Life is a Journey

Today's post is dedicated to my Cousin, John William Butler, who passed away last week. John was my namesake and was a great influence on me from the time I can first remember. I was privileged to be asked to speak at the funeral. In his honor, I wrote the following poem comparing life to a journey. John loved to travel. He made many trips abroad and met many different people. But the place he loved the best was home (Tallahassee, Florida) and his favorite people were his family and dear friends.

Life is a Journey
For John William Butler May 29, 2006
By John R. Wible

“Life is a journey,” so they say, with fits and starts at break of day,
And many’ a stop along the way, yes, “life’s a journey,” so they say.

And, as we trav’l our measured road and walk the miles by episode,
Beside come friends to share the load as we travel our measured road.

Loved ones dear, our cause to sing as our seasons move past spring,
Who to our lives true focus bring, these loved ones dear, our cause to sing.

And all the places we may know as our trip moves ‘way past “go,”
Stretch our horizons, Oh, watch them grow! ‘Mid all the places we may know.

And then we look down to the sand and find the steps where we did stand,
Those prints to the next one we must hand as we look down into the sand.

And those steps stay but for a while and help the dear ones, bring a smile,
And then – they fade from mile to mile, those steps that stay but for a while.

Last, we find the place loved best of near and far between the rest,
Heart’s home is really where we’re blessed. Home – the place we find the best.