Sunday, April 26, 2026: Announcement: Please note there is no liturgy today - either in person or on Zoom. Reflection from yesterday's Retreat Instructions before visiting Earth

A poem for the soul's journey by James McCrae, written Dec 26, 2025

Note from the author: I’ve been writing a lot of poetry lately. This is one that I recently shared on Instagram which went surprisingly viral, being read, watched and shared by tens of millions of people in a matter of months. It has been translated (by fans) into many languages, turned into a song, and even performed at churches and funerals.

The piece was inspired by the thought of a soul being given instructions before being born (incarnating) on Earth – a reminder of our higher purpose in this crazy world.

Instructions before visiting Earth

In the event that you wake up

and find your soul separated from source

and manifest into material form, don’t panic.

Your condition is only temporary.

You have been selected for the opportunity

of human incarnation.

This 3D simulation is designed

to break up the monotony of eternity

by giving you a fully immersive experience

as a distinct ego identity.

Your body will serve

as your physical avatar

as you navigate a dense and dramatic reality.

There will be many distractions

causing you to forget your true nature and origin.

You will experience a range of emotions

from joy to loneliness to despair.

But remember – no matter

what trials and traumas you encounter,

your soul remains perfectly safe.

At times you may feel lost or afraid.

This is totally normal.

If you ever need guidance,

simply slow down your busy mind

and bring your awareness

to the quiet place

inside yourself.

On this planet, nothing is permanent.

People and things will come and go.

You will fall in love and form sentimental attachments

only to lose everything you hold dear.

So cling to nothing too tightly, even yourself,

and when it’s time to let go, let go with grace,

for nothing is owned, only borrowed.

As you walk among

the people on the planet,

try to be a good guest.

Tread lightly. Remember

that you are only visiting.

Don’t make a mess.

Listen more than you speak.

Give more than you take.

Don’t keep your soft heart

locked inside a glass cage,

protected from wear and tear.

You’ll never make it out alive

and time passes quickly.

So come back with some battle scars

and good stories to tell.

Note to All: A huge Thank You to everyone who helped organize and participated in the marvelous retreat created by Victoria, hosted by Enid and John with songs by Jim. It's hard to imagine how much work went into the thoughtful and inspiring program created by Victoria. For that we are so grateful. In the coming days we'll publish various parts of the program so we can look back and savor the reflections, poems and thoughts celebrated during the day. Let's continue to eat the Gospel and, whenever we feel like it, to slowly digest the words, perhaps only a line at a time, and remember to whisper the words for added texture.