An Endless Journey - Essay by Paddy Martin.
I have found life to be a series of first steps on a journey, but where are we going?
I don’t really know… to an end? Or perhaps to a beginning!
I used to think I had come a long way on this journey, then I discovered I had only taken the first step. I thought I knew exactly where I was headed and found myself in unfamiliar surroundings.
Youth was a collection of crossroads and bridges, as certain as I was I still took the wrong turn, and in my recklessness too often burnt those bridges.
In the planned “Settle Down” years I found myself wandering the far corners of the Earth, a nomad with an aching heart for home.
As the Winter approached I found a garden and here I began to understand that each step was the first step. I saw the flowers that bloom in the human heart and the beauty of man’s ability to love and be loved by a fellow human being, I had arrived at the first step of an endless journey and I had no need to know the destination.
In the Winter I found the Spring of my being and a Summer that lit up my soul and so now I take the first step into the Autumn of my life’s content and I find the greatest thrill has been that I have shared this endless journey with so many others.
16th January 2011
A couple of years ago I interacted regularly with Patrick Martin. He seemed to me very human and warm, child-like in his wonder. And I respect his work overall. I was very sad to read of his passing (only about 2 months ago). Well, there's nothing really to be sad about; he's singing and cavorting with the angels now, while we here must continue to labour and suffer (and sometimes experience joy).
Chrissie, we are glad his "calendar" was a fiscal calendar with his fourth "quarter" ending in a creative Spring. tfs
A great piece of writing.
a wise and beautifully written essay
My philosopher poet you're re-born?