Welcome to Love Notes from Rhonda.

And today I want to read a poem from a saint, Saint Catherine, who was alive 1347-1380.

And they say that she was profoundly interested in every human being that ever came before her.

So I am going to read something that she wrote.

And she loved God.

So replace the word God with spirit or universe or whatever word resonates with you.

I know now I love the word God, but for 20 years I couldn't stand the word God.

I would change it to universe, light, energy, something, anything but God.

So you choose the word that works for you.

I'm going to read it as she intended, using the word God.

The poem's called no One Will Begrudge Me.

I talk about it sometimes with him.

All the suffering in the world.

Dear God, I have prayed, how is it possible?

All the horrors I have seen, all the atrocities you allow man to commit.

When you, God, are ever standing so near and could help us, could we not hear your voice say no?

With such love and power, never again would we harm.

And my Lord replied, who would understand if I said that I cannot bear to confine a wing and not let it learn from the course it chooses?

But what of the man walking lost in the forest, weeping and calling your name for help?

And unknown to him, he is heading for a covered pit with sharp spears in it that will maim his flesh when he crashes through the trap.

Yes, why don't I remove every object from this world that could cause someone to weep?

Yes, why don't I speak in a way that could save a life?

I opened up my hand and the infinite ran to the edges of space.

And all possibilities are contained therein.

All possibilities, even sorrow.

In the end, nothing that ever caused one pain will exist.

No one will begrudge me the absolute innocence of all within my creation.

Takes a while to understand.

I talk about it sometimes with him.

All the suffering in the world.

Dear God, I have prayed, how is it possible?

All the horrors I have seen, all the atrocities you allow man to commit.

When you, God, are ever standing so near and could help us, could we not hear your voice saying no?

With such love and power, never again would we harm?

And my Lord replied, who would understand if I said that I cannot bear to confine a wing and not let it learn from the course it chooses?

But what of a man walking lost in a forest, weeping and calling your name for help?

And unknown to him, he is heading for a covered pit with sharp spears in it that will maim his flesh when he crashes through the trap.

Yes, why don't I remove every object from this world that could cause someone to weep?

Yes, why don't I speak in a way that could save a life?

I opened up my hand and the infinite ran to the edges of space.

And all possibilities are contained therein.

All possibilities.

Even sorrow.

In the end, nothing that ever caused one pain will exist.

No one will begrudge me the absolute innocence of all within my creation.

Takes a while to understand.

So you have so much power.

So much power.

Because you have something called free will.

Free will.

And now, do I believe that the universe, God, spirit, whatever you want to name it is here to support you?

Absolutely.

But you, my friend, get to choose how powerful you are.

So let's practice trusting ourselves.

Listening to the voice within that comes from our wheel of freedom rather than our wheel of fear.

And what if today all you see is innocence?

Until next time, be fearless.

I love you.