How a ‘Conversation’ changed me

I used to love talking about music and sharing CDs with friends. In fact, I consider myself a connoisseur of world music. My being one compliments my work as a singer/songwriter/performer.

But all that gradually changed when I got started in journal writing. This new form of expression drew out of me insights I did not know I harbored. The solitary passion I used to have for music was now being shared by a new mistress – the written word. This eventually led me to authoring two books – Humming In My Universe and Between Blinks under Anvil Publishing.

But what gave me the courage to delve into the unknown and unfamiliar realm of publishing, much less writing about the spiritual?

"Suppose you could ask God the most puzzling questions about existence – love and faith, life and death, good and evil. Suppose God provided clear, understandable answers. It happened to Neale Donald Walsch. It can happen to you."

With that come-on written on the cover of Conversations With God Book 1, I started my very keen exploration into the books of Neale Donald Walsch which led to my own attempts to write on the great questions of life. It did not happen right away. In fact, I had the book with me for two years before I even picked it up. One day, while lying on my bed with the book, I stumbled upon the extraordinary experience of reading his encounter with God; a God so wonderfully and unconditionally loving, joyful, expansive, funny, "irreverent" (to whom, you may ask? Everyone!) and so mind- blowing I bought and read every book Walsch came out with after that.

Reading the books was so delightful that I had to share them with friends. I must have given away at least eight of his books. Through his books, I had met a God I not only can believe in, but Who I feel also believes in me. I remember how caught up my friends and I were about Neale Donald Walsch’s books that we formed our own book club where anywhere from eight to 25 people would gather every week to talk for hours about the truths that resonated with our lives. We came from all sorts of backgrounds – people who had fallen out of religion, some who had newly rediscovered theirs, the merely curious, the modern mystics and the intensely searching. Apparently, ours was not a unique experience since there are at least three other NDW book clubs around Manila who meet regularly.

Last year, I contacted Neale Donald Walsch and invited him to come over to Manila as part of his world tour. I am looking forward to sharing an evening of conversation with Neale Donald Walsch with everyone.

Why have I suddenly become a producer, you may ask? For the pleasure of having a world-renowned and inspiring author speak to his readers about his very provocative (some say subversively heretical) thoughts on God, spirituality, sex, sin, Hitler, illusions, happiness, death, heaven and hell, the purpose of living and all the other big questions that haunt and challenge us in this experience we call "life".

Before inviting Neale Donald Walsch for his forthcoming talk, I asked my brother Jake to watch him in Florida and tell me what kind of a speaker he was. My brother reported to me that not only was he entertaining, he was also inspiring and wise. Neale is a very pro-active speaker and he can really engage his audience.

In this unique endeavor I have embarked on, I hope to give Manila a gift that is both literary and spiritual. This will be on June 23, 6 p.m. at the Meralco Theater. And I feel blessed that there are people who are helping me in this. Unilab, Citylite 88.3, K-Lite 103.5, National Bookstore, Dusit Hotel Nikko and Chacra have been so generous in giving their time and efforts to make this possible. If you are interested, you can get your tickets at all Powerbooks branches, or call 426-5375/929-0230/533-0506.

I hope you do not miss this great chance. The conversation could change you, too.