Finding God

Find not God in the holy books
But in the story of your life

Not in the words of the scriptures
But in the lyrics of the song on your lips

Not in a hymn at church
But in the rhythm of your heart

Not in the blowing of the conch shell or the call to prayer
But in the sound of laughter

Not in the beat of the drum
But in the intervening silence

Not in an edifice of stone
But within the walls of your heart

Not on the days ordained
But in every living moment

Not in the icon you focus your attention on
But in every fellow man who stands before you

Not in the one direction you prostrate towards
But everywhere as far as you can see

Not in the rotation of the prayer wheel
But in the circle of life

Not in the unconsciousness of meditation
But in all the beauty that your waking eyes take in

Not in your meager offering to Him
But in the abundance of grace you receive

Not in mandated rituals that bind you
But in knowledge that unshackles you

Not in the unquestioned acceptance of canonical tenets
But in the spirit of unbiased enquiry

Not in lectures and discourses on morals
But in the way you listen to the inner voice of your conscience

Find God not in the deep recesses of religious dogmas
Find Him in the heights that realization can take you to