"The Journey"
Lynnae Jackson
Pleasant Valley High School PTA
Pleasant Valley, IA
Once more, I can feel the breath of whispers in my ear
Once more, loving arms enfold me in a warm cocoon
Once more I taste the scent of home-baked bread on my tongue,
Like a wanderer who rests his weary feet in the household of a friend,
I gratefully leave my heavy burden at the door
To shoulder it again no more.
I lived here once, when I was young
I lived and laughed and loved and played
Like a fledging sparrow, I sprouted tiny wings
Yet too small to fly.
But Time marched on, moving at his slow, steady pace
And strengthened my wings, trimming and shaping my pinion feathers
I grew strong enough to fly little distances on my own
And gained my first taste of freedom. I no longer found joy in my simple, peaceful life
I yearned for adventure beyond the safety of my home
Father warned me not to pull away too soon,
That I had much more to learn.
Intoxicated with my newfound power,
I tugged and fought and pushed and pulled
And begged to leave the nest
Pushing relentlessly until at last, my parents acquiesced.
My Father granted me my freedom,
And warned me to be careful, and avoid the devil's snare,
Which waits in deadly patience for the unwary wanderer
To lose his way and drown.
He told me that He loved me
And I could always come back home
But too soon I flew away, eager to be on my own
I learned too late to heed his warning.
Amid the changing currents and forceful winds
I found myself tossed and turned, lost and alone
Father's words floated back to me,
Beckoning me back home.
But in my stubbornness, I pushed away and floundered
Searching for something that could not be found
In my youthful ignorance, I ignored His pleas
Determined to find my way alone.
I learned many things, through great struggle and pain
But I never learned a lesson so important
As the one I learned on that cold, lonely night
When I discovered what I had lost
As I wallowed in sorrow and seclusion
Lost amidst a raging storm,
I had no friend or kin to keep me company
For that I had only myself to blame
I had had a happy life
Filled with family and friends
I had lived in safety and peace
Under my Father's wing
He wanted to teach me, to guide me to adulthood
But like a loving parent, He let me go
When I tugged at the ropes that bound me down
And I had left Him without a second thought
How foolish I was! How ignorant and blind!
Had I trusted in my Father, Fate might have smiled on me
A sudden ache filled my heart and I then knew:
I missed my home.
At last I understood my monstrous error
But a vestige of my broken pride remained
Driving me on my stubborn path
Wandering, never going home
Until the fateful day
When a kinsman from home stopped me on my way
And told me that Father loved me
And I would do well to make my way back to Him again
His words affected me as nothing else had
Inspired, I resolved to take his counsel
Only to discover how far I had wandered
And the length of my journey home
Despite the lengthy trek ahead, I eagerly tackled the course
Plodding onward along the ever steady path
That led, most assuredly, straight back to my home
Where I knew my family waited
I met others who mocked me, accusing me of weakness
For wishing to go back to my roots
They laughed and prodded cruelly
And tried to lead me astray
But I resisted with newfound conviction of heart
For I kept, deep inside,
My kinsman's word burning in my heart
With a fervent, beckoning flame
The road stretched on, the journey long
And Time took his due
Slowing my feet and straining my weary limbs
Claiming even my great reserves of fortitude
Yet I pressed on, shuffling along at an oxen's pace
My wings long withered and useless
But my heart beat as strongly as it had in days long past
Driving me relentlessly onward
Until at last, my tired body on the verge of breaking down,
I reached the familiar sparkling gates of my home
It blurred in my vision as tears swam in my eyes
And my tired heart filled to bursting.
Mother saw me first, and rushed out to greet me
Wrapping me in her arms and kissing my upturn'd face
With the fervency of long-restrained love
And years of heartache.
My brothers and sisters greeted me
With cheerful smiles and shining tears
Gathering me into their arms and ushering me inside
Where I beheld my Father, waiting for me.
Sudden shame flooded my being
And I fell on my face before Him
"Father, I'm so sorry," I sobbed
And waited for His reply.
He neither scolded nor reproached
His eyes betrayed no sign of fury or disappointment
Only the soft radiating love I knew He felt for me
Warm as a summer sun.
Gently, He reached down and lifted my face,
Caressing my check and drying my tears
"My child," he said to me,
"I understand."
No other words He spoke
For no others were needed
In those two words, I understood all He had to say:
I had been forgiven.
Joy filled my heart and lit my face
As He smiled and opened wide his arms to me
I needed no persuasion to enter them
And let His love enfold me
That day I realized that my life had had a purpose:
To learn and grow and discover things on my own
To experience the joys and pains of doing things alone
But when the time had come, I learned most of all
That my favorite place is home.
< Previous
