Dana Owens 
What made Swedenborg infamous to the point that his name was rarely mentioned in the history of science or religion was that he claimed to have spiritual visions from God, and further to have God-granted ability to communicate with angels and spirits in the spiritual realm. However, his main motivation to write and self-publish his prolific works was a sense of calling and service to people.
Humans arrogantly play the role of the ultimate judge in deciding the values and usefulness of all things and matters. But the truth is that humans are also just a part of nature! The role of humans is not to be the judges, but to be contributors to the web of life within which they are born, live, and die.
While it may be noble and courageous to attempt to change or improve one’s innate condition and abilities, the truth is that God endowed us with an ability to cultivate happiness and joy within the conditions and abilities with which we are born and living!
Mistakes and errors that we have made are problematic not just because they happened, but because of how our mind carries and reacts to them. And, if we carry them around long enough, they might become a spiritual blockage between God and us.
In this story of angels and shepherds, there is a phrase, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” But who, exactly, does God favor?