Once upon a time
a child of happiness danced upon the land,
knew friendship with the earth
and celebrated life
with her love of solitude and simple things.
She grew into a young woman,
whose vision of self was clouded,
clothed with the complexities of insecurity
and the necessity of leaving the hallowed womb
of the quiet earth.
She walked into cities of strangers,
straining her inner eye to catch
the slightest hint of the beauty
that had energized her younger days
when she played upon the earth.
Days stretched into months
and then years went by.
She slowly changed by going deeper,
deeper, into her Center.
Never understanding why the desire
to go deeper was there
but always knowing there was no other choice
than to follow at all costs.
Darkness often loomed up large
against her searching journey.
Risk and Truth became her companions.
She met Compassion
and then Wisdom came to greet her.
So close, at times, were these companions
that she wept for their intensity
and her unworthiness.
Still, they walked with her,
and everywhere she went,
her companions reached out
and blessed the people of her life.
She could only kneel in gratitude,
offering her heart of praise
to the Divine Companion
who had faithfully kept the kindling of love
burning in her heart.
© Joyce Rupp
