The Church of One

A dear friend of mine died last year. She was a wonderful beam of light who ministered to many hurting people – always offering the gift of compassion and encouragement. We lovingly called her Guru Minnie, as she was a minister as well as a sage. Through the years, we had grand adventures, and in my novel, Vision of the Grail, she is one of the characters with whom I walked the labyrinth. In the last few years of her life, my friend was afflicted with Alzheimer’s, and her daughters felt it was time for her to move to where they lived so they could look after her. Her move from the Bay Area to Olympia, WA was a sad event for us all, because she loved the community and friendships she had formed here. However, she also knew that she was losing her ability to remember, and it gave her children an opportunity to have time with their mother who had lived far away for a long time.

A couple weeks ago, her family flew to the Bay Area to give a memorial service for the friends in the Bay Area who loved their mother, and to hear stories from the many friends she’d had here who shared a part of our friend’s life that the family did not know of. It was a beautiful time of love and closure, with many beautiful expressions of gratitude and appreciation for our dear Guru Minnie. One of the loving gifts was a poem written by her close friend, Reverend Tom Garry. I asked if I could share it with the Seasons of the Soul blog, and he graciously gave permission. 

The Church of One
By Reverend Tom Garry

A great institution, “The Church of One”
Although its buildings number none.
Great spiritual centers it works to start
Each located in a loving heart.

It is real and has as its seat
The place where inspired concepts meet;
Where human and divine may trod,
“Be still and know that I Am God.”

Let’s go within and start today
Be balanced, learn, meditate, and pray
Opening wide to spiritual grace,
We move ahead at a better pace.

The temple of The Church of One
Is the body of each daughter and son.
Deep inside of us you see
Our god Self offers infinity.

“Peace be with you” as we renew
Our blessed journey on the path that’s true.
Then chant our “OM” and say AMEN
Returning home to be one again.