Image of God

"It has been so false to imagine that God could condemn us or make us suffer or eventually put us into eternal places of torment.  Any God or Divine Presence that could wait for millions of years to dream up your identity, your spirit and your soul could never nurture you and then prepare destruction for you.  The mercy and forgiveness and the lovely lyrical gentleness of the Divine Presence is around every person.   And you should never allow anyone to break your trust in the tenderness and gentleness of God because that is closer to you than the words of any other human or the stipulations or regulations of any institution."   John O' Donahue