It doesn't surprise me that Thomas Moore's "Care of the Soul", became a national best seller. Americans are starving for a sense of purpose a sense of being home. This hunger is like having a void that never seems to get filled. We can buy that new car, computer or meet the love of our life. The void just temporarily gets smaller, but the space remains. This thirst for belonging and being back at home can only be quenched by a personal relationship with God as you understand him, her or it.

In my opinion it is the relationship with God that is important, not the religion. Religion to me is the language we choose to speak to him and to understand him. You can talk to God, in Christianity, Islam, Judaism or any other religious language. It is very important not to confuse the language with the relationship. This in my opinion was one of the main tenants of Jesus' teaching's..

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Matthew 5:6-8

Feeling this way, I believe that ones relationship with God is very similar to relationships we have with other people in our lives. The relationship can be endangered by expectations that we feel are not met. This relationship can also be damaged by a perceived abandonment in our time of need.

If you can heal this relationship, and remove the obstacles that interfere with your faith, you can then allow God’s love to touch and heal you. This in turn will make it easier for you to like yourself, and then love yourself.

I don't view what I do as religious; rather I am a relationship specialist. As a psychotherapist I know how to help others heal their wounds and heal relationships. I have a strong faith in God, and believe that he can be a very healing presence. Using my skills coupled with my beliefs I try to help others reconcile their differences with God. From there its up to you. I am not affiliated with any religion, and as I said earlier only view it as the language you decide to speak, you can decide to go back to your original religion, or try a new one, or not use one at all. My job is only to reconcile the relationship if that’s what you feel you need; once the relationship is healed the rest is up to you and God, as you understand him to be.

"Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action."

Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian political, spiritual leader. Non-Violence in Peace and War, vol. 2, ch. 77 (1948).