Life As a Journey

“Does the road wind up-hill all the way?”

“Yes, to the very end.”

“Does the day’s long journey take the whole long day?”

“From morn to night, my friend.”

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This poem by Christina Rossetti has often given me encouragement to keep stepping onward and upward on my own life’s journey. Just recently, Rossetti’s poem came to mind again— when I noticed that many Cladach book titles allude to various aspects and dimensions of this journey called ‘life.’ For instance,

that up-hill road will be an adventure that requires us to WALK, taking one step after another:

As we walk, we will inevitably need to TRUST:

The Journey will require COURAGE:

We may need to RUN (turning from SHAME and toward LOVE):

Our journey may provide ESCAPE and NEW BEGINNINGS:

Our journey may be fraught with DANGERS:

Our journey will involve SEARCHING and FINDING:

We will COME to oases that bid us to STAY awhile, be REFRESHED, experience HEALING, and CELEBRATE:

The journey provides stretches of solitude for PONDERING, CONTEMPLATING, and REMEMBERING:

The journey includes places to PAUSE, let others pass by, and find RENEWED PERSPECTIVE:

Along the journey we may find ourselves PRAYING, PRAISING, even LAMENTING:

Opening our hearts, we will experience Renewed WONDER and Freer IMAGINATIONS:

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And the rest of Christina Rossetti’s poem:

But is there for the night a resting-place?

   A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

   You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

   Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

   They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

   Of labor you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

   Yea, beds for all who come.

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