The Prayer Lines Behind the Bylines
Barbara Garro
(expanded PDF version)

The fine art of using one's
talents to glorify the Creator

There was once a corporate dynamo who traded in tailored suits for a Mother Goose costume and an elite fitness club membership for Biblical-era dancing lessons at a local arts center.

In between, she delivered dynamic performances as a motivational speaker, researched and wrote books packed with life transforming potential, crafted insightful and inspirational poetry, and created paintings and sculptures that rounded out her reputation as a New Millennium Renaissance Woman.

This same incredible soul never missed an opportunity to humble herself as a volunteer in the most unglamorous of settings so that only a precious few on earth would know of her desire to quietly minister to those Jesus called “the least among us.”

While it’s impossible for a mere mortal to know what will await Barbara Garro when she arrives at The Pearly Gates, one can’t help but hope she’ll be richly rewarded for breathing new life into the meaning of the parables and the New Testament during her earthly sojourn.

This part of Barbara’s mission had not yet begun when we sat down for our first interview session early in 2000. Thinking her to be in her early 40s, I was stunned when the President & CEO of Electric Envisions, Inc. in Saratoga Springs revealed she was 57 and taking belly dancing lessons to prevent middle-age spread from setting in.

Her first book, aptly titled Grow Yourself A Life You’ll Love, had just been published by Thomas More and had already received a Five-Star Rating from the prestigious Midwest Book Review, complete with a global posting on such sites as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Testimonials on the book’s jacket and inside covers included those from the Rev. Joseph F. Girzone, author of the popular Joshua books; Jim Donovan, who coined the phrase Life is not a dress rehearsal; and Marilyn Ross, author of Jump Start Your Book Sales.

The now late Father Girzone had accurately predicted: “People who read this book will enjoy learning about themselves and will not be afraid to recognize those characteristics which can mar relationships and limit our potential to grow into the beautiful people we really could be with a little honest insight and effort.”

Mr. Donovan had suggested the book would “gently motivate” readers to make the best of their lives while Ms. Ross had quipped: “Why pay huge therapist bills when this inexpensive yet profound guide can turn you onto life’s solutions?”

The accolades that were being showered upon Barbara just over 15 years ago were certainly impressive. But it was what I learned from – and about – her as she was entering the seventh decade of her life that motivated me to update her story.

These days Barbara positively glows as she speaks about her most recent titles: From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage and The Comfort of the Shepherd: Parable Prayer and Meditation.

While the former focuses on love, healing and salvation via messages from Jesus with related affirmations, the latter surprises with 23 original poems and 18 original prayers while also offering 33 messages from Jesus that are enriched by affirmations.

In speaking about her second Jesus Series book, Barbara describes prayer and meditation as two halves of the same circle. She contends that “one half, prayer, is you talking to God; the other half, meditation, is God responding to what you’ve shared with Him.” Unfortunately, she muses, “most don’t shut up long enough to listen to what God has to say after offering up prayers.”

Helping others open direct lines of communication with the Almighty is important to Barbara because she’s heard far too many lament their prayers haven’t been answered when it’s her belief petitioners more likely haven’t taken the time to listen for the answers God had provided. Other times, selective hearing may be involved.

“I believe the Father answers every prayer, but we must remember that even Jesus prayed, ‘Your will, not Mine, be done.’ Sometimes problems persist despite our prayers simply because we have refused to take ‘No’ for an answer,” asserts Barbara.

These are powerful words coming from a woman who says her own life has taken her “to places other people would call bottoms” only to perceive the view from the positive perspective of something that was necessary to experience for spiritual growth.

“We only have today … I try not to let other people decide what kind of day I’m going to have because how we live our lives is a choice. He or she who angers you, controls you. People talk about losing control because of others pushing their buttons. I say cover your damn buttons!”

Barbara spent more than a decade conducting research for the first book in her new three-book Jesus “Series.” The first book in the Series, From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage, helps readers to better understand the messages Jesus brought to earth about love, healing and salvation. Barbara hoped her book, which includes 33 of Jesus’ parables, would help her and others learn how to become “true followers” of Jesus through His teachings.

The seed for From Jesus to Heaven With Love: A Parable Pilgrimage was planted when Barbara realized two pivotal concepts: “that love is all there is and that the choices I make create my life.”

She ultimately crafted a 230-page book that explores 33 parables in what highly respected members of the clergy have hailed in such terms as “captivating” and “refreshing.”

Additional words of praise have come from Joel W. Tibbetts, PhD, who has commended the author for encouraging readers “to take another look – or perhaps a first look – at their own faith journeys.” Tibbetts, who has distinguished himself as Emeritus Professor of religion at Rockford College and as Adjunct Lecturer in religion at Skidmore College, states that Barbara has written “a devotional guide (that is) accessible to any reader, thoughtful and well-organized, inviting study and prayerful reflection.”

An insightful introduction that includes an original inspirational verse titled “Holy Heritage” sets the stage for the chapters that follow. The majority of chapters consist of a Parable Text followed by a Mind Map as well as Love Thoughts, Healing Thoughts, a Message from Jesus, a Summary Writing Exercise and related Parable Affirmations.

My personal affirmation is that this is a book that crosses denominational lines and contains lessons that can nurture the hearts, minds and souls of all.

To learn more, please visit www.BarbaraGarro.com and www.ElectricEnvisions.com.