Raymond Lessons 11: All day Long

Possessions Speak

Possessions speak to us all day long. That book you purchased But have never read Says “Read me!” And the empty shelf  Says “fill me up with more.” Some possessions warm and nurture While others distract, dissuade, and even harm. If we are not careful, the things we own Can siphon off our strength. Or they can build us up, Make us better. So choose carefully what you own And don’t be afraid of letting go Of a thing  When it no longer serves  The purpose for which it was purchased.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

They say that not all who wander are lost, And that’s true of me, I think.  I wander, wander, Never sure Exactly where I’m going, But also not without a rough idea. The inner light points in a direction And I begin to act, to move step by step Toward the place where it feels that I should go. And I trust the way to open up before me. And it does. That’s the miracle Though it does not come Without the work Of exercising faith. I relate to the albatross and its endless worldwide journeys. It is said that the albatross can travel ten thousand miles To bring home one meal of oily vomit for its chick. Yeah. I think that’s it. Ten thousand miles To find one little treasure, One morsel  To regurgitate here upon the empty page. I find myself wanting to expand upon this work. To share more of what I see and feel, More of the people that I meet As I wander, wander, Round the world.

Choose Your Story

A discussion of "Choose Your Story" It is possible to serve the light For your own sake? To be  Dark inside, Filthy with secret pride While outwardly stacking up Your achievements,  Allowing others To laud your name,  And never once realizing That your soul is lost, Not in gross immorality, But in the actor’s game The hypocrites play. Listen closely To yourself. Is your story one of redemption? Or is it the hero’s myth? They are not the same story. I have a deep distrust for the latter And an unfailing affection for the former. So don’t tell me how you slew the dragon. Tell me about the dragon inside of you. That’s the story I long to hear Because he lives inside me too, And it is all I can do With the help of God To find my way.

To Go Out and Come Back Home

There is the part of me that likes to go out And there is the part of me that likes  To come back home. And both play a part in the strange way  That I support my family, My family. And you are part of my family. I go out, and I come back home. And I share the wisdom that I’ve found from the road With the ones I love, the ones I love. I love you, and I pray  For you in your own journey. Perhaps one day, you will grow up To go out and come back home And share your wisdom From the road. And the cycle goes round and round, You are my children. And one day You will have children Of your own.

Raymond Lessons 11: All day Long

Lessons from Raymond, the homeless man  Who helped prepare me for the road. To view previous lessons, find my playlist entitled: Raymond Lessons. Lesson 11: All Day Long I almost didn’t mention this one Because it contradicts  Something else  That Raymond said. But it has become applicable. You see, I was skeptical  When he implied That everything came to him without asking. Sometimes, maybe. But always? And so I asked Raymond, Do you ever have to panhandle To get the things you need? “Yes,” he said. “How much?” I asked. “All day,” he said. “Every day.” “Oh…” I said. And I didn’t like that answer. Because now it appeared that our good fortune Was a special providence, and that I would not be able to escape  The work of asking.