The setting: Hot California. Big artificial pond in the middle of the hotel grounds, with ducks and one friendly, hissy goose. Outdoor covered walkways leading past the pond and to the conference rooms. Walking outside is hot and stifling. Walking indoors into the cool air conditioning is a welcome relief. But in the evening, the air cools off nicely and it's a pleasant stroll.

On Saturday, Betty taught us that much of what our subconscious and our inner spirit wish to convey is cloaked in symbols. Jesus taught in symbols and analogies. Kids think in terms of symbols. Our word choices (remember that words represent concepts) affect the world around us and our own lives (a message Betty repeated often last year in Chicago). But symbols from within our psyche can tell us a lot about what's going on inside. I suppose this also means that if we look at symbols occurring throughout the world, we can have some sort of idea of what's going on (not forgetting that people like to manipulate symbols to, say, sell us cars).

We also got to meet Betty's best friend Ellie, who shared with us much of her life. Despite many hardships, God has wrought miracles with her life. One of the funnier moments was when Betty described Ellie as her "low maintenance friend" (apparently tremendous praise, but a phrase that Ellie returned back with some humorous mock-indignation).

We learned a powerful exercise of giving love. Two people faced each other and looked past the physical garment to see the spirit within. Then, each offered from the heart a gift of love, using both hands to offer forth the love, let it build, then let it go. Many WAVES seemed to connect deeply with other people during this exercise.

The Saturday prayer circle was quite powerful. I think we prayed for just about every received prayer request. There were some heartbreaking situations that received prayer, but there was also a lot of beauty and many perceived currents of loving power throughout.

On Sunday, Betty said early on, regarding prophecies of the future and the like: "Nothing is absolute except God." Our job is to use positive prayer to bring about positive effects.

Here's a neat lesson we learned: if someone can only offer you a glass of water, and offers you that water from the heart, accept it, even if you don't drink it. Don't roll your eyes (we had a good laugh when the test member of the WAVES audience did this when first offered the water) or turn it away. If you try an experiment with earnestly and caringly offering something and then see how it feels to have it rejected (you can see this as a third-party observer too, as we saw), then you will understand why it is important to accept. Rejection is like blocking an exchange of loving energy, and everyone can feel it. (Note: this only applies to true, heartfelt offers -- use your common sense!)

We must be ready to help each other if ever the need arises, but also to be ready to help ourselves and our neighbors. So, be prepared to be a blessing! I think Betty suggested all WAVES take first aid courses.

Music again played a key role at this gathering of WAVES. For me, personally, the best part was when many WAVES performed Doug's song, “Colors of Love”, on Saturday.

As with every single gathering of WAVES I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot both very small and large, there was something a little magical about it. The atmosphere is different; people laugh more; barriers come down; lessons are learned, sometimes the hard way; and things have a way of happening.

In looking at the news tonight, I see articles that hint of rising intolerance -- religious intolerance, or whatnot. I think Betty's message throughout has remained constant: that Jesus said we are to love one another. God does not condemn based on things like which religion a person happens to be. God does not inflict pain, though He may allow it. God loves every single one of us and wants us to do the same.

I'm glad to report that, as far as this message goes, it has come through loud and clear at every Gathering I've been to.

Hope to see you in 2006.

"Tamago"