My Church Has No Walls

I've never found God in a church

But I think I've found Him sitting at the bottom

     of a nice cup of tea.

I've never seen God in a temple

But I think I may have spied Him on a tree branch

     while the goldfinches ate thistle from the feeder.

I've never felt  peace while meditating

For my mind is too busy trying to be peaceful

But I've felt peace while watching raindrops 

     slide down my window.

I've never talked to God while praying
But when I move a turtle away from a busy road
Or squeeze through a door
     so as not to disturb the day's work of a spider
Maybe He understands me.

Am I somehow less to God

Because my religion has no name

And my church has no walls?

When I hear the barred owl call at dusk

I think I know God's voice.

When I witness the green striped caterpillar
     emerge into the swallowtail butterfly

I start to believe in the rebirth of the spirit.

When I listen to my child breath as she sleeps

And  feel the warm body of my love near me at night

I know I am blessed.

When I hear the gentle snores of the dogs

And the chirps of the crickets

And the coffee as it drips into the pot

     and waits, hot, for me in the morning

I believe.

submitted for Poetry Potluck Monday at Jingle Poetry