The Church of Truth

This spiritual center is my new home! I’ve never been one to attend church, but by luck someone mentioned this place to me as a «metaphysical church». The community is not religious and there is no mention of any bibl-​ey scriptures. Rather, the sermons are heartfelt, full of sage advice and love from quotes from Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue, Don Miguel Ruiz and of the like.
Since joining the spiritual center in November, I have been coming faithfully every week. Nobody has pressured me into anything, rather I am eager to return and immerse myself in a spiritually loving environment.

When I was around five years old, I really got into the hymns at St. Mary’s Church. I went to church as a favor to my mom and all the standing and sitting and kneeling was such a bore, but the songs had a really catchy beat, and some of the lyrics really got to me. I have vague memories of belting out, «Let there be peace on earth/​And let it begin with me/​Let there be peace on earth/​The peace that was meant to be.»
In the last couple of years, I have come back to the spiritual realm in full force. Recently, with my husband out of town and nothing on the agenda, I decided to see if there is a service I can attend – with my infant. I rooted through my online bookmarks, scanning the wide variety of locations I have assembled with the intention of attending service – someday.
One catches my eye. It’s called the Church of Truth, it’s right in my neighborhood, they offer classes including metaphysical development for families, and today happens to be children’s day. The Church of Truth, I learn, is a New Thought church, a religion that seems to be gaining rapidly in popularity as churches like Agape (a Religious Science church, which is a branch of New Thought) gain massive attention due to films like The Secret.
I am welcomed with open arms – literally. No less than three church representatives, including Rev. Donna, the minister, embrace me and my son. We are invited on stage for the bible reading that is especially geared towards children today. Rev. Donna discusses what Jesus meant with the line, «And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.» She tells us the history of the phrase, and helps me see it with a new understanding – offering someone this level of generosity is actually an expression of freedom – to go above and beyond the call of duty in this way also demonstrate personal control and independence.
The synchronicities of my experience are striking. In addition to it being children’s day, I learn I am at a New Thought church – the very religion I am studying this month through the New Seminary. Rev. Donna, in illustrating how much of our world is perception and intention, tells us that she firmly believes she has a congregation of millionaires – so we had better do our part to make it so. I urge you to see everything as «want to» rather than «have to», she implores. Thus, our burdens are lifted, our independence returns, and everything takes on a new light. For the first time of his sixteen months in this realm, my son is calm and quiet for over an hour through the duration of the service. He claps for the choir and plays on the floor, but mostly, sits, his head cradled in my lap, listening.
At the end of service, my son and I stand up. Holding him in my arms, we enter the circle with the others. All together we sing a familiar verse: «…To take each moment/​And live each moment/​In peace eternally./Let there be peace on earth/​And let it begin with me.»