Post Discussion

Reply from paula on March 26, 2010

The stories of our past serve to help people see how we got from ‘there to here’, and also to realize that if one has made it, all can make it.

Reply from Gloria on March 26, 2010

In this case, I think my ego was having too good a time. “Look at me. Look at what a writer I am!”

Through God’s grace, we all make it.

Maybe, maybe, in a book for people who are not yet familiar or very familiar with Heavenletters, such a story serves the good purpose you describe.

Paula, I am grateful to you for responding.

Reply from Jack van Raders on March 26, 2010

Congratuation Gloria back into the present where you feel more at home and you shine better Love Jack

Reply from Chuck Gebhardt on March 26, 2010

I sense a sort of overlap in the sentiments expressed by you, Gloria, along with Paula and Jack. How we get to where we are is important and has much value in the telling. Yet, it is important to be sure that the message from our heart is driving the writing. I think that if there is a strong feeling that you want to share with us, it comes through and it serves us. If I hear you right, Gloria, you are saying that your initial enthusiasm with the Oleander Court story is fading. Only you can know this, though, and if it has lost its shine for you, then it would be best to change direction.

Reply from Gloria on March 27, 2010

Beloved Chuck, the story is all written. I haven’t lost my enthusiasm for the story, but I lost my enthusiasm for posting it here on the blog. It started to feel that this is just not the right place for it. The story is sort of a soap opera.

The story is a lot about Lily and Helene for they, as well as Beverly, have to make decisions that are hard to make.

What are you up to, Chuck?

Reply from Lynda on March 27, 2010

Gloria, this is a difficult one isn’t it?

I love reading the stories, because it takes me back when I was a child and lived in the 60’s. I was born in 1955, and I can picture what you describe.
Part of me would love to hear how the stories end.

And as others have said, it does show (for you and us I believe) how far we have come. And how we managed our lives before God was present everyday, in every moment.

I also think though, that God was part of their decisions, even though they didn’t recognize that at the time.

What was your intention when you made the first post?
And how do you feel now?

I completely agree with what Chuck said. We will find something in the message that serves us.

I also know from my own experience, if someone asks me how I got to where I am, it comes from the experiences and adversity I lived in the years before.
And it is because of Gods’ messages and prompts, that feel and respond differently now.

That is why we are here! This is planet earth, the school where, as God has said again in today’s Heavenletter, that we have free will.

If someone has “tuned in” to Heavenletters for the first time today, and reads your continuing story of choices and free will, as well, they could have quite the ah ha moment! I know I would.

Have you asked God what God thinks? Do you now think one of the many reasons God chose YOU for Godwriting was becasue of your talent for storytelling?
In love & light,
Lynda

Reply from Chuck Gebhardt on March 27, 2010

I am in enthusiastic agreement with everything Lynda is saying. So insightful and clearly expressed!

Gloria, I have been working on my book about the nature of human consciousness and how this understanding has a lot to say about the anomalies that have been showing up with great regularity in scientific research. At my daughter’s suggestion I had written a brief outline of the book. After looking at this outline, she felt I needed to give it more focus and clear direction. She suggested a title like “The Science Behind The Secret: Unveiling the Incredible Power of Human Consciousness.” I liked this idea and thought I would start out with the history of the ideas behind what has been called “The Secret” and use this as an introduction. She countered this with the recommendation that I introduce the topic by telling the story of how I became interested in these kinds of issues in the first place. So I have been working on this introduction and I am seeing the wisdom of her recommendations. I feel like it is a good story and it raises a lot of questions that I will be encountering and beginning to answer through the scientific research later in the book. As I now envision it, the book will start from the totally traditional, scientific, agnostic worldview I once had and follow my transformations all the way up to where I am now reading and delighting in the information contained in Heavenletters.

It is interesting, Gloria, that I am exploring stories from my past like you are with your Princess Bonita and Oleander Court story lines. Keep writing, hon, you do great work!

Reply from Gloria on March 27, 2010

Oh, you guys are so wonderful! I appreciate your responses so much. Each response opens up a whole of thoughts.

Chuck, your daughter is amazing, isn’t she? Great title she suggested for your book. The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree! Please keep us posted along the way, yes?
Samples etc.

Lynda, my reluctance with the story was the continued posting of it, not the story itself. It might have been better if I had posted it all together and not in installments. Then it would have been done, and I wouldn’t have felt dubious about it. But the thing is: the blog is meant for a specific audience, and I think I was not paying attention to my audience.

For people new to Heavenletters, as you pointed out, it’s a different story. Blogreaders had the Aha a long time ago.

I will send you the rest of the story, Lynda — and to anyone who might want to know what happens. Lynda, will you kindly post any response you have here?

Jack, thank you always for your support! Means a lot.

Reply from Charles Fines on March 27, 2010

Gloria, I understand why you stopped the installments and it probably was the right decision. I’m trying to figure out what is the difference between this story and the stories of your childhood or your teaching career which do seem to belong here. I sort of have an idea why but also think it isn’t really important since you seem to recognize the difference, and presumably won’t stop posting all stories.

And I don’t mean to imply that you made a mistake posting what you did. All your stories have something that allows a person to learn something useful or to be inspired to try harder or do better. In this case maybe the person learning something was mostly you.

Part of your correct decision, in my view, was offering to send the whole story to anyone interested, which would include me. Would be glad to get a copy when you send it out. Many thanks!

Reply from Chuck Gebhardt on March 27, 2010

I would like to see it, too. Could you post it here as an attachment for all who are interested to open it? That would save you the work of sending out out to each request, if it can be done.

Reply from Lynda on March 27, 2010

I will absolutely post my responses.
From the above reactions, many will be reading the final chapters along with me.

I do believe we are mirrors for each other. Your story about Sylvia brought to light many situations with my mother.
I had a neighbour across the street from me growing up who could have been Helene. A Catholic, practicing the rhythm method as well, had eight children. Stayed until they were grown and then promptly left her husband.

Then there is Lily. My mother’s best friend was very similar to Lily. She left her husband for a younger man, who then left her.

And while in counselling,(with my ex-husband who was physically there, but miles away, and would tune both of us out when things got tough) it became very clear to me that I needed to move on. And the counsellor, although trying to remain neutral, agreed. God had no place in my husband’s world. His life was and is about control, and although the God we all know here is nothing about control, he believed that if he gave anything away to a higher power, he would lose control.

I needed to stand strong and continue my spiritual growth and practice. And my life and world is the better for making that decision.

So, yes Gloria, I can hardly wait for the final chapters.

Reply from Lynda on March 27, 2010

Gloria, you will laugh when you read this -but the TV show that kept coming into my mind was “Desperate Housewives,” while I was reading about Lily needing tranquilizers and Helene slamming the baby bottle on the card table.

You have such an ability to keep the reader riveted as they read every sentence and become part of the story.
And you just knew that the way Beverly looked at the shiny head of Hal, the time was coming.

And the thing is, there is so much in between the stages of what happens, but it doesn’t matter. it has a perfect lilt to it.
I just have one question -what happened to Lily?

Reply from Chuck Gebhardt on March 27, 2010

My you are fast, Gloria. Got your email, read it, loved it.

I don’t watch Desperate Housewives, but what my wife does and I have to agree with Lynda completely.

Very nice! A great, engaging, moving story. It captures the time, the emotions and the people well in a masterful use of simple images. I see why you feel it is not Heavenletters blog material, though. But reading the story is like watching a well written and well acted movie. Your ability to bring your stories to life is quite remarkable, Gloria. A whole book of stories like this one would be a good book and well worth writing. Have you ever considered wrting a novel?

Reply from Gloria on March 28, 2010

Lynda and Chuck, I will respond to you in the next blog entry. You give much food for thought.

Thanks!

Reply from paula on March 28, 2010

Beverly cannot walk out just like that; what gave her the courage and the strength to do so? I’ve been in a similar situation for 35 years now, but there were always so many factors to take into account - and now it is too late, I feel.
God says in Heaven #3401:
“Sometimes you deal with relationships with your left hand, or you are offhand about them. Your heart is put on the side. Speech is required, and yet you dare not speak for fear of upsetting the apple cart, even when the status quo does not make you happy. When this is the case, is it that you don’t want to interrupt unhappiness, beloveds?”
Sorry God, but I don’t think this is the case, it’s more about a fear of what will be, how to cope afterwards. In any case, there is no easy solution, and maybe not even a ‘right’ one.

Reply from Gloria on March 28, 2010

Paula, I will respond to you on blog entry as well.