Faith in the Journey

Teetering on tiptoes over weathered planks,
I grapple for steadiness.
There is fear in my stride-all tentative and wobbly.
The soles of my shoes seem thick and insensitive,
As I shakily glide one foot ahead of the other-
Uncertain if I will find solid ground.
Timidity is not behind this frail attempt for change.
It is the fear of never finding
Azure skies and billowing fluff
And ferris wheels and cotton candy.
It is fear of remaining meaningless to my domains;
That I will end as the servant who would meet the tasks,
But who was never able to move beyond the failing fence of change,
That my geriatric speed resigns me to a fate of nothingness-
Just an existence of stagnance in
an hostile environment of unappreciated entitlement.
The haze that surrounds me prevents my sure footing forward
I cannot see the way out of the encompassing smut caused by ritual,
Engulfing me and drowning me,
like a buoyantless weight dragged slowly down to suffocation.
A new challenge could change all of this...
Suddenly a guiding rope is grasped.
It gives no clues as to its end-point.
It is warm to the touch, in severe contrast to the
damp coldness enveloping me.
Could it mean hope?
One dares not answer.
But it beckons me onward...onward
Slowly at first and accelerating
Like a wheel spinning down an incline-
Steadily, determinedly, smoothly, confidently.
When suddenly a light appears to illuminate my next step-
Then the weathered plan becomes new
And solid and steady.
The road becomes wide and spacious
A chirping of sparrows and robins
Hints of spring melodies of happy days of tree climbing and story-telling.
At last, the pathway is clear
The end?
Still unknown.
Yet, Hopeful.
The journey is a passing of time with adventures left to discover.
All this made enjoyable by the warm hand which pulls me onward,
Then the face attached is in view-
It is beckoning me, encouraging me and I recognize
Him as my Savior.
His courage yanks me from my abyss.
All the while I teetered, His hand, my rope of warmth,
Was always there.
I just never knew how constant,
But now I do.
It makes the trip worthwhile,
Because I realize-
Through faith-
I am not alone.