Courtesy of Amazon

Ten years ago, I sent this book to my future wife, Susan. This is how I inscribed the book:

“To my soulmate, Sue.

“Here’s an interesting addition to our mental processes.

“I hope you can see the concepts for what they are: enigmas meant to get us thinking…

“You aren’t required to agree with him — I certainly don’t, frequently — But he is provocative!

“143

“Chris xo”

From the dust cover flyleaf

In Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah , Richard Bach met Donald Shimoda, a fellow pilot with the keys to the universe who barnstormed the Midwest in a Travel Air biplane.

Part of Shimoda’s secret was a small book, bound in what look like suede — Messiah’s Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul. “Open it,” he said, “and whatever you need to know is there.”

Lost for decades and rediscovered, here it is in print at last — reminders for those who have outgrown cynicism and doubt.

Reminders for the Advanced Soul

“Many happy, successful people

at one time

have considered suicide.

They decided against it.”

“What you knew

before you were born

isn’t lost.

You only hide it till you’re tested,

till it’s time to remember.

And sure enough, when you want,

you’ll find some odd funny beautiful way

to find it again.”

“You are the game-playing,

fun-having creatures;

you are the otters of the universe.”

Courtesy of YouTube

“Unconditional love is

no more a force in spacetime

than it is in chess,

or soccer or ice hockey.

Rules define life in games,

and unconditional love

doesn’t recognize rules.”

“From time to time it’s fun to close your eyes,

and in that dark say to yourself,

‘I am the sorcerer, and when I open my eyes

I shall see a world that I have created,

and for which I and only I

am completely responsible.’

Slowly then, eyelids open

like curtains lifting stage-center.

And sure enough,

there’s your world,

just the way you built it.”

“You wait a lifetime to meet Someone

who understands you, accepts you as you are.

At the end, you find that Someone, all along,

has been you.”

“You learn most

when you play against an opponent

who can beat you.”

Courtesy of WikiHow

“You are free to smile

in the midst of massive tests and challenges,

knowing that you have chosen to play this game,

and that you have dominion

over all the appearances of earth.”

“You are a creature of light.

From light you have come,

to light shall you go,

and surrounding you through every step

is the light of your infinite being.”

“You gave your life

to become the person you are right now.

Was it worth it?”

Conclusion

After all these years, I now see that what Richard Bach was trying to share with the reader is quite true.

He had a moment of enlightenment. We are the beneficiaries. We are the Messiahs.

Thank you, Richard.