There are really two ways we can develop and deepen our relationship with God. One that many of us have chosen is pain; we only turn to God when our world is falling apart. The other is to commit ourselves to serious spiritual practice. In this practice, we stay awake to our thinking and choose thoughts that give life, saying no to thoughts that don't give life. This brings us to greater awakeness to who we really are, created in the image and likeness of God. Practice is the key word. We are like a sailboat tacking into the wind. If we get off the path we can always come back.