It Is No Secret --- THE SECRET

A secret is something that you generally keep to yourself --- or maybe tell one or two friends or family. Rhonda Byrne's Secret, however, as told through her book, movie and website, is really no secret at all, but yet another self-help tool. The alleged quote from circus magnate, P. T. Barnum, “There's a sucker born every minute,” quickly comes to mind.

No, I didn't buy the book; I got it at the library. Nor did I pay for membership on the web site. Information from the book wasn't incentive enough to make me desire more. I read it simply for the same reason that many others would --- was it yet another twist on that age-old search for the meaning of life?

While the cover design was inviting, and the format was in small bites, making it an easy read, the content was a disappointing remake of Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking, first published in 1952. In fact, you could go to any two pages in the book and get the exact content of the entire book.

Just for the record, a positive attitude is not a bad thing. It keeps you healthy, focused and determined. It also has a positive influence on those around you. But to say that all the powers of the universe are magnetically ordered to keep you healthy, wealthy and wise is pretty much out there. It means that all bad things happen to losers, and I just don't buy it.

So why did I even pick it up? Don't I already have a palatable belief structure that gives me enough answers to get me through life? Or am I still unsatisfied and continuing to search? I think that what we believe should always be open to testing, comparing and challenging. If what we hold true remains true, our faith will grow stronger. It we remain open to adjustments to what we hold to be true, we are better for it.

This is all the work of the Spirit of God. We are, and have always been, his children. He is always at work in us, though we may not always see it. But for a great many it is a secret that they have yet to discover. It lies buried under years of tradition, as well as cumbersome layers of religious dogma. The really good news is that the love of God will withstand the tests of time, will survive when all else fails and will provide much-needed answers to age old questions.

Feel free to share this secret with anyone.