Winter is a good time to organize and clean out. In one such foray, I discovered a book I had had for a long time, and never read. I have no idea if I bought it or if it was a gift. The title, For the Love of God, is followed by New Writings by Spiritual and Psychological Leaders. It is edited by Benjamin Shield and Richard Carlson, Ph. D. and was published in 1990.
There is a lengthy list of authors of these 2 or 3 page pieces – many of them former household names, and not well known now. Still current are the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Wayne Dyer, Thich Nhat Hanh. On the back cover are writers who were receding even then, including Barbara Marx Hubbard, who is once again fairly prominent in New Age and spiritual (as opposed to religious) circles.
Looking at it, I can realize why I did not read it before. The word God is so limiting, produces such a picture of an old and rigid white guy. And it seemed, at least to me 20 years ago, so religious – and tedious.
This time, I actually curled up in bed under the warm covers, where I do most of my reading, and read it. Two or three pieces at a time, over many days. They were all quite wonderful, and all quite spiritual – even those by religious leaders, who seem really to have been listening to Spirit.
Hugh Prather, Shakti Gawain, Fr. William McNamara (whose work I copied for my 2 McNamara grandsons), Anne Wilson Schaef and of course the Dalai Lama were my favorites. I’m very glad the book popped back up again into my life!