A Walk For Peace Poem by Jim Yerman

Lately, I've been dubious of religions…the way they're painted on the news.
We see only the radical ones…with their racist and hateful views…

So in order to learn a little more…and help my religious knowledge increase…
I joined a crowd of diverse faiths as we took a walk for peace.

The idea:
To try and understand one another…to begin a dialogue…
as we marched from church to church…from mosque to synagogue.

I spoke with people of many faiths. I can't remember all their names,
but, no matter who I spoke with, the message was the same…

It was a message of love and understanding spread out for all to see
a message of hope and friendship…of togetherness and unity.

None of these people were hateful, instead, they shared complementary views
These were not the people…I have seen painted on the news.

As we walked together in fellowship…in love and harmony
I had to stop a moment as this thought occurred to me…

What if every religion is painting the same picture but from a slightly different view…
Using different perspectives, different palates, different brush strokes…different hues.

Any religion painted with love, meant to nourish the soul and heart…
though slightly different from the others…is itself a work of art.

And those religions painted with hate…have no place upon our wall
For by color and definition…they are not religions after all.

Religions, true religions, paint one message: to help love in our world increase…
And religions, true religions walk together and dream of peace.