Friday, October 5, 2018
10-4: Almost Done (With New Song Book)
10-5-2018
Hello, Everyone!
Just to say that yesterday, 10/4/2018, I submitted a much corrected manuscript to my publisher, Create Space, for my next and final book - SONGS BY A DIVINE NATURIST CHRISTIAN. If all goes well with my upcoming review of my next proof copy, you will be free to order that one soon - if you like, of course. Create Space and I have been working to complete this project by the end of October; and I think I can safely say that by the beginning of 2019, it will be done and available to any who might want a copy.
Speaking "of course," of course, not everyone will appreciate my effort. Some will - and some, if not most, will not; but I am really glad I could make the effort to supply the world a lot of songs (lyrics & poems) that are what I think of as - HEAVEN BASED. For what it's worth, that count is 204.
Ever since I attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colo, from 1961-1966, I have been committed to a view of life that sees Heaven as being mostly a "state of mind," not a "state of place." In 1964 when I was a Junior at St. Thomas, I wrote an allegory story that I called WISDOM that had an angel called "Wisdom" appearing to a pair of teen siblings I called "Innocence" and "Simplicity" and instructing them of that theme that Heaven is Everywhere simply because An Infinite God must be Everywhere. I lasted at St. Thomas for a few more years after I wrote my story, but in my first year of Theology, my dogma professor called me a "heretic" for my assertion that God has to be Everywhere. If God is Everywhere, then there can be no sin. How could I be a Catholic priest if I did not even believe in sin? Accordingly, I was told that I could not continue my studies at St. Thomas and eventually be ordained a priest. I guess I believed that an old church could change to embrace a "new theology," so to speak, but that did not happen - mostly because it could not happen. One cannot change an institution based on a belief in sin because if a belief in sin institution stops believing in sin, then that institution stops. Right?
Anyway, I have trudged along in life since my dismissal from St. Thomas Seminary in 1966 to try and communicate my "new perspective of life." Though my dogma professor at St. Thomas would not agree, I do believe that Jesus probably believed as I do - and thus I have considered to call myself a "Divine Naturist Christian" for believing that God is not outside of us as traditional religion has taught, but rather inside of us to make us all Sacred, not Sinful. There can be no separation from God as traditional religion teaches if God is inside of us. I realize that is a hard tale to embrace if people insist they have a sin, but it is the tale of my angel, Wisdom, and it is still my belief. All of my writings have attempted to tell that tale, concluding with this last one I am calling SONGS BY A DIVINE NATURIST CHRISTIAN. Like I say, with luck, it will soon be available. By the way, not being very wise, I never secured a second copy of my story called WISDOM; and in the 70s, I lost my only copy. Oh Well - it was a beginning. Right?
Not all of my songs are Divine Naturist oriented, but perhaps 80 % are. My songs stretch from 1963 or so when I wrote "Prayer of a Priest" while I was still a student at St. Thomas to 9/26/2017 when I wrote my last song I call "With A Song In My Heart." Most are what I call "Divine Naturist" oriented, but there are some that are not - like one I wrote in 2004 about the life of Sacajawea of Lewis & Clark fame. That one I named "The Ballad Of Sacajawea" is 70 verses long - and is one of my exceptions; but most of my songs are Divine Naturist oriented. That is to say that I believe Nature itself is Divine - having to be "of God." I came up with the term "Divine Naturist" to express my belief in the late '70s. I think there are many "Divine Naturists" in the world. They just don't go by that label. Maybe someday, they will. Suppose?
Be that as it may, just thought I would share with you my "good news." I am 76 as I write this, but I may be young enough to see some of my thoughts about life embraced during my life, but if not during my life, after my life. Time will tell. Right?
Let me leave you with a song I wrote in May of 2010 called "Long, Long Way To Go." Hopefully, you will enjoy it. If so, you will probably really enjoy my planned final book - SONGS BY A DIVINE NATURIST CHRISTIAN.
Be in touch as you wish!
Thanks for Listening! Good Luck to us All!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler
& Nancy Shaw
Laramie, Wyoming
LONG, LONG
WAY TO GO
By
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
5/11/2010 – 5/19/2010
REFRAIN 1:
I may have a long, long way to go,
but that way must be paved with what I know.
It’s all so very clear – that my destiny is near,
though I may have a long, long way to go.
People think the future is distant
and removed from their command,
but, in truth, the future is only
one moment away from at hand.
Refrain 1.
Though the details of life may vary,
the basic truth remains the same.
I’ll wake up to be tomorrow
the same soul that I am today.
Refrain 1.
The one thing that’s sure about life
is the one who survives will be me.
I’ll take me along wherever I go;
and where I’m going is eternity.
Refrain 1.
Let those who are listening to this tale
know they are as precious as they can be.
Like a bird flying in the heavens,
know that you were born to be free.
REFRAIN 2:
You may have a long, long way to go,
but that way must be paved with what you know.
It’s all so very clear – that your destiny is near,
though you may have a long, long way to go.
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