This poem is my heart right now. The only difference is I think I am the type of soul who saw the whole journey and chose to come anyway ♥︎
.
For Those Who Have Far to Travel
An Epiphany Blessing
.
If you could see
the journey whole
you might never
undertake it;
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.
.
Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping
step by
single step.
.
There is nothing
for it
but to go
and by our going
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:
.
to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts
of intuition and dream;
to follow the star
that only you
will recognize;
.
to keep an open eye
for the wonders that
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions
beyond fatigue
beyond what would
tempt you
from the way.
.
There are vows
that only you
will know;
the secret promises
for your particular path
and the new ones
you will need to make
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not
have foreseen.
.
Keep them, break them,
make them again:
each promise becomes
part of the path;
each choice creates
the road
that will take you
to the place
where at last
you will kneel
.
to offer the gift
most needed—
the gift that only you
can give—
before turning to go
home by
another way.
.
– Jan Richardson