For me it began early in this life.  I had more questions than answers and the world seemed dark and lonely.

One bright spot was my dreams. As I went to bed I would say my nightly prayer: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee God my Soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray thee God my Soul to take.” Then I went to sleep, to be truly awake, in a world of light and love.  I would have teachers with me every night, teaching me a greater reality beyond this physical world. 

Despite these dreams, each day I would wake up to a world where nothing made sense to me.  I was taught dreams were not real and I was dismissed as “just a child with a wild imagination.” Deep down I knew there had to be more to life than what others believed by their faith, not by their experience.  I knew the experiences in my dreams were true.

As a child thoughts would come unbidden, to mind saying, “Wait, there has to be more to life than this. I haven't even lived yet, and I feel like I am dying...”

I also felt God’s presence within me, revealing a sense of purpose just for me. And a longing so deep at times it was painful to breath.

When I was nine years old, for one whole year I was visited by a being every night in my dreams. He was an Asian man, with long white hair and beautiful eyes that were filled with light and love. He wore a funny hat. He taught me many things that helped me understand life and love. 

One night he came and said this would be his last night visiting me. He placed a plastic barrette in my hand and closed my fingers over it, saying this gift is so you will not forget that dreams are real. The next morning when I awoke the plastic barrette was in my hand. Not wanting to explain to my parents where it came from, I buried it in the back yard. Now I knew my dreams were real without question.

 Years later, after finding the teachings of ECKANKAR, I discovered the man in my dreams was the ECK Master Lai Tsi. 

Yes, I found the teachings of the Light and Sound of God, ECKANKAR.  All things I knew as truth came together. The love of all things holy immersed me in a cloth of living truth. I was not alone...and never was. I knew I was on the Road to God, living the adventure of a lifetime!

And best of all I know that I, Soul, exist because of God’s love for me.