The Journey

 One day you finally knew 

what you had to do, 

and began, 

though the voices around you 

kept shouting their bad advice— 

though the whole house began to tremble 

and you felt the old tug 

at your ankles. 

"Mend my life!" each voice cried. 

But you didn't stop. 

You knew what you had to do,

 though the wind pried 

with its stiff fingers 

at the very foundations, 

though their melancholy 

 was terrible. 

It was already late enough, 

and a wild night, 

and the road full of fallen branches and stones.

 But little by little, 

as you left their voices behind,

 the stars began to burn 

through the sheets of clouds, 

and there was a new voice 

which you slowly recognized 

as your own, 

that kept you company 

as you strode 

deeper and deeper into the world 

determined to do the only thing you could do— 

determined to save the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver 

The perfect summation of why I need my Camino experience.
~~~~~~~~~~
May you also be blessed to know when
and how
to save your life!