Endurance

Do you understand the race you run?

Do you know the endurance with which

you need inside and out to finish the course?

Do you realize what it will ask of you,

demand of you to see and learn?

Do you know how many pathways

you will follow to dead ends,

only to turn around and begin again?

Can you see the pitfalls and sink holes

which might threaten to swallow hope,

joy, love and avoid them or limp on 

after falling in gaining strength

with each step forward you take?

Do you choose to get up again

and again pushing on toward

some unknown goal which

calls you forth into more

unknown territory?

This is the race of life.

We never know what unknown

pathways will diverge.

Yet if taken they may lead

to unexpected shores of rest.

Retreat for the soul.

If we run with endurance

the race.