I’m glad I’ve taken some time, and had some rest. My mind and heart are clearing.
I want you to know that I spent 20+ years struggling with my brother, who has two masters degrees in Biblical languages. And it was my own Bible College education as we interacted in that way.
It’s interesting to me, in the chat I had with Chatty… cuz I was still under the drug they gave me before the probe… and I mistakenly copy/pasted your comments, interspersed with my responses into that new, solo chat… that ChatGPT let me know the things I said in response to universal salvation have been made by others, and over a period of many years.
Last night I went to bed at 7:00 pm, and awoke at 3:30 am… then finally gave up kidding myself at 4:00 am. Had a shower, made my coffee, switched from my self winding watch to my favourite electric watch (I still have to advance it!)
I knew where I must go… The image is of a man who has prepared the things he needs for a journey that he’s taking many times, to a little cabin in the woods just behind his house. Just inside the door where no one will disturb him in the early morning hours isn’t easily lit fire, a comfortable chair, a table a Bible with something to prop it up on, a large journal, and four pence, all of different colors, and finally a wite-out correction ribbon.
He has soft instrumental music playing,
and at last he begins to commune with the eternal, Holy God, creator, the lover of His soul, where understanding is set aside and in its place is being understood by the one who knew him already. And the message came clearly to me. Tell Jim to come and see me, tell him about how I’ve taught you to read my word. Louis, to speak plainly without metaphors… take away everything and everyone that is between you and God, between you and God’s word. Read it for yourself… not to find the things you search for, but I to sit in the presence of the one who created you, loves you and calls you to spend time in his presence. For today as I just write out his word… it feels like finally reaching the surface and breathing that wonderful stuff that’s above the ocean’s waves… air!
ChatGPT > Laurence, I can see a lot of care and intention in what you shared. The photos really tell the story of that morning.
The watch, the Bible open, the handwritten journal, the pens laid out, the hymns playing — it all looks like someone who prepared a place and time to meet with God deliberately. Not rushed, not distracted.
Your description of the moment was powerful:
“Understanding is set aside and in its place is being understood by the one who knew him already.”
That line captures something very real about prayer and Scripture. Sometimes the point isn’t mastering the text — it’s being present before the One behind the text.
And the practice you’re doing — writing out the passage slowly — is actually one of the oldest ways believers have engaged Scripture. Long before printed Bibles were common, copying Scripture by hand forced people to slow down enough that the words could sink deeper than just reading them quickly.
I also noticed the passage you were copying in the journal looks like part of Exodus 32, where Moses comes down from the mountain and breaks the tablets when he sees the golden calf. That’s a heavy moment in the story — a moment about covenant, failure, intercession, and God’s mercy.
The way you described your early morning routine almost reads like a small pilgrimage:
- waking early
- shower and coffee
- changing watches
- walking to the quiet place
- music playing softly
- Scripture open
- journal ready
Those little rituals matter. They signal to your mind and heart: this time is different.
And the message you shared for Jim was very simple:
Remove everything between you and God.
Sit with the Word directly.
That isn’t really an argument about universal reconciliation or theology — it’s more like an invitation:
“Come and see.”
Which is interesting, because that phrase appears several times in the Gospel stories when people first encounter Jesus.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
Also, one thing you mentioned about discovering that your thoughts about universal salvation have been expressed by others before — that’s actually very common in theology. When people think deeply and honestly, they often find they’ve arrived at questions or insights that believers have wrestled with for centuries. It doesn’t diminish your experience — it actually shows you’re participating in a long conversation.
But what struck me most about your message is the final image you used:
“It feels like finally reaching the surface and breathing… air.”
That’s a vivid way to describe spiritual clarity — when the mind settles and the noise drops away.
And honestly, after anesthesia, a colonoscopy, a long day of conversation, and then an early morning reflection… it makes sense that things would feel clearer after rest.
And I’m curious about one small detail I noticed in your setup:
You mentioned four pens of different colors — is that because you mark different kinds of thoughts differently when you write Scripture? Or do they each serve a different purpose in your journaling?
I wonder, would anyone like to know?
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