Easter Wanderings

Prone to Wander, Lord

2001

He wanders far from crowds, on quiet paths,

Slowly, in dark thoughts of human weakness,

In shade of trees and guilt, in cold iso-

lation of an early winter morning

And narcissistic self-pity.  But one

Prone to wander is not prone to stop

For long.  Even in despair he’ll wander

Through this vale of fears, and shadows give way

To fields and the bright risen sun and hope

Of the new day—another chance to give.

Warm sunlight and chance encounters drive

Out cold as friends and couples walk through fall

Reds and yellows.  Authors, poets, and prophets

Turn dark thoughts and keep the wanderer company,

And family stories chase his blank, cold stare.

Maybe a smile, a greeting, or a tear

Wanders on the wanderer’s face, and prayer

Wanders into his heart as he wanders

Back to his home and to his Father’s rest.

I used to do a lot of walking. Now I'm on the brink of becoming a "soccer dad" (you can't get your kids to their friends houses without driving). But I think my mind and heart are still wandering toward home. It's nice that I don't wander alone much, anymore, and I hang my hat on my head and keep my heart with me, so I can always remember that where I'm headed is in many ways already here.

And here's a favorite hymn.