Reading From a Different Perspective

I have a confession to make.  I'm a Stephen King fan.  When he puts out a new book, all the books around me get pushed to the side while I read his latest creation.  People ask, "how can you read Stephen King? You - the owner of the Higher Self Bookstore? He writes horror!"  "He's a genius," I say.  I do admire his genius and imagination.  Over the years I've come to believe his writing is "guided." 

For the past several months I've had to urge to re-read his Dark Tower series.  It took him 20 years to write, the last published in 2006.  I did give in to the "push" and began the series over again.  I have about 50 pages left to read of book seven.

It's like reading a whole different story.  I think it's because my perceptions about a lot of things have changed over the years, and because I know more, have learned more, and have changed my beliefs about - oh, so much!  Like what?  Well, about time, time overlapping, other worlds, intuition, good and bad, good and evil, spiritual quests, creating our own reality, writing our own scripts, living in the illusion of our creation and allowance, perception and judgment, portals, magic.  It's all in there - and more.

This is a story about good vs. evil, but a lot of what occurs just is what it is.  It's Stephen King's story, as well as the story of the characters in it. At one point, the characters even had to go into Stephen King's world to save his life so that he could continue writing the story and they could go on to save the world(s).  They knew they existed because Mr. King created them.  It didn't change their mission or their quest. Well, aren't we writing our own stories, creating our own reality, and placing characters in it?  Of course we are!  

If you put me in your story (and I am if you are reading this), do I know if I am a villain or a hero in your story?  Maybe, maybe not.  Does it change how I live my life in the story I am creating with you in it?  Maybe, maybe not. In other words, if you cast me as the enemy in your life (reality), you will write my part (perceive me) doing evil things. In my story, I may not be writing my part (perceive me) as evil whatsoever.  If I realized you perceive me as the enemy, will I change my story so that you think better of me somehow?  Well, I guess that depends on how important a character I have cast you in my story.  I suppose I could do a re-write if I "want" to.

I am not advising you go read works by Stephen King.  I don't sell Stephen King at the Higher Self.  I have many books to enlighten, educate, and awaken that I can point you to. My point is how my perception of the story changed once I had acquired more knowledge, had become open to other possibilities, and have given up the desire to label everything right or wrong, good or evil, black or white.  It makes me curious about re-reading other books with my "new" viewpoint. 

God is in everything - so I've been told and choose to believe.  God is in Stephen King, his books, in you, in the dark as well as the light; if we have eyes to see.  Do you have eyes to see?  Can you read with an openness, from a place of possibilities?  Do not condemn that which you do not understand.  Can you be with it all and come out on the other side enriched, expanded, and empowered?