Have you ever seen through yourself, really? Because most of us haven’t and don’t want to. I was led to Vernon Howard many years ago and was led by my dreams to continue studying truth with a capital “T.”

He used have a sign over his door. “When the pain gets too bad, come back.” I am not so young anymore. Vernon died at the age of 73 and his words continue to flower somewhere in my soul. His words were scalding to the ego and he pushed people away that couldn’t bear to see themselves.

Now I remember suddenly that all of us are lying about everything. You see, this is the social predicament that human beings are in.

Society requires your lies to keep going.

I have never been a part of any social structure that meant anything. It would be impossible for me.

I have studied, read and wept at my own disavowal of truth. Remember how the disciples disavowed Christ? “Yeah, that is just apocryphal,” you say, and blindly go on your way.

No, it is literal. That is why many are called and few are chosen.

I choose to be chosen. Take that literally or figuratively. Those five words are your tickets out of hell.

Hell is to be asleep. Heaven is to die and reborn in such a humility that it is blinding.

What a relief to catch yourself in a lie, because then you realize that all of us are lying.

Phew. I keep forgetting. God help me to remember what needs to be remembered.

Vicki Woodyard