What is God to You?

This article ends with a humble request. It won't cost you a dime, simply a few minutes of your time.

Yesterday, I had a long talk with my daughter Anna Elisabeth Ueland . She is my inspiration, and, being 19, the life of a teen awakening to the wide world gives this old monk a much needed perspective. Today, we had another talk, delving further into the question of free will, spirituality &ct. Thank you, my blessed daughter, for never accepting simple replies to complex questions.

Lets start with a caveat: Not being God, I can't fathom God. I can only share impressions Life has given me. Your mileage probably varies.

Many people have religion. But how many have faith?

Personally, I

• Have been a member or follower of many evangelical Christian evangelical orders
• Love singing modern worship (Hillsong Worship's "Oceans" struck me like a thunderbolt first time I heard it, and I have sung it in front of 6K people)
• Have prostrated in a refuge ceremony to Tibetan lama Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche
• Love the aesthetics of Islam and its peaceful message - which reflects at the core of true believers
• Started exploring Hinduism a couple of years ago. I haven't decided if Shiva, Vishnu, Kali or Ganesha is my favourite deity yet
• Have had Jesus walking on my left side since ... as long as I can remember; certainly back to 1972, when my mother and I visited Jerusalem

How about a musical intermission, recorded live on the Smule, Inc. -app? The song is followed by a discussion about faith with a woman who recently lost her husband to #cancer .

(This version is a bit more polished, closer to my final authorised translation)

Norwegian priest Bj?rn Eidsv?g was working in a psychiatric facility when he wrote Eg Ser. He was at a loss what to do with all the pain he met, so he wrote a song.

Back to the theme: My friend John Lenhart proposed that God was the particle that made up all matter - the only indivisible particle. As science has shown us, delving deep into Strange Quarks, the God Particle and so on, the closer we look, the more we see. It is all in the eyes of the beholder.

My personal belief is that this particle vibrates on a specific frequency. In mantra-traditions, "Om" or "Aum" is often used. For more on mantras, I suggest connecting with Nandhiji Adhipen Bose - he has an upcoming event which I am sure will be amazeballs.

This is what I tune into when I work with energy healing. This is what gives me a true first impression of people when I am open to receive. And ... it is what I resonate with when I pray.

Now, this may seem stupid. "God is an omnipotent, eternal being. As we were made in his image, he looks like us" is a possible response.

Of course. In the physical, we create images of God. Think of all the various depictions that have been made. How different religions and cultures have varied in their impressions of the divine.

This was a little bit of my own relationship with my God, as I have found it expressed by reading a ton of philosophy, theology and science. But ... I would like to invite you to share your own reply to this question in the comments. But first ... please read the below and react.

The following may be seen as oversharing. Comments are very welcome. Please consider reading this article for context.

Here is my request. In 2019, my car became my church. A Toyota Auris. It was financed by Toyota Finance Norway, whose CEO is Per Magne Hansen . His email is [email protected] and his phone number is +4795232029.

I had left my job, gotten a disability pension as reward for burnout stemming from more than 20 years of social work (and the eight suicide attempts I had had, the first at 18, one year after I started in social work), gone through a tough divorce, and lived in my car. I approached Toyota Finance , explained my situation, and asked for a reduction in the monthly charges. This was denied.

After two failed payments, T.F. wanted to collect the car. I have so far spent thousands of dollars on court fees, all the way up to middle court, wanting my day in court. I have had countless dark nights of the soul, thinking that is my faith matters so little to the world - why stay? Sleeping with a sharp knife by my side, always having a quick way to transition.

A few days ago, this man showed up. A repossessor working for Toyota Finance. Driving into the private area where I live, ready to take off with my car. Halvor from Ski, living in Dals-Ed, Sweden.

One of my "cursed blessings" is that I see potential outcomes.

1. Halvor comes back with the police. I defend my church and faith, and lose. Possibly dying in the process.
2. Per Magne Hansen honours my request for a re-negotiation. We part amicably, me still praising the virtues and quality of Toyota Motor Corporation .

I could go on, but this is my request: please send a message to Per Magne Hansen , using any of the ways above. And share this newsletter far and wide. The greed of this world is killing people, and I know I am not alone.

Thank you for reading. God bless. And ... know that if you ever feel like this, you are not alone ... Read my book for more.

Love, H?kon

Written With Gratitude:

Dr. Anthony Ponceti, Th.D. for good talks, and for the scripture he sent.

Erika Warfield who has been a good friend, and whom I hope to meet along with her husband, Peter L. Hammer , when I get to the States.

Adrian zen , who has given me inspiration to learn more about true Islam - that which is personified in As-salamu alaykum ("Shalom" / "Om Shanti").

Rajat Sharma for encouragement in my proposals to Mission LiFE

Venstre for including my article about suicide in their official policy, to Helsedirektoratet for the very kind letter I got regarding my extended paper on the same topic, and to Venstres group in Stortinget for the Christmas-card.