Day 1: Walking Through Illusion by Betsy Otter Thompson

     Walking Through Illusion by Betsy Otter Thompson is the next book I will be blogging about.  In this thoughtful and eye opening book she connects with the energy of Jesus.  She dives into various lives from the Bible realizing that they are similar to her life; same experiences, feelings, triumphs and hardships. She connects the audience with each character and exposes the life lessons of each story.  In life it is our own perspective that we see the world through.  Looking through another person's eyes can reveal more than what is just right or wrong in your eyes.  This awareness is the catalyst to more compassion, love and understanding in your life.  She has a unique and intimate question and answer format with Jesus about the characters in the Bible.  Each character has to deal with their illusions including Jesus.  Some of these illusions include approval, fairness, acceptance and time. 
     I am very intrigued by this concept of learning through the lives of the characters in the Bible. This will be a book full of new ideas, a fresh perspective and lessons of life to build our character and love for ourselves and each other.  This is not a book about Christianity but a book of breaking through the illusions of life.  Come join me on this unique journey and unusual perspective.

Overview of Walking Through Illusion book from Betsy Otter Thompson's webpage, http://www.betsythompson.com:
– Jesus speaks of the People who shared his Journey – features a series of stories about biblical people who either knew Jesus or knew of him, and were influenced by him in one way or another. It is not a book about Christianity; it is about people who lived long before Christianity began. The book makes no attempt to preach religion; the author believes that we don’t take our beliefs with us when we leave here; we take the love we found from having them.
The stories are less about the picture these people might have lived and more about the emotions they might have experienced. Each chapter focuses on the growth of a particular person and each chapter is complete within itself with a specific theme.

The persons and themes featured include:

• Bartholomew: He learned that meaningful goals were those that offered love.
• Paul: He came to realize that God didn’t take sides; God reflected the side Paul took.
• John: He learned that fairness only came when fairness had been given.
• Mary Magdalene: She hated her situation until she realized that love changed her situation.
• Aaron: He discovered that handicapped people were those who ignored their strengths.
• Judas: He forgot that to betray another was to betray himself.
• Pilate: He killed to stay alive but a part of him died anyway.

"If we love, the heart goes deeper to reveal our true identity. If we don't love, more opportunities arrive through which to do so."  Betsy Otter Thompson in Walking through Illusion.