Laurel Mae Matthews

Emigrant, MT, USA

Born St. Louis, MO; AB, Washington University, St. Louis; elected to Phi Beta Kappa (national scholastic honorary) and Pi Epsilon Delta (dramatic honorary); poems published in the volumes of National Library of Poetry; music and lyrics recorded. Laurel now lives in the Paradise Valley of Montana. She is Vice President of the Board of Trustees of South Glastonbury Teaching Center, branch of Church Universal and Triumphant, and Assistant Secretary of the Glastonbury Landowners Association. Laurel says, "There is a flame within our hearts that longs to be united to the great God Flame encompassing the Universe. Each of us may seek that union through different paths or religions, but the urge is the same for all. If we can see and love that flame without our brother, it makes his journey and our own easier.

O Soul of Mine, Rise Up

O Soul of mine, rise up and sing
With prayerful, humble voice!
O God, resound Thy heartbeat
Let all the earth rejoice.

I long to hear Thy voice, that hum
Of universes turning!
I long to be one with Thy song,
My own eternal yearning.

Sound the tone, that one keynote,
My soul's own will to be,
And let the morning stars that sing
Enforce the harmony.

O God, I say Thy name in awe,
Whispers oh so sweet!
Buddha, Allah, Yahweh, Christ
The Light makes me complete!

I am Thy child, make of me
Thy perfect image bright.
Transform me now and raise me up,
All consuming Light!

The Search For God

My soul cries out from deep within;
All is chaos and chagrin
O Soul of mine in dark travail,
Why do these shadows here prevail?
O God, where are you? - help me now!
My transgressions dis-avow.
I long for peace and quietude,
No shadowed specters to intrude
Of past mistakes or errors wrought,
Or mem'ries of lost battles fought.
O God, my God, show me the way!
Help me now, I humbly pray!

A sudden stillness now takes hold,
A cosmic interval unfolds.
O God, my God, you're in my heart!
A flaming Presence to impart!
I've found my answer here within;
My shining future to begin.
The oneness I now feel with Thee
Is mine for all eternity!