive is returned to you. Likewise, if you choose something negative, a series of negative events will unfold. In the East, this is called Karma. In the West, it is taught in Christianity as a basic principle: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Nature is built upon reciprocity. What you give is what you receive, and more. In order to reach a true understanding of God, we must be perfect in our actions. To be perfect does not mean to always do the right thing. It means to always have a good intention. The consequence of any action is uncontrollable the moment it is enacted. However, if one intends to do good, and carries oneself with the virtues of grace, honesty, patience, and integrity, then only good results will follow. One must be selfless in one's thoughts and intentions before one receives a union with God. In short: be kind.

To be perfect means to bring our actions into line with God's will. It is a cycle that is self-contained. To know God's will, we must first practice it. How do we know what to practice? We look to those who have come before.

“We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Maryanne Williamson

I would fight a million if it meant saving just one.

That which is our Father is also within us. It is asleep, and you are blind to it because you do not acknowledge it.

I shall proceed with quiet confidence, for I know that although I do not make the trees bloom, nor do I cause the hours of the day, that surely their seasons are my own, as are their laws. I am Master of nothing; only a servant and a friend. Know that although I suffer just as anyone suffers, I am madly in love with this world, and I am madly in love with you.

"The kingdom of God is within you."

"Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless -- like chasing the wind."

Ecclesiastes 7:9

I know I am yet a child....
and yet, since I have been a child
I have known that
you are all my children....

One's connection to any religion will never be as strong as one's own, personal connection to God. When in doubt, follow God.

About your heart....

Matthew 7:16-18 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

- Romans 12:2

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 (New International Version)

I shall never forget that it is God who has brought me here, God who leads me, and God who gives and takes away.

We all move by God's time,

and God's timing is always perfect.

I had to become an orphan to realize that the whole world is my family.

We must love each other like family.

Forgive like family.

Serve like family.