ON THE ROAD TO A HEALTHY SENSE OF SELF

Again, after all these years, I find myself nattering me about seeking the feeling of God within me/without me...not feeling it enough, not knowing it enough. I have to laugh at myself for I'm reminded of the Sunday spiritually based meeting that I attended back in the early '70s. Every single Sunday I would share the exact same thing: "I just want the feeling of God in my life."

Finally one Sunday, David, a half-crazy friend, who apparently had heard all he could stand of my want, spoke, "I have had the feeling of God in my life. I have spoken with God. God has talked with me. And every time it's happened, I've been in a straitjacket on the way to the nut ward."

I've never forgotten that. It cracked me up...not to mention the group for they, no doubt, were as tired of hearing the same-old-same-old as David was.

But most important to me, his message brought me an extra gift. That may have been the first step in my learning to laugh at myself. For as I laughed, I felt no embarrassment...I felt a sense of belonging.

I now know that learning to laugh at oneself is the starting place on the road to a healthy sense of self. It is the epitome of laugh and love... and laugh...and love.

Thank you.