Hi Two Cents and All,

Two Cents you asked an important question and I'm going to answer the question.

You asked me why I believed in reincarnation. In a few simple words, because it is the only philosophy that explains why some people in the world suffer so greatly and others prosper so greatly. If in fact God is all knowing and all loving, then would he not seem quite cruel to allow such suffering to exist? Thus to answer why he is not cruel one must ask how to explain these inequities.

The answer is a simple one. We come here to learn and the path we chose before we arrive has a list of objectives we wish to accomplish while we are here, on Schoolhouse Earth. We cannot know of anything unless we have a direct experience with that issue. We cannot know hunger, the pain of sickness, poverty, wealth or a dozen other circumstances unless we were born to experience them. As it is not possible to cover these dynamics in one single lifetime, then we must return many times to take on these new roles and new forms of education.

We in the West are slow to accept these thoughts. But in the Middle East and many other places in the world it is not challenged, but accepted as fact. For me, I have accepted this answer to my question. For some, this cannot be and for them, that's fine to. We have been given our own free will to decide what we wish to believe.

There is so much we do not know, far more we do not understand, but we cannot know or understand one single thing unless we are open to learning, understanding, sharing, feeling compassion and contributing to the betterment of mankind while we are here.

If one is to look at the parables of Jesus, he never said anything complicated. Only simple truths. One of my favorites is in regard to death. He said, "I shall go and prepare a place for you, for in heaven there are many mansions." Yet how many believers think that when they hit the grave it's all over. It's not over, just beginning the cycle of going home, learning, reassessing and coming back in the hopes of learning more the next time around.

In these words, there is hope. Hope is the wellspring of many tomorrow's, new days to ponder the mysteries of life, to reach out and make a difference. To solve new problems, overcome new obstacles and once in awhile ask yourself how well you're doing. The path of enlightenment is before us all. I hope we follow the one that leads us to feeling pride in our accomplishments.

Petra