by Neale Donald Walsch

(This review is taken from the Australian edition published and distributed by Hodder & Stoughton; international editions available: please contact Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.; 134 Burgess Lane; Charlottesville, VA 22902; USA. Tel: (804) 296 2772; Fax: (804) 296 5096; Email: hrpc@hrpub.com; Internet: http://www.hrpub.com

For an alumna who treasures her Catholic upbringing and Sacred Heart education, yet has difficulties with many of the current and past actions and positions of the Catholic Church, 'Conversations with God - an uncommon dialogue' is a gift. Refreshingly honest, frank and often humorous, Neale Donald Walsch reveals an all-loving, non-judgmental God and presents a framework to live our lives within which our purpose is to achieve our highest self by knowing experientially what we already know conceptually. In the process, he explores issues of "life and love, purpose and function, people and relationships, good and evil, guilt and sin, forgiveness and redemption, the path to God and the road to hell....everything. It directly discusses sex, power, money, children, marriage, divorce, life work, health, the hereafter, the beforenow...everything. It looks at the concrete and the abstract, the visible and the invisible, the truth and the untruth."

Through the dialogue, God encourages us to listen to our feelings and describes them as the language of the soul. God continually communicates with all of us, in many different forms, but who is listening? Our inner voice is the loudest voice with which God speaks - "the radar that sets the course, steers the ship, guides the journey, if only we let it." Why do we continually depend on the truth of others in creating ourselves? "Words are the least reliable purveyor of Truth". The most powerful messenger is experience. We must all take responsibility for our thoughts, which are creative, and our words, which are productive, for combined they give birth to our reality. We all determine what the future holds for us and for those that follow. This idea of thought being creative leads into the discussion of prayer. God explains that by 'wanting' something, we create a reality where that something is out of reach. Therefore our prayer should never be a prayer of supplication, but a prayer of gratitude. All prayers are answered, however the outcomes directly reflect the depth of faith. God explains that God is not the creator and decider of all things in our lives. Rather God is the observer who stands ready to assist us in living our lives. "It is not God's function to create or uncreate the circumstances or conditions of your life. God created you, in the image and likeness of God. You have created the rest, through the power God has given you. God created the process of life and life itself as you know it. Yet God gave you free choice, to do with life as you will. In this sense, your will for you is God's will for you." This, of course, leaves us with a huge challenge and responsibility which we should all embrace. By accepting responsibility we take control, and once we have control we can achieve whatever we desire. The power of combined consciousness is limitless - and hence the power of collective prayer. In this context, what, as an international organisation, can AMASC achieve?

Another important concept explored in 'Conversations with God' is that all human actions are driven by love or fear. Fear is "the energy which contracts, closes down, draws in , runs, hides, hoards and hams, whereas love is the energy that expands, opens up, sends out, stays, reveals, shares and heals." God is love. In order for us to know love, God created fear, which is everything love is not. Unfortunately we have been taught to live in fear. Imagine what the world would be like if we all lived in love? And this, indeed, is the challenge offered us. God will experience Her highest form, when we and all living things experience our fullest glory. Therefore our purpose in life is to achieve our highest selves. 'Conversations with God' offers us simple and practical tools with which to do this. Today. Now. It also highlights the opportunity the study plan on reconciliation presents to AMASC and its members: again, how much can we collectively achieve?

'Conversations with God' challenges many of our taught understandings of God and religion, yet, for me, provides many more answers than the Church in its public utterances has been able. I urge all of our alumnae around the world to read 'Conversations with God' with an open mind and heart. It explores many fundamental issues in relation to our reconciliation with self and God, and a viable and practical framework on the issues of reconciliation with the broader community and the world. It is a life changing experience.

Maryanne Pidcock

AMASC Secretary-General