P: Hi God.
G: Hi Peggy.
P: I am having a hard day.
G: I can see that. What can I help you with?
P: Well. I don’t know – that’s the problem. I just can’t seem to get my act together, today. I am not eating well. I have been feeling sad. I feel like I want to accomplish something, but there isn’t anything I want to accomplish. I feel old. I feel tired. I feel like life and particularly my summer is slipping away.
G: Why are you feeling like this?
P: Because I am old and tired and summer is slipping away.
G: Hmmm … I guess that depends on your perspective.
P: Well – you have the ability to be omniscient. You KNOW what’s going to happen. I don’t.
G: I don’t mean that kind of perspective. I mean, how you look at each day. Each moment of each day. I think you are trying to live in the future. And that is impossible – at least for you.
P: I am living in the future?
G: Well.. you say summer is slipping away. Summer just is a group of days on a calendar. Summer is a season. You are seeing it all completed and you’re back at the whirlwind of work. You are seeing a string of events instead of a continuous present.
P: Ugh. I don’t know if I like living in the present.
G: Why not?
P: All the stuff I have to really deal with.
G: Now we are getting somewhere
P: Ok. The air conditioner is broken. We don’t have any money. I am waiting to hear about a medical procedure. I am worried about my granddaughter. I gained 3 pounds on vacation. And I haven’t completed all the projects that I had planned for the summer. And those are just the big things. My shoulder hurts. I have phone calls to return. I am not liking my hair color.
G: So what is really wrong is that you are dissatisfied with things as they are today.
P: I guess so.
G: What if you looked at the things that are working. The good things. Perhaps that could help.
P: Like?
G: Ok. Your bills are paid.
P: Ok.
G: The weather is pleasant outside.. so you aren’t suffering for lack of an air conditioner today.
P: Ok.
G: You have me to talk to.
P: Well, yeah.. ok. Don't get me wrong.. I love you. It's just that you're invisible.
G: I know. That makes it hard for a lot of people. But to continue.
You still have a job.. a lot of people don’t.
P: Yes.
G: A job you like.
P: Yes… Ok. You are right.
G: You still have three weeks left to do whatever you want. For some people that is their entire vacation for a year. And of course most of the people on the planet don't have vacations at all.
P: Sigh. I guess when you put it that way...
G: Why don’t you think of some things?
P: All right. My family is healthy.
G: Good.
P: I am healthy.
G: A wonderful thing.
P: I like my wind chimes. They are very soothing.
G: I like wind chimes too. Wind is a cool thing, isn't it? It's invisible too and yet you can see it's effects. Hmmm....
P: Thats a very profound thought.
G: I try my best.
P: Ok. I also like my cats.
G: Cats are one of my favorite inventions.
P: I like my computer I am using right now.
G: Keep going.
P: Its very quiet and peaceful in the house right now and I like the way the sun filters through my sky light into my living room...But I am feeling sad, God.
G: Because you think time is passing by?
P: Yes. It’s like I was 16 a couple of months ago and 35 yesterday. I turn around and another 25 years flew by. Everyone is 20, 30 years older (and look it). Children have grown up, parents have grown older or passed away. Television is in color now. My life has gone too fast.
G: A lifetime really is just a blip in the continuum of eternity. But eternity is really just the present moment forever.
P: Hmm. What if I don't like my present moment?
G: That would be a problem. Luckily the present goes from moment to moment. And you're present can change... in a moment. It's really up to you.
P: It's up to me?
G: Yes, you get to decide how you spend your moments. You can be miserable, looking at all the awful stuff or you can be joyful. Personally, I prefer joyful. Look for the beautiful, the lovely things. They are everywhere.
P: Joyful, huh?
G: Yep.
P: So I can just decide.
G: Yes, that's pretty much it.
P: All right God. I am going to do it. I am going to decide to be joyful for the rest of the day.
G: Good plan. But just try being joyful right now. And let the rest of the day take care of itself.
P: Thank you God. I love you.
G: I love you too Peggy!
