For almost 8 years I have walked this path unto enlightenment with The Oneness Foundation in Blaine, WA. One of the greatest and most precious lessons I have learned from Pastor Sheryl is tolerance and admiration for the faiths of many people. I discovered the beautiful humility and compassion of the Buddhists. I am moved so deeply by the teachings of the Sikh people. I am inspired by the poetry of the Sufi people and one of their beloved poets, Rumi . I have come to respect the intense faith AND faithfulness of peaceful Muslims. I am mystified and filled with such wonder when I ponder the depths of Kabbalah and the ways of the Essenes. The list of all that I cherish of many faiths could go on and on.

Before I became a part of the Oneness Foundation, I was ignorant, intolerant, and thought I knew it all. I judged the world around me thru the eyes of ‘righteousness’ for I believed I had the corner market on what faith was and how those that didn’t live or believe like me were in error…

Wow, was I in for an awakening as I allowed myself to let go of my prejudices! When I finally saw thru the eyes of love and truth, my facade of holiness started to crumble. When I observed people after people in different cultures and faiths with the same facial expressions of faith, hope, fear, love, and desire as I did in my faith, I began to recognize that we are the same. That perhaps God was bigger than the box I had put him in. That maybe I could worship next to a Sikh and see Love. That I could give out of compassion alongside a Buddhist and find Heaven upon earth. That just maybe, those tree-huggers that I once made jokes about had more knowledge and passion and a caring heart than I ever did. That I could sit beneath a full moon alongside a Pagan and recognize the power of the celestial bodies and see the cycles of the moon in all its glory.
And all the walls of judgments began to melt. Pastor Sheryl’s teachings showed me that what I was taught to fear as a child (the embracing of all faiths) would actually become my awakening! And you know what is the most unique about this? It has drawn me closer to that of the Christ Consciousness. I can truly see that all roads that are walked in peace and harmony with Nature, Animals, Mankind and Love truly lead to God.

One thing that Pastor Sheryl has been saying as of late is that we will be “Known by Love.” In light of that statement this is a song I have written… I sincerely pray you are blessed by it.

Coexist and the Oneness Foundation

The Divine in me blesses the Divine in you
Mary Gunderson