The God-ness within
I do not believe in God as someone who is deciding for us, governing our destiny, and deciding for our future. But I do believe in a feeling of belonging to a Greater One, whatever it is, possessing the marks of love, joy, and compassion. However, I do love what Henry Neuwen wrote:
Joy is not the same as happiness. We can be unhappy about many things, but joy can still be there because it comes from knowing God’s love for us. Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found our refuge and our safety in God and that nothing, not even death, can take God away from us.
Take “God” out of that sentence and substitute it with whatever good quality you want. I like it more. It moves “God’s power” closer to us, makes us feel divine and not less, and keeps us in touch with the good qualities within ourselves. The God-ness within.
Sasy