Vistas from My Voyage

It is a pleasure to introduce this book, which represents a lifetime of interest in spiritual matters. The overall theme relates to coming out of amnesia and remembering our true purpose in life. Some topics addressed are of particular interest to me, such as our Information Technology Age, how to handle growing intensity in the world, and the power of music. And some underline extraordinary acts of kindness—some are simple, some are heroic that I have witnessed or read of—indicating that the human family really does know how to take care of its own. A recent bumper sticker said, “God bless the whole world. No exceptions.” That care offered through many is still operative and focuses the true Spirit of Life because it is connected to Source. The power of that spiritual expression cannot be overestimated and it is this that continues to sustain humanity in these intense times. These presentations express my faith in that power and its ability to heal and transform a broken world, and honors those everywhere who seek to facilitate this. I trust that my love of qualitative encounters with humanity, observing and seeing everyone anew, shines through! * * * * * Some of this collection originated in extemporaneous talks given between 1998 and 2006 to a small group of friends who were present in person, and to others on telephone conference calls. The talks were subsequently transcribed and sent to those on a mailing list. From 2007 to date, essays were written and these presentations were also sent out to the mailing list. Included is an essay “Together at a Distance—A Sister’s Point of View” that was published in the Fall 2001 issue of Parkinson Report—the magazine of the National Parkinson Foundation. The presentations are not in chronological order but grouped according to general themes. Please use the Glossary at the end of the book for any terms that you feel may need further clarification. * * * * * We have come into the world to do a re-creative job. At this crucial juncture in our history, someone once said, “This isn’t a dress rehearsal.” Recently, our substantial home generator stopped working. An expert mechanic eventually found the source of the trouble—a tiny part the size of a small screw had worn out and stopped the large engine. Could it be that expressions of Spirit are more powerful than we think and could galvanize humanity into working order again? Jean Hodson Hammond