This Life We Live

How do I begin to say all that I have to share with every single person who lives on this big rock? Yes—these words apply to every single person on this planet.

There is a part of me that screams, I don’t want to be the one to do this. Then I think, If I don’t do it, who will? I’ve been through so much to get to where I am now. I am not speaking from a place of theory. I am not who I am because of my past—I am who I am in spite of my past. The experiences that once tried to define me became the proving ground for the knowledge I now share. None of this comes from ego. This is wisdom I have earned, learned, and held closely through many years of difficult trials and experiences—what feels like many lifetimes.

“We are all created the same. We are all given free will to be different.”

I’ve said this before, but it cannot be said enough: every single person on this planet is loved beyond measure. I do not know exactly how we were created—I’ve never felt the need to know—but I do know we all came from the same Creator. I have no desire to prove how long Earth has existed or what lies in the far reaches of the cosmos. What matters most is our here and now: where we are in our lives and how we treat one another. Humanity has become caught in a cycle that is going nowhere. If humanity allows this cycle to continue, it will destroy everything. God does not destroy. We, as humans, do the destroying.

When we came into being, we were given free will to decide who and what we wanted to become. It has always been a fluid process, shaped by the experiences we choose. Our lives are not dictated by a single divine being in the heavens; that idea was created by men long ago. Countless people have been wounded by the phrase, “God is in charge.” It often leads to unnecessary pain and the haunting question, “Why me?”

There is no God who exists exactly as described in the Bible or its extensions. These texts were written by men—often as a way to control what they did not understand. When religious leaders are asked about passages that do not make sense, the answers vary widely, shaped by interpretation, tradition, and ego.

A Great Spirit gave us free will. Mankind, however, has spent far too long taking that will away from others. People often destroy what they do not like or understand. Humanity created fear, torment, and rigid “laws” we are told we must follow. In truth, the Great Spirit—Yahweh, God, or whatever name you choose—offers patience, unconditional love, and the help we need to grow. Yahweh never gives up on His children.

I realize many people have given up on believing in any form of a Higher Power. I relate deeply to those who identify as atheists. I wanted nothing to do with the “God” I was raised with, nor the God described in scripture. I would have been an atheist myself had I not found a Higher Power within my own heart and soul.

I did not find Yahweh through the words of men, and He can never be taken from me by the words of men. The only reason I survived my childhood was because I held tightly to the unconditional love given to me by the heavens. At the time, I did not know what it was or why it was there—but it sustained me. It took many years to find my way out of the shadows I was taught to walk in as a child. Only then did I remember what I had known all along: we are loved unconditionally.

We were never expected to reach perfection; even Jesus was not perfect. The word “sin” was used to describe something that exists only in the eyes of men. We are born worthy of every good thing life has to offer. We have never been judged as “sinners” by the heavens. Instead, we are loved as children who make mistakes and learn through many experiences—over as many lifetimes as needed.

Humanity has struggled with ego and pride for thousands of years. I believe that to truly learn who we want to be, we need more than one lifetime to experience different people, cultures, and ways of being. The teachings of Jesus have played a significant role in this journey. I believe Jesus was a good man who came to Earth to help people remember why they were here. He helped many step out of the shadows and return to the essence of life:

Be kind.
Don’t judge.
Don’t take more than you need.

These are the only divine expectations placed upon us. One of the most important reminders Jesus offered was that we are responsible for our own actions. Sadly, those who could not overcome their ego ignored this truth—and many still do. They stand behind pulpits, shouting about “right” and “wrong,” threatening the horrific wrath of God. They demand tithes, only to spend them on million-dollar homes and private jets while others go hungry. This is not divine. It lacks the very love many preach so loudly.

Years ago, a friend of mine attended a mega-church. She tithed every dollar she could, even as a single mother of two with no outside help. One month, she could not afford her electricity bill. She asked the church for help—the only time she ever had—and they told her no. That church was not concerned with the actual teachings of Jesus as spoken of in the Bible they claimed was so “right.”

Sadly, Jesus’s life was turned into religious chaos, and he was eventually made into a scapegoat by men. He showed kindness regardless of what others could offer in return. Jesus was not “supposed” to be killed—he made this known by his final words. Those who refused to see the truth in his message wanted him gone because his words threatened their ability to maintain unreasonable control. Free will revealed the worst parts of pride, ego, and the hunger for power. (Through the years, many good people have been harmed or killed for this same reason.)

Years after Jesus’s death, men began to rewrite what had actually occurred. They turned him into a martyr so they could preach hellfire and brimstone as a means of strict control. Many were unwilling to accept responsibility for their own lives; because of this, they began to label everything as “sin.” It was proclaimed that Jesus “saved” everyone from that sin. They wrote their own rules and commandments, criticized and ostracized anyone and anything they did not like or understand. As this continued, women were blamed for humanity’s downfall. Nearly everything became the fault of women. “Men of God” created doctrines and requirements to control others—especially women. They were jealous of the strength given to women by the heavens above. (I will write more about this in another section.)

In reality, when we refuse to accept responsibility, we remain stuck—returning again and again until we finally get it right. And getting it right is far simpler than religious books make it seem.

One of the first steps is this: children should be encouraged to find and keep a kind heart, beginning with the basics of right and wrong, having patience and never giving up. While this may be more difficult for adults, it can be done. I am living proof. I was never taught right from wrong, yet I broke the cycle of abuse in my family.

It is my divine hope to help others break the cycle humanity is caught in today. I am not special. I do not now, nor will I ever, consider myself a prophet. I am simply someone who cares deeply about everyone. I physically ache when I think about the pain and harm others are experiencing because of this vicious cycle—a cycle that can be broken.