Excerpts
from Book
Introduction
It
is not important to the scope of this book that you know
my entire life-story, but it is worth noting that my life
has been a great launching pad for all my current endeavors,
including my writings and recordings.
Suffice
it to say that like many of you, I grew up in a little
town, progressed through school, went to college, fell
in love- did all the things that we humans do. It is important
for me to mention, as well, that from an early age I was
encouraged by my parents, both seekers of wisdom, to read
voraciously, and to become a life-long seeker of truth.
And
so I have.
My
purpose (as I currently understand it) is that of artist,
musician, author, teacher and counselor. I believe that
God and I decided, before my soul incarnated here on earth,
that I would use my abilities in these areas to help others
in the world.
My
life seems to go in cycles. For nearly a decade after
college I used the above abilities to teach and educate
others in a variety of ways. Following that period, I
have for the last decade used those skills to perform
over 5000 inspirational, live, musical programs for elders
in the various settings in which they reside.
Now,
at the direction of Spirit, I am entering a new mode where
I continue to teach and perform, but also work at home
as an artist, creating recordings for elders in my studio,
writing journals, poetry, music and books on the spiritual
journey, and making inspirational CDs, cassettes, and
videos for people of all ages. In this way, I hope I can
touch many more lives with messages of love, healing,
and joy through music and the spoken and written word.
I
hope you enjoy this very special book from Music-Outreach
Publishing. May you find it helpful, enjoyable and useful.
Sincerely,
Michael
Contents
Introduction
Forward
Body
of the Book
Appendix
A
Listing of
Abundant Change Books and Recordings
Music-Outreach
Nostalgic & Uplifting Books & Recordings
Published
by
Music-Outreach Publishing
And
available through
AbundantChange.com
Forward
It
has taken me a long time to come to the conclusions and
questions listed above. I had to learn many lessons during
the course of my life’s journey, lessons which would
prepare my spirit to be planted in the ground of love.
I am still learning! Sometimes, like the rest of humanity,
I take one step forward and two steps back. Yet I do believe
overall that I am growing; and I am listening for God’s
voice, the voice of love.
Perhaps
as you read this book you will remember things you have
learned in your own life-journey. Perhaps you will want
to jot down your own realizations. I encourage you to
do so! That’s how this book began, with stopping
to take stock of things I have learned and jotting them
down.
This
book has become a synthesis of many of the things I have
absorbed and found to be true, a synthesis of much that
keeps me walking on the road towards love. If I visualize
the creation of this book, it is as though I see myself
walking down the road, traveling toward Oz or some other
yearned for mythical city. Then I see myself pause, sit
down beside the road on a large comfortable boulder, and
jot down what I have found to be most helpful and beneficial
on my journey.
The
stopping and taking stock is so important for all of us.
I hope my words are inspiring for you. Keep what resonates
with you, set aside what does not; but file what does
not resonate right now away in your heart and mind, for
you may find some of it useful at a later date in your
life. I know that this strategy has proved beneficial
to me in my own reading and study.
I
do sincerely hope that you will add your own truth. If
you want to scribble your own thoughts in the margins,
go ahead. I won't mind! We are all writing a book together,
you know. I think each of our lives is a chapter. Somehow
it all fits together. I hope you enjoy this account of
what I have learned in my own little chapter, my own experience
of life. Digest it, scribble notes, agree, disagree- discourse
is good! That’s how we learn. It isn’t antithetical
to love. We must all allow each other to learn, grow and
perceive in the way that’s right for each of us.
My
greatest hope is not that you will come to believe just
as I do, but that you will come to feel that your own
journey’s lessons are important, to you and to our
world.
I
hope this little book will become a springboard for taking
stock of your own life: where you are, what your truth
is, and where you are going. I send you my prayer that
you may always be headed in the direction of love. Or
perhaps more accurately, my prayer is that no matter what
occurs in the course of your journey, you may know that
your constant partner on the road is God, who I believe
is the spirit of love.
Many
truths and realizations can help us toward this knowledge.
And I believe that when we learn to live fully in this
knowledge, we will be truly happy, and most abundantly
blessed.
So
let’s begin . . |
This
book has become a synthesis of many of the things I have
absorbed and found to be true, a synthesis of much that
keeps me walking on the road towards love. If I visualize
the creation of this book, it is as though I see myself
walking down the road, traveling toward Oz or some other
yearned for mythical city. Then I see myself pause, sit
down beside the road on a large comfortable boulder, and
jot down what I have found to be most helpful and beneficial
on my journey.