What is your image of me? Do you see me as stern and exacting? Distant and unapproachable? Disinterested and uninvolved? The image you carry of me has a profound influence in your life, for better or for worse, whether it is correct or not. In the parable of the talents, one servant led a diminished life because he thought his master was hard, arbitrary and unjust. He didn’t know the true nature of his master, and those who hold the above views of me don’t know me either. I am complex with many dimensions and attributes, but it is not difficult to know me. You can start with the understanding that I am looking for friends, as you are.  

Have you heard it said that polite conversation should avoid the topics of religion and politics? These are subjects on which people have strongly held views but they are also things that matter. Does this imply that conversation should only be about things that do not matter? Then what is the point of conversation? If you are not easily threatened and heavily defended you can you can enjoy talking about these things even with people you disagree with. Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another and the Lord hearkened and a book of remembrance was written of those who feared the Lord and thought upon his name.

Have you ever heard it said that life is too short? This is usually said in the context of some activity or mindset, like being bitter or holding grudges. I have given you enough time to do all that I expect of you, but you need to stay focused on it to get it done in the allotted time. Some activities are of no value and others are detrimental to progress. I told my disciples that my time had not yet come, but theirs was always ready. Do you see your life as a sequence of choices? If you choose the best thing available to you every moment the cumulative effect will give you an abundant life.

Are you familiar with the concept of playing with a stacked deck? The assumption in a card game is that the cards are dealt in a random order. Arranging the cards in advance violates this principle. Can you extend this principle to life? Do you see the events of the universe and the circumstances that affect your life as basically random, or ordered by divine intent? As with the cards, it may be hard to say from a single hand or event. But if things consistently fall in your favor does it become harder to attribute them to random activity? I stack the deck for everyone. Blessed are those who know this.