Not long ago I received an email from a woman, asking if a quote attributed to me was really mine. Her letter read:
“Mrs. Burnham,
I receive a quote of the day by email every morning. Recently, the following quote was attributed to you:
“To believe in God or in a guiding force because someone tells you to is the height of stupidity. We are given senses with which to receive our information. With our own eyes we see, and with our own skin we feel. With our intelligence, it is intended that we understand. But each person must puzzle it out for himself or herself.”
— Sophy Burnham
Is this quote correctly attributed to you? If so, could you please explain it to me in greater detail, because I don’t quite understand the point that you were trying to get across. Judging from the books you’ve written, you seem to be fairly religious with a belief in God. I’m just a bit confused. Thank you for your response.”
She goes on to say that the quote, taken out of context, left the impression that I was atheist or agnostic, which did not jibe with what she knew of my books; and she thought that many people might have thought the same. The quote was from mqotd@starlingtech.com. (motivational quote of the day).
Here is my answer:
Dear Ryan,
Yes this is my quote. It comes from A Book of Angels. As you may know, that book is filled with stories of the Grace of God and of angels appearing in our lives, if we will only look. “Let those who have ears to hear, let them hear,” said Jesus (or something close to that), and I say, “May those who have eyes to see, just only observe,” and they will see the hand of God everywhere around them and in their lives.
However, I do believe that each individual gets the choice of NOT believing! Why not? That is our right. And it’s also part of the wonderful game of hide-and-seek that God is playing with us all the time: “Now you see Me, now you Don’t.” I know people who have never had a mystical moment in their lives, never even imagined the possibility of having a direct line to this Mystery that we call God (however we understand that word). But instead, they put their faith in the sayings of their pastor or preacher or parent with the same rigidity as a member of a political party deciding that he is devoted to one party, and violently hates another, simply because someone told her to; without once looking at the ideals and voting record to see what that party said or did. I think God wants a personal relationship with us. I think God loves the ones who doubt—and loves the idea of being wrestled with—and loves winning by the demonstration of a thousand little miracles every day, until the person who doubted is swept away by spiritual awakening.
I know people who are atheist because someone told them to be. I know people who are believers because they didn’t have the imagination to ask the important questions that give rise to doubt. I know people who say they believe in Christ ,affirming, “I am Saved,” and in the next breath continue to hate their so-called enemy (most un-Jesus-like) or believe the world is plotting against them, rather than everything being orchestrated by angels.
Now look that that quote again. What I am saying is what Christ taught: simple as that: “I am telling you this that I have seen with my own eyes,” I am saying, “but don’t believe me because I tell you it is so. Believe because you discovered it for yourself. Go out and look for yourself. Travel the road. Question. Examine. And pray, constantly and without stopping—pray sincerely that God show the Mystery to you. I promise, it will be shown. And then you will know, not because I told you, but because my finger pointed the way and you found it for yourself.”
Does that help?If not, write me back. I am here to help everyone on the Path.
10,000 Blessings, and may angels surround you,
Always with love,
Sophy