Do you think of life as a journey? I do. If I look back to how my childhood was, and then my adolescence and youth, and right up until now, I can easily see that my life has been a journey. The experiences I’ve had. The ups and downs. The joys and pains. The good decisions and the bad, as well as the consequences that came with them. I’ve suffered a lot, and I’ve experienced great joy and peace. I’ve thought a lot and grappled with my world-view. God willing, I still have a good number of years ahead of me, so I know that this journey continues. I’m very thankful that I don’t walk it alone, and that I am constantly learning and growing. I know that the phase, or season that I am currently living will come to an end, and mesh into the beginning of the next phase or season. And when my life comes to an end – well – that’s just the beginning to a whole new phase.
Do you think of your life as a journey? Have you considered how your experiences and choices have shaped you into who you are today? Would love to know what you’ve learned throughout your journey, and how you’ve reacted to it.
The above poem is a Monotetra, which is a form that is made up of four lines in a stanza, each line being eight syllables long and each line rhyming. The last line in a stanza is a couplet of four syllables repeated. This is also in response to “The Reverie Journal’s weekly prompt, which this is week was “Quiet Journey”.
stacilys.wordpress.com 
“For it’s within the race is run”: I love that line. And I love the title. Life is the longest, deepest, most meaningful journey we’ll ever take, I think. Great words you have here, like taking a journey toward perfection. #justlove
Oh, thank you so much Benjamin. I’m so glad you liked that line. I really believe it. That our battles are in the mind. Are inside of us.
Wonderful, “taking a journey toward perfection. I love it. I know I never will be perfect, at least while living in the world we live in. But I think we’ve had this discussion before, haven’t we? About perfection and what that means to me.
I always enjoy hearing from you, my friend. You always have such nice, kind words to say. You’re a true encourager.
I hope you’re having a great Friday.
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You’re welcome. Well, yes … I think we’ve talked about perfection before. I have many thoughts on perfection. And I think there are levels to perfection, places beyond perfection. But a discussion for another time.
Again, a lovely piece. You’re welcome. I had great Friday! I hope you had the same! And have the best weekend!
Oh great. I would love to hear your thoughts on perfection, Benjamin. We definitely must discuss this some time.
Thanks again. I hope you had a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead.
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Beautifully stated, love the poetry – the words and the flow! Especially liked the very last line! 🙂 I agree Staci, life is a journey and you never know what is around the next bend, except to expect the unexpected.
Thank you so much Mark. I’m so glad you liked it. I didn’t know if I was going to contribute anything this week for the poetry prompt because I’ve been feeling so uninspired lately. Then I just decided to go ahead and give it a try. Search within and do the work, and voila, out came this.
I know you know exactly what I mean by this last line, and I’m so glad you do.
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Yes, a journey, indeed. Beautiful poem, Staci. Hugs.
Thanks so much Audrey. I’m glad you liked it. I can tell through your poetry, that you definitely consider life a journey. And you take advantage of the moments too, which is awesome.
Hugs.
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Yes, we are definitely all on a journey. Hopefully all on the path to the same destination! And it’s quite eye opening when you look back and see how it’s all pieced together.
Oh yes, hopefully.
I agree. I often remember the past and experiences and the way things have progressed. It’s awesome, and builds faith even.
By the way Carol, my hubby and I have decided to pull our Aspie son from school and homeshool him starting February (that’s the start of the school year here in Brazil).
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hmmm … a jungle gym … lots of leaps of faith. x tony
Hahaha, a jungle gym. I never thought of it that way, Tony.
Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, I feel like my angel-self is travelling through the human world through my human-self, learning about being human and how to reach out to other humans and remind them of their own beautiful angel selves 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤
Haha. Hi Trini. I know I can always count on you for a comment of the spiritual nature. Which reminds me, I was watching a couple of Ted x talk last night about God and science, which were really good. Like if you look at science and certain laws of nature and all, you can see amazing comparisons to certain attributes of God. I’m not any great intellectual so I don’t know how to explain them exactly, but they were really good. One was even banned from Ted x Talks because of the polemic nature of challenging science, when it came to certain inconsistencies and all. If you’re interested at all, you can check them out here:
Hope you’re having a lovely time, full of rest relaxation and fun with your brother and his wife.
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Oh, how interesting!! 🙂 I will watch them in the evening. now it is morning and my brother and I are going art-hopping 🙂 meaning we will go to art galleries the whole day!!! Yaaaaay!! 🙂 🙂
Oh how wonderful. I would love to go art hopping. I will have to remember that when I’m in a place that has great art galleries. Hope you have (or had) fun.
Yes, I think you’ll like the videos. I mean, I’m not any great intellect or anything, and don’t understand a lot about science stuff, but I found these talks really wonderful in the sense that it’s not just about the material world within the parameters of time and space. There’s so much more.
I hope you enjoy them. Let me know what you think ok.
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I can’t believe what I just read in your post. This is the first post I read after I blogged a few minutes ago. You said what I was thinking, so beautifully. Very nice post
Oh, I ‘m so glad that you found your way here. Maybe my post was like a confirmation in your heart. I hope so.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
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Oh yes, we are definitely on a journey with an assigned purpose and anointing. We lose sight of that at times, but the Lord always manages to get us back on task and running our race toward that end. He even uses the detours we sometimes take to teach us things we’ll need when we get back in the race. Great poem! Great question! Hugs and blessings, N 🙂 ❤
Oh yes Natalie. I like how you mentioned that when we lose sight, “He always manages to get us back on task.” It makes me think about sheep, and how they’re so dumb and prone to wander off, but the shepherd always gently nudges it back into the fold. That’s me, a dumb sheep 🙂
Thanks for you kind words N. I’m glad you liked the poem.
Hugs and blessings to you.
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Ah yes…I do see my life as a journey. Sometimes I just need to fasten my seatbelt, sit back and enjoy the ride 😉
Haha! I like that cutie. Me too. Sometimes it does seem to go a bit fast and drive along treacherous highways.
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I always believed that two people might have faced same circumstances and problems in life…but in the end their decisions will define them and shape them…
I did some horrible mistakes whih I would never like my kids to do…but I also learnt there was noone to show me the right path…there was no one who could have understood my problems as an adoloscent…India is going through a bad phase of transition…but I have learnt so many things so far in the beautiful and awesome journey of my life…
I am calling it beautiful because it made me what I am today and am proud of it 🙂
Great Post Staci…again a thought provoking one 🙂
Oh yes, I love that. “Their decisions will define them and shape them.” I so agree.
I also made some really bad decisions in my life, which I had to pay the consequences of. I grew up with an alcoholic father that wasn’t the greatest role model for me or my brothers. My mom tried her best, but poor girl, she really went through the wringer. It’s tough when you don’t have someone leading you or showing you the way in your formative years.
What do you mean, “India is going through a bad phase of transition”? I’m interested to know.
I love how you recognized, that even though you may have gone through rough times, it has shaped you into who you are today, and that is beautiful. It’s so great when you can come through guck and be proud of who you’ve become.
Thanks so much Aarya for your amazing comment, and your kind words.
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I think that we’re all a beautiful mess. The bumps in this ride called life have given us bruises that we’ll carry for the rest of our days. It’s up to us to determine if those bumps and bruises defeat us, or shape us into beings who’ve learned, and can use the darkest of times to illuminate the path for our children. Thank you for yet another thought provoking question, Staci.
Hah! Oh yes, a beautiful mess. Do you remember a poem I did some time ago called, ‘A Beautiful Mess’?
I love the idea of that Rob.
“It’s up to us to determine if those bumps and bruises defeat us, or shape us into beings who’ve learned, and can use the darkest of times to illuminate the path for our children. ”
–I love this, and totally agree. Suffering is inevitable, but what are you going to do with it, right?
Thanks so much Rob.
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I do remember, Staci. 🙂 I loved the idea of it and thought it was appropriate here. Exactly – what are we going to do with it? The next generation is dependent on that answer.
Wonderful poem Staci Lys! I especially the second stanza, because I think it’s very true! And the last line too. Yes, I think of my life as a journey… and of course our experiences and choices shaped me into who I am today. For sure! I think we should “meditate” on what we have learned throughout our journey, and how we’ve reacted to it.That’s self analysis or self-criticism. It’s very important because if you are able to become aware of mistakes you can try to improve youself, and if you become aware of grace(s) in you life, you become intensively grateful… and gratefulness is extremely important. “Let come what may, let come what may”… yes! and remember to remember… and try to try… and learn to learn… thank you for this thoughtful post Staci, as always 🙂 ♥♥
Thank you so much Frederic. I really like the second stanza too.
Interesting as we grow older, we really start to reflect on our lives, and what it all means, and all we’ve passed.
“if you become aware of grace(s) in you life, you become intensively grateful”
–I love this Frederic. It’s so true. In considering my life, from where I came from, and the experiences I’ve had growing up – and then after I became a Christian, and all I went through, and all the healing that God has done in my life, I am so grateful. I can’t imagine how my life would be today without that pure, life-transforming grace. As you would say, ‘Ahhhhhhhh…’
THank you, once again Frederic and much love to you.
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wonderful poem and deep words – wow – first class meaningful and deep inspirational!
THank you so much Mihrank. I really appreciate your comment and for appreciating it.
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Hey stacy epic poem. I can sense the spiritual tones in the poem. I thought this line was really clever in particular “won with the sun, won with the son”. Awesome to say the least. Also check out my post if you dont mind.
http://franzical.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/a-path-is-not-made/
Such hope and beauty in this piece. I love how you used the image with the poem. Well done.
Thank you Laura. I’ve been really getting into the actual poetry forms for a while now, and it was fun doing this prompt to a Monotetra.
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Life is certainly a journey. Sometimes when we look back at the rough times, the thin path the Lord brought us through is clear to see, yet at the time it just felt like chaos. I’ve found that those experiences just build ever more trust in Him 🙂
I couldn’t agree with you more Chris. It’s like the testing of faith, and how it strengthens us.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
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I agree with the thoughts that life is a journey, but I look at it like this: We are like people on a tour bus, God is our driver. We can walk around, talk to as many people as we want, but we must stay on the bus. If we get off and try to walk the distance ourselves life becomes impossible. God want to get us to our destination, doesn’t matter what we do on the bus, just stay on it. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking it. Be blessed today and know that you do make a difference. Meghan
oooo – you are such a nice poet – 🙂
and I think if more Christians remembered that this is not our true home, just a temporary stay, well they’d be a lot more content with different ups and downs of the journey…
have a nice week 🙂
Oh yes, that’s a great comment and observation, “they’d be a lot more content with the different ups and downs”. Thank you so much for sharing that.
I don’t really lead the so-called, ‘normal’ life, and I think that because of the life I’m living, and the experiences I’ve had, it’s easier to accept that. We truly are just nomads passing through, aren’t we? hehehe
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You have a great week too.
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Oh yes, and thank you so much for encouraging me with your kind words. I really do appreciate it.
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you are so sweet to say that ❤ – and I think that is what brings me back to check out your posts – you have that right brained artist stuff going on with left brained depth and logic –
and I also love your point about the battle in the mind – and then your play on sun/son – fun, deep, and nicely done.
Ohh, thank you so much. I really feel blessed for such a sweet comment/reply.
“you have that right brained artist stuff going on with left brained depth and logic ”
–This especially touched me. I used to be (and to some extent, still am) a very strong feeler. I wasn’t much of a thinker. My husband is the exact opposite, so I think there really is something to that saying, ‘opposites attract’. I have learned so much from him (and others like him), especially when it comes to seeing the world, and how it is today (post-industrialism, modernism, shaping of culture and sociology). My husband teaches an excellent class on World-view. Anyhow, I have to confess though that I get so overwhelmed with all the thoughts and ideas that go on in my head, because I sooooo want to marry the creative with the intellect. Time escapes me, and oftentimes I don’t know how to set my priorities straight (like not sleeping until 2:00 am because I’m just researching and learning and don’t want to stop, but just want to create – EEK!)
Anyhow, thanks again for such sweet words.
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spoken like a true artist! ha! 🙂 have a nice rest of your day
Awwww, thanks.
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Beautiful thoughts!!! Life is a beautiful journey and each phase of life has its own charm and challenges. It is the journey not the destination that matters in life, it so happens that we think more of our past and not cherish the moment we are in, before we pause and realize it fly into past. Time & events are two magical aspects of the life’s wonderful journey…
I couldn’t have said it better myself Nihar. Thanks for sharing this. “It is the journey, not the destination that matter.” It’s so true. Life happens in the journey. The destination is where it ends, right 🙂
Have you ever seen the movie, “Peaceful Warrior”? I love it. It speaks about noticing our moments and valuing what is truly valuable.
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Beautiful poem, Staci! Love it. You have a real talent with words. 🙂
I do think of life as a journey, and my journey so far has definitely not taken me where I expected it to, both in good ways and bad ways. I often find myself relating with Frodo the hobbit, of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, who finds himself on a dangerous, epic journey that he knows could very well cost him his life. Despite the dangers he faces, he presses on and perseveres, for the slim hope that his quest will not be in vain, even if he loses his life. That’s how I try to face my own journey, which so far has been fraught with more pain than joy—hoping, believing, against all odds, that something good will come out of everything I’ve been through.
But it’s true that our journeys shape us. Even if our journeys end well, as Frodo’s did, they often come with a cost. I’ve lately found myself agreeing with Frodo’s words, when he says, after his dangerous journey is over, “How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand…there is no going back? There are some things time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.” For many, the journey leaves indelible scars that will find no cure till this life ends and the next begins. That is when the belief that “this world is not my home” provides the greatest comfort.
Hi April. Thank you so much for your sweet words. I am encouraged by them.
My husband loves Lord of the Rings.
I think that oftentimes the journey ends up different than people imagine. I have never imagined how my life would turn out. It’s just the way I am. Although I am kind of a planner, I have never had a ‘life plan’, except to work with YWAM in missions. But then again, that’s because I really sensed that that was a call on my life.
“There are some things time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.” For many, the journey leaves indelible scars that will find no cure till this life ends and the next begins.”
–I can relate this to my upbringing in a household with an alcoholic father that I lived in fear of. He’s no longer with us, but he did make his peace with God just a couple of weeks before he passed on. I was never able to ‘feel’ love for him though. You know, the type of love and respect that a daughter would normally have in a healthy father/daughter relationship. I remember I used to have a lot of anxiety, and always felt that it was because I was out of the will of God, or that I had done something wrong. Then one day when I was having my quiet time, God all of a sudden showed me that I feared him as I did my own dad. That blew me away. I still had to undergo a lot of healing and changing of mentality, but it was in the journey that it happened.
So glad to hear from you April, and hey, looking forward to your visit this year. 🙂
This is exquisite work, my friend. Experiences do shape us, it becomes our becoming. I read this line somewhere – ‘It takes a life-time to learn how to live’ and reading your poem reminded me of how both right and wrong it is to think that – there’s no correct way to live and that’s the brilliance of it, right? If you had not blinked this very second, you could have seen something you did not – that’s what choices and experiences are about – we would lose our identities if it were not there, as you so beautifully say – “These shades of grey, this monochrome, but truth and I together roam as coloured gloam”
Our lives are our monochromes and our coloured gloam. That’s what I have learnt from my journey thus far. 🙂
What a great quote. “It takes a life-time to learn how to live”. And boy is that true. And not only to learn how to live, but also to see what is of true value.
Wonderful comment. Thank you so much for sharing, and of course, for your sweet words and appreciation.
Hugs and cookies.
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Staci, How inspiring to witness your journey as a poet. I recall not too long ago you were taken with poetry and decided to dive in. Congratulations on your development of your craft!
Thank you so much Chloe. Yes, that’s right. Poetry was all new to me, but really has become a medium for expressing myself creatively. If I could do it all (sing, paint, draw, photography, and dance like you) I most certainly would. Time escapes me though. Ugh.
Thanks again Chloe. I truly appreciate your comment.
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very nice and moving
Thank you so much. I’m so glad you liked it.
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