It seems the day got by me…some days are like that. Even so, I hold our Community and each member in prayer as I move through my daily activities. I know for myself and for each of you that we are blessed by this time of Sanctuary…allowing Grace to carry us into whatever is next, and being fully present with this gift of time.

Tonight, rather than sharing my thoughts, I want to share a discovery. I don’t know how many of you read a book called Illusions by Richard Bach (author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull); it was one of my all-time favorites. Written in 1977, “llusions revolves around two barnstorming pilots who meet in a field in the Midwestern United States. The two main characters enter into a teacher-student relationship that explains the concept that the world that we inhabit is illusory, as well as the underlying reality behind it: ‘What if somebody came along who could teach me how my world works and how to control it? What if a Siddhartha came to our time, with power over the illusions of the world because he knew the reality behind them? And what if I could meet him in person, if he was flying a biplane, for instance, and landed in the same meadow with me?’

Donald William Shimoda is a messiah who quits his job after deciding that people value the showbiz-like performance of miracles and want to be entertained by those miracles more than to understand the message behind them. He meets Richard, a fellow barn-storming pilot.” (Wikipedia) And that is all I’m going to tell you about that…in case you haven’t read it.

My discovery is that 35 years after publishing Illusions, Richard Bach published Illusions II, the sequel Bach said he would never write. You may already know this…I did not. The most interesting part about this story is why he wrote it. It seems that in 2012, Richard Bach (who is an actual pilot) crashed his airplane and died…and then came back. This sequel brings his newfound insight about life and death to the forefront as he weaves another magical autobiographical narrative. I am very excited about this new book…if you have read the first one, you may be, too. If not, Illusions  is a spiritual classic worth reading. And the best news is that Amazon says my copy will be here by May 2! I’m so excited! I’m sure you will see some kind of discussion group spring up at Mystic Heart (either online or live, depending on conditions) very soon.

Well, I guess that’s it for now. I have shared my news. And in the morning, I will listen for what Spirit wants to say through my morning quiet time. Enjoy your evening…maybe go outside in a while and look at the stars…contemplate God’s infinite Nature…contemplate how small we are…and give thanks for all of it.

I think I’ll paraphrase a quote from one of my favorite Ministers… Rev. Andriette Earl. I am profoundly grateful for everything. I have absolutely no complaint whatsoever!

May we all be well…stay in touch…know our unity…and thrive!

And may we know the Absolute Beauty and Wonder of this Grace-filled, once-in-a lifetime day…