A  WALKING  STICK
July  12,  2009

When first he met us

along the shore

he said:

“Come with me, for if you wish

to understand who I am

and what I am about

you must watch my footsteps

as we walk across this land.”

At his side

we walked

beside the sea

and listened to its whispers and its roars,

up mountain sides

to pause and think of where we’ve been

and where we had to go,

along dusty roads

and city streets

close enough to hear

people call for healing and forgiving,

to tables spread with food enough for all to eat

to plains of grass with those who

had no bread at all.

And when the moment came

for him to leave us, for reasons all his own,

he said. “Go and tell the others

who I am and what I’ve said and done,

and take a single walking stick,

that and nothing more,

and see your footsteps

in the sand

to discover who you are

and know your journey will

not end

until

your final question

is asked…

and not until!