KEEP GOING

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me..." Psalm 23:4

Just keep going

darkness creeps you out

and you want to turn around 
but you're closer 

to where you want to be 

than from where you started

eventually you'll have to make the trip anyway... 
this is the way life is. Full of deep

dank valleys with overgrowth and you can't

see your way out; just keep going

push back the branches, swat away gnats

watch for snakes, don't swallow mosquitos

and don't stop... just don't stop...
the path has rocks and twigs
turns down and up and twists into what looks

like dead ends until you're up on them

and there, just when it seems like there's no

where to go, it opens up and there's another step

to take and another, and the road widens

for a moment and a little light from the moon

shines in the dark and you can make out

some distant horizon 
imagine jackals along the way, 
and hear mountain lions

low growl announce their presence

you learn that mountain lions are not evil--

they are just predators and you are natural food; 

this knowledge is necessary as you watch in the dark; 

it is the way of life that big cats hunt humans, 

that danger lurks while you make your way to safety

that death stalks us all, makes a mockery of our bravery, 

bares its fangs in the density shrouding the night

but don't stop walking through the darkness

past the overgrowth, don't stop even when fear

grabs you by the throat, strangles you into 

submission, claws at your skin; just don't stop

because fear will fade with the steps

and song will come up in your throat

and you will believe that you are not alone

that this journey is never solitary, that your

companions are more than jackal and lion

that you can trust the company

just keep going

© Valerie Bridgeman

April 17, 2013

DRAFT/DOES NOT FEEL FINISHED