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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Oh, the Places I Went

Pin It My thoughts tonight are blowing around, like the gusts of snow cast up by the icy November wind outside against a murky sky—I find myself caught up in that shadowy atmosphere as I gaze out my window at the night and the darkness which covers the outside world like an ornamented shroud.

Inside, the glow of the mulled cider candle illuminates the room; its guttural flame flickers back and forth, casting a thousand twisting shadows to the walls and ceiling in an elaborate dance; the smell of fresh cider wafts about the house.

It seems as of late that my life is a smorgasbord—a smorgasbord of moments—a culinary feast positioned together in a mottled buffet, awaiting the perusals of the ravenous comers and goers, heaping their saucers and bowls with something—hopefully of substance—to fill them.

I stand in line, waiting to be filled as well, here at my usual place at the dusty-blue counter atop a high-backed chair. I reflect on my life up to this point, all of my yesterdays—all those moments which are now irretrievable.

Life is such a fragile thing, really.

I find myself contemplating moments, and where they would have led me if I would have but taken different roads to the present, rather than those which I did choose. One cannot help but question just where that other path might have taken them; what other sights they would have afforded…

In my ponderings this evening, I found myself searching out the book given to me years ago by a friend, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, and reading over its words with silent awe. I share a few selections with you, which as I read them, seemed to leap off of the page and move about mind like the shadowy dancers…

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy
who'll decide where to go.

Oh, the places you'll go!
There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored.
There are games to be won.
And the magical things
you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est
winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous
as famous can be,
with the whole wide world
watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

You won't lag behind
because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang
and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly,
you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go,
you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!

So...
be your name Buxbaum
or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van
Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So, get on your way!


So now I find myself sitting,
And pondering more.
The words of the Doctor,
Which have me puzzling sore.

The words which he penned,
So eloquently here.
These words are the words,
I so needed to hear.

I find myself knowing,
For knowing I do.
My life was the one
To do what I choose.

And could it be different,
From the way that I lived?
Yes, it is true
But I gived what I gived.

So content I am now,
Content to be me.
This was the way,
I chose it to be.

So I finish my post,
And run it instead.
I am off to dream now
Sweet dreams in my bed.

8 comments:

Anaise said...

Those pesky "what ifs" sure can hit us hard when we're tired--and a little shot of encouragement goes a long way.

Contentment is a blessing without price.

I enjoyed this post.

Denae said...

I have battled with the coulda woulda shoulda's often. And I find that the more content I become with what I am and have now the happier I am. It's a hard battle to fight, but the rewards are even greater than I could have imagined.

I loved your Dr. Seussing at the end, what a fabulous, talented man you are.

Corine Moore said...

This is awesome. It completely sums up what I have been thinking!

I have a lot on my plate now (adding odd jobs to my already busy schedule), thus - probably won't be blogging or reading blogs for a while, so wont get the glimpse I have gotten this way of how you are doing...

but I hope and pray that your life will be filled with sweet things, and that you will be filled to the brimming!

Know this - that God works in mysterious and great ways, and good is sure to come from even sour bowls to people like you who love and serve Him.

Corine Moore said...

PS You really should be quite content to be you - YOU ARE AWESOME! ;D

Rachel said...

And when you wake up
and get out of bed,
do us all a big favor,
and fix that bed head!

Giggling.....sorry! When y'all post with poetry it makes me want to answer back in poetic form but........"bad form". What movie is that quote from?

Satan is great at making us wish things were different. Unsatisfied. Satan wants us to be miserable. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. Even in our trials. This life is a test. A huge test! But a test. Satan blew his chance and so in doing so.....you know what he does and he is good at it!

Love the poem and your ending. I tell my kids, "Upon closer inspection greener pastures have manuer in them too". I made that up all by my little self. Can ya tell? :D

Life could be different......but it would have manuer in it too. We can step in it and wrinkle our noses and cry or we can take the crap and make fertilizer out of it and grow something beautiful...... :) Sorry, ranch girl...you can take the girl out of the country.....but you can't take the country out of the girl.....

Gerb said...

Wow... maybe we should publish a book of poetry? Okay, maybe not.

I had all sorts of profound things to say but I think that instead I'll direct you to Rachel's comment again. Amen to all of it.

Richard & Natalie said...

Contentment is a great place to be; a place that perhaps we need to live in more often.

Also give a big 'Amen' to Rachel's comment. So much truth there; truth I needed to hear today.

Teachinfourth said...

Anaise - I guess there is a lot to say with that old expression that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' To trade the sure thing for something which might only be, would not be a smart trade...

Denae - I couldn't agree more...with contentment comes happiness.

Corine - Just the random thoughts that a late night can bring with it.

Rachel - Messy is the new groomed. Totally hip. As for the manure; I'm sure every life has at least a little bit.

Gerb - I'm not quite the poet. I can fake 'The Dr." at times, but that is about the extent of my prose.

Natalie - Let's hear it for manure!

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