November 1st is a Christian holiday called All Soul’s Day.  Mostly Catholics celebrate it although they don’t have an issue with anyone joining them.

Religion is a funny thing.  All religions teach us to “love our neighbor” and to love God. But then all the religious people fight with each other.  I thought those practicing religion where such hypocrites when I was in high school.

But you don’t learn about religion or spirituality for others.  You do it for yourself AND for your relationship with God.  Do you have a relationship with God?  If so… how is it?  I talk to God on a daily basis.  But I didn’t always.  When I was growing up, I didn’t know it was OK to talk to God or to people I loved who had died.  I thought that was crazy.  But I think the Catholics have the right idea.

Your older brother and I are more spiritual than religious in our approach to these things.  We talk a lot more these days and I’m so enjoying our talks about spirituality.

I believe you can talk (or whisper if need be) to those who have departed.  They do hear you.  And you can tell them what you wanted to say to them, but did not get a chance.

My grandfather died in Pennsylvania.  I was ten and living in Arizona when he died.  We could not afford to send two of us to the funeral.  I was so sad about this.  The last time he had visited us, he had thought my little friend Julie or I had stolen some money from him.  I wanted, so much, to let him know I hadn’t done this.  I was depressed for many months that I couldn’t tell him this.

About six months later, I had a dream about him.  He was living in a chalet in Switzerland.  He was an artist (painting on canvas).  In the dream, I got to tell him what I wanted to.  He hugged me and said he already knew.  He apologized to me, because he had been so stern.  He was sorry he hadn’t made it right before he left.  When it was time to leave, a bunch of forest animals: rabbits, squirrels, fox, sat in a sled with me as we went down the Swiss mountain.

I know this might sound crazy, but I really had this dream.  And I believe things are now OK between myself and my grandfather.

This is a picture of my Grandfather.  His name was Christopher.  Someone VERY special to all of us was named after him.  You see, those who have departed are alive within us. 🙂