Connect Book Review
August 10th, 2008| Spirituality Title: Connect Author: Clif Taylor Rating: Excellent! Publisher: Connected Spirit Publications/Gold Leaf Press Reviewed by: John Lehman see below |
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If there is a heaven, why wouldn’t it be for everyone? And if it is for everyone, why isn’t our connection to everyone here and now a form of heaven—and denying that, “hell.” No one should have to merely endure life on Earth until they get to Heaven. Practically speaking what this means, the author says, is, “If you want something, choose to be that yourself. If you want peace, be peaceful; if you want something fixed, understand what it’s like to be broken; if you want a lot of anything, be a lot of it.” I came to this book (with its visions of Mary, Christ, Buddha and Mohammed on the cover) very skeptically, but found that its common sense wisdom makes perfect sense.The author, Clif Taylor, recalls how he was inspired by reading Neale Donald Walsch (of Conversations with God fame). And the first few chapters of this book follow that model with Jesus answering questions. But from Chapter 5 on, the answers are seldom attributed to any specific source. Taylor says, “From this point forward in the book, I no longer asked anyone specific to answer my questions. I simply thought of my questions, asked them and most answers came to me inside my head without the single tone of voice I had heard in the earlier chapters.” As a writer I believe this. Writers picture situations for characters and go to bed at night not knowing what will happen. We awake the next morning and we do know. Why should the use of inspiration be limited to novels and poetry? Why not aspire to a life built on the premise that truth is within us just waiting to come out?Certain conclusions follow that: 1. we have a personal responsibility to others, 2. we cannot horde knowledge, 3. education–asking questions and finding answers—is everyone’s task, not just that of schools and governments. This book is very readable, not dogmatic and stimulates thinking and discussion. The author took nine years to write it and the page at the beginning of over a hundred people he thanks show his connectedness to others. And there are some little things that are very pleasing” “Those who do not accept the word ‘soul’ should replace it with ‘the knowing you have of yourself’—your core, so to speak.” “(Jesus says) The purpose of both my birth and death was to prompt wonder.” At first I thought that after the first two-thirds of “Connect” I had a good enough grasp on what the author was saying to make my own applications without the last 50 pages. But now I feel those pages provide clarification and affirmation (in their specific application) of what we have learned before. The book is well organized and shows careful editing. Aside from the amateurish cover I wouldn’t change a thing. Some readers may not agree with me on this, but I think the message of “Connect” more helpful than the Neale Donald Waslch books, which I find a somewhat preachy and forced. Taylor advises us: “How and why you make your choices make your life what it is. I suggest you base your thousands of daily, conscious choices in love and life.” Or put another way, “If children learn life from heaven’s viewpoint, instead of learning heaven from life’s viewpoint, they will walk in love’s path gloriously.”
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http://www.bookreview.com/$spindb.query.listreview2.booknew.17583
| John Lehman |
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| John Lehman is the founder and original publisher of Rosebud, a national magazine of short stories, poetry and art. He is also poetry editor of the Wisconsin People & Ideas, as well as managing partner of Zelda Wilde Publishing and editor of the web-zine, www.CoolPlums.com. His books include: Shrine of the Tooth Fairy, Dogs Dream of Running, America’s Greatest Unknown Poet: Lorine Niedecker, Shorts: 101 Poems of Wonder and Surprise and Everything is Changing: How to Gain Loyal Clients and Customers Quickly.www.JohnLehman.info |