UNDERSTANDing Is the Key….
                                                (a review of “Hello, It’s Me: An Interview With GOD")


    Just recently, I finished reading “Hello, It’s Me: An Interview With GOD”, written by Patrick Cardero.   I was wondering, in the process of reading the book, if there would be a point where I forgot that the book was written by a friend of mine.  This was to be the first test of this book being regarded as an actual book by an actual author.  Let me say this about that: mission accomplished.  I forgot many times this truth, that my friend wrote and published this book—it made the words and experience that much more powerful.  

    I was reminded of another book as I was reading “Hello, It’s Me”…. “Illusions”, by Richard Bach.  This did not come from the anything related to the subject matter as much as it emanated from the tone and the sense of wonderment and feeling the book encapsulated.  The overall similarities of these two books are in the fact that each informs the reader that our limitations are constructs of ourselves.  We  have this infinite potential to fulfill any purpose/pursuit we can and infinite span of time to get these things done.  Once it was said “the sky is the limit”.  One will learn and begin to understand that, indeed, there are no limits, that limits are a human construct.  Imagine realizing that, yes, there is time enough to do everything you want to do, experience everything you want to experience, learn all there is to learn.  “Hello, It’s Me” is the perfect beginning of this learning.

    The writing, itself, is crisp, humorous, serious, inquisitive, though-provoking, genuine.  Light-hearted moments are skillfully balanced with more weighty questions/issues.  These can be considered “rests”, like you would find in musical compositions.  No wonder these are correctly placed since the writer is an accomplished musician, intrinsically knowing the proper cadence, measures, beats and so forth, that will best impart what he and GOD are trying to impart.  Understanding is the key and this book doesn’t make it a cumbersome chore.  The writing has a vitality and wit and caring that doesn’t come across in the books from contemporary writers.  

    I must admit that it is difficult for me to offer any criticism of “Hello, It’s Me”.  The questions posed and pursued by the writer are questions that seemed to be on my mind and I think are on the minds of many people.  The author truly was the “everyman”, strengthening the concept of BE-ing ONE.  I can’t sit here and say GOD is wrong or incorrect because what he says make so much sense.  GOD is a being of common sense.  The book has an aura of POSITIVITY around it so strong, also.  How can anyone refute—or want to refute—the fact that we live on and on through our souls even after our physical forms are laid to rest?  Why should anyone want to take umbrage against LOVE?   The concepts presented in this book are irrefutable.  Even if one never UNDERSTANDs or BELIEVEs in everything this book has to say, isn’t it a good feeling to know that there doesn’t have to be any darkness or mysteriousness in our existence(s).  There is a light—there is ALL(WAYS) a light—that one can be bathed in, to be reassured that there is someone out there who cares.  Who doesn’t need that kind of support, or at least want to K(NOW) it is there, and it is there without any strings attached?  

    “We all have the perfection we need.”
Hubert Selby, Jr.


5-17-03

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