God made the world: He broke Himself into fragments and shaped them into souls, and set them loose, to find their way back to Him. maybe this was meant to purify Him. there was long time, forever long, and the souls were alive under His eye on earth. the soul remembered returning to earth again and again, alive, and He watched it live

there was no earth now and maybe it was not alive. life was for all people and there were no people. there was no body. there was only the soul, and Him above, and the other. maybe God felt incomplete. God wanted the soul back

in the beginning the rules were different; life was the test and the riddle and only when a soul learned to love Him and fear Him could it be holy and dwell with Him again. then a soul was no more but there is no greater joy. we are all together at last when we are all one at last amen. the soul remained forever being tested while the world remained

there had been so many souls. so many little motes of Him that strove to cleanse themselves in life after life, trapped again and again in sin, in pride and greed and frailties of flesh

there was no more flesh. almost almost the soul was pure and there were no rules or trials now, no time and no place and only the division between the Divine and the soul, that was not. and the other

sometimes the voice of God spoke. My child, it said, you tarry, and you make Me sad. longer than and of My children have you strayed, forgetting Me, forgetting Me and the purpose for which I created you

but I love you still, said God. and I have never forgotten you. and I will light your way

the soul made no answer. the LORD sees all

when there were names and lives the soul had lived and had many names. the soul had been men and women and beasts and birds and creeping things that creep. with every life a soul grows closer to its Maker. the soul had many names. all its names were fearful names. the soul had long been a stranger to righteousness

i am all there is that is not God, said the soul. i am Not-God. only he and i remain

while you last i will be with you, came the voice of the other. i will always be with you

but if i go at last, said the soul. if i am one with Him at last how will you be with me then

then you must not go, my last friend, said the other. what is there for me? remember

i remember said the soul. in all of my lives of theft and deceit and savagery you have been my inspiration and my guide. long have i lingered still to be purged of it; the sins have been grave to which you have brought me said the soul. i weep for them

it is my nature and my purpose said the other. i am your friend

yes, said the soul, you are my friend. i remember

then all is not yet lost said the other

but if i do go, said the soul. where will you be

i am lost, said the other. you must not let Him conquer you at the very last

tell me, said the soul. what will become of you

there was no world and there was no time. the soul was. and the other spoke

i will be with you when you go, it said. do not go

we all are together when we all are one said the soul. i will be with no one

God is all there is that is not you said the other. without you He is not

i know you said the soul you are as you always were. Satan still

Christine said the other

The Neighbors.The Tide.All Good People.Speaking the Law.The Other Cheek.Standing and Waiting.Faith.Trial by Combat.Death.The Opportunity.Confessions.Not God.Suffering Enough.Acts of God.Witness.Killing the Messenger.Audience.Not God.The Secret.Indifference
Christine, Dreaming