A Promise Assured

Uphill

Written By 

Christina Rossetti

Does the road wind uphill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day's journey take the whole long day?

From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?

A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

Of labor you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yea, beds for all who come.

Have you ever traveled in a strange city or country totally by yourself? Did you ever have any misgivings about the reception that you would find at your journey's end?  This poem is about that very thing.  The traveler in this poem is taking the one journey that we all will eventually take, one that we must ultimately take alone. The journey from life as we know it, through death, to another life which we can only imagine and take on faith. Wouldn't you like to ask some questions, to be assured of what your new life will be like?  Listen in and then know that the poet and I believe the promise of eternal life will not be broken.

This is a poem with two speakers.  I have named them "The Weary One" and "The Comforter."  The poem starts with a question from "The Weary One" and is immediately answered in the next line by "The Comforter."  The conversation continues in this manner throughout the entire poem.  First a question, then an answer.  In this way "The Weary One" is assured over and over again that he will find rest and comfort at his journey's end.

In the first verse, "The Weary One" asks if "the road" or journey is all uphill. "The Comforter" confirms that it is.  To me this is saying life will always be a struggle.  The question is asked if the journey will take the entire day. Symbolically speaking, "The Weary One" is asking if he has to really go through each step of his life.  Is there a shortcut?  The answer comes back that there are no shortcuts in life.  The journey must be completed in its entirety. This verse is the only one which does not give straightforward comfort to "The Weary One." In a way though, it is comforting because it lets "The Weary One" and the reader know that everyone must live through his or her entire life.  There are no shortcuts for anyone.  We are all equal.

The rest of the poem is very comforting.  For every question "The Weary One" asks, "The Comforter" has a positive answer.  In the second verse "The Weary One" asks if there will be a resting place for the night.  What he is saying is, when life is through will there be a place for me?  "The Comforter" says yes. "The Weary One" is then worried if he will be able to find his resting place and "The Comforter" assures him that he cannot miss it.

In the third verse "The Weary One" is worried that when he arrives he will be alone, but "The Comforter" tells him he will meet others who have gone before him.  Next comes the question of how to gain entrance to this resting place and "The Comforter" assures "The Weary One" that he will not be kept standing at the door.  This is telling us that no matter when our life's journey is over, our place in heaven is already reserved and waiting for us.

In the last verse "The Weary One" asks if he will find comfort and ease from all the pains of his labors through life.  The answer given is "Of labor you shall find the sum."  This means, in essence, that you will reap what you sow.  If you have lived a good life and kept true to yourself and God, your reward will be great in Heaven.  The final question that is asked is will there be enough room for everyone who wants in?  "The Comforter" simply says yes, enough beds for all who ask to come in.

This is a very symbolic and comforting poem for me.  It gives me the assurance that at the end of my journey through life, there will be a comforting and restful place waiting for me in heaven.

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What is written above was an assignment for an English class back when I was in college.  I decided to include it in my blog because even after all these years it is still a very comforting poem for me.  I know some of you reading my blog may hold different beliefs than I do on the subject of death and the eternal life that follows.  That is okay.  I am not trying to challenge or change your beliefs. I am simply showing you, through this poem, why my faith in God and my religious beliefs are comforting to me.  When life gets chaotic, it is good to stop and take a moment to remember what is important, what makes you happy, and what brings you peace of mind.

Patriotism

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all."


Are those not awesome thought-provoking words? When I look at the flag of the United States of America (my flag) and recite these words, I feel at peace and it makes me smile. Yes, I know that sounds sappy and a little over the top, but please keep reading and I will try to explain why the Pledge of Allegiance makes me feel that way.

I recited these words every day when I went to school as a child.  Attending school in the late 1950s and 60s, saying the Pledge was not only a way to start the school day, but a reminder that we lived in the greatest country in the world. Back then, the United States was in the midst of "the Cold War" and learning what to do during a bomb drill was as common as learning what to do during a tornado or fire drill. Some people even built bomb shelters in their back yards.  It was a scary time for many of us.  The threat of the United States being hit by a nuclear bomb was a real fear for many people.  Saying the Pledge at school or at community meetings helped us to feel connected to each other both in our individual communities and throughout our nation.  It was also a way for us to express our love for our country and our gratitude for being a citizen  of the United States.

After looking up definitions for some of the key words in the Pledge, here is a different, albeit longer, way to say it.  "I vow to be loyal to the flag of the United States of America and to the country it represents which is governed by elected officials, not royalty.  All of the different states which are included in the United States of America make up one entire nation.  We cannot be divided or broken apart; a lesson we learned from the Civil War.  Our citizens all have the ability to act and speak freely without fear of being censored and we can all have the expectation that our nation's laws will be used to fairly judge people accused of committing crimes and punished accordingly.  The United States of America was founded on the idea that we as citizens can choose to practice (or not) the religion of our choosing.  Therefore, we are one nation under God."

Don't you agree that the Pledge which was written by Frank Bellamy in 1892 and adopted by Congress in 1942 is much more concise and memorable than what I just wrote?  It saddens me because so many people these days think the United States is a horrible country.  It is true, America is not perfect, but then who among us is?  In my opinion, part of what makes the United States of America so great is our Constitution.  That document sets forth the rules that we as a nation are to be governed by and how we are to be governed.  The best part of the Constitution is that it can be amended if needed as new situations arise.  For me, the most important part of what makes the United States a great country is the people.  In general, the citizens of the United States have compassion and they care about the welfare of their neighbors.  They want what is best for their families and strive to achieve their personal dreams.  That is what is so great about America.....we are allowed to dream and, if willing to put forth the effort needed, we can achieve that dream.  That is why the Pledge of Allegiance is important.  By reciting it in schools and at community meetings, we are creating a feeling of unity among our friends and neighbors in a common cause....showing others here and around the world that we love the country we live in...that we are thankful for the privileges we have....and that we will always remain united.  We are the United States of America.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag"