The Journey: Two Poems to Travel With Through Life

Instructions for a Journey and a Blessing on the Camino

Photo by Laura Roberts on Unsplash

Our journey—our attitude and adventure in life’s winding paths is on my mind these days. It is no breaking news to know that we are all on a journey. Journey is a metaphor for life—the ups and downs; the ins and outs; the highs and lows; the wilderness; getting lost; arriving; beginning and all the parts inbetween—it’s all in the image of a journey.

It’s on my mind because Gwen and I are taking a journey—a pilgrimage in a couple of weeks. We are making a pilgrimage to Scotland where we will meet up with other like minded pilgrims to travel to a small, very remote island, off the coast of Scotland. It is place where Celtic Christians journeyed for thousands of years. We will be on this small island for seven days; studying, retreating; walking the edges of the island to get to the edges and core of our soul.

I felt it wise to write a few instructions for myself before I go—before I embark on this journey. I titled this poem, “Instructions for a Journey.” You can read it below. It’s about how to journey well. It is about how to live well. It is about our inner journey as we embark on an outer journey. It’s the season for graduations and in this time of year many of us are keenly aware of all the new thresholds that await not only the graduates but also, each one of us as we walk across many thresholds into new spaces, seasons and pathways of our lives. I hope you’ll enjoy the poem.

But journey is on my mind also because this fall, we will lead a pilgrimage here in Western North Carolina, called, Camino de Blue Ridge. On this particular and inaugural pilgrimage, 25 people will descend here to walk into the mountains of the Blue Ridge. Here’s a link where you can read about the Camino. I give some background, history and meaning of a pilgrimage on this site. But, in this particular site, I’ve collected some of the most moving quotes on walking, journey and pilgrimage. Click here to read the quotes! (At this point, the Camino has a wait list. But don’t let that disappoint. Some have cancelled and those are moving up and in that are already on the wait-list.)

You may want to print these pages out and tuck them in your day pack or suitcase or give them to a soul entering a new threshold of their lives. Make a card out of the one that best fits your situation.

The poem I am posting here is really a blessing for those of us on pilgrimage. While I wrote this for the Camino de Blue Ridge, it’s applicable for any pilgrimage or crossing onto a new path.

Here’s my new poem, “Instructions for a Journey.” See what stirs in you as you read it. Is there someone you want to send this to? Please do!

What’s the line that sort of stands out? Tell me and leave a comment. I’d be most grateful.

My poems in Substack are published for those readers who Subscribe to support my work. Your support makes this possible. As those of you know who’ve been around, I’m planning to publish a book of my poems, this fall. I’m focused now on working with my editor and getting it ready to give to the graphic designer. I’m eager to get this out to the world—especially to you on Substack.