I tried to explain to them that I felt I was already in the presence of "god" here on earth at the present time, among my family and friends, loving and loved, engaged in the noble endeavor to foster peace and harmony, thrilled by the countless horrors and delights of nature and the universe; but, despite my protests, Christian acquaintances labeled such statements of mine "delusions" and pitied me or they dismissed them outright as bald-faced lies.