I wrote this poem in December of 1993 when I was in Salt Lake City for a teaching assignment, which would begin the following day. I believe this was the first trip I took after starting my Object Innovations business. This morning I was reflecting on the support Marianne gave me for this bold move of going out on my own.
The trees are dormant now They are in neat rows in a street in the city The ground is covered by light snow And snow flurries are in the air Scattered traffic goes by on this quiet Sunday afternoon I have no pressing engagement And I ponder anew on the meaning and mystery of life. I visited the grounds of the great temple I was greeted with courtesy and friendship I was impressed by the dedication and sincerity of the guides They have been touched by a spirit The flame that fired their pioneers still burns And I was glad to see it. They spoke of families And that resonated in my heart At a time when I am alone Separated by business from those I love. I have been much occupied by business of late As I play at "catch up" and try to recover Years that seem lost for want of focus Life does not seem easy For me or others. Life was not easy for those pioneers They had a vision and a purpose That sustained them through many trials I too have had a vision, but so often its clarity is lost Amidst my own confusions and wanderings. Sometimes there is a moment of quiet Although I am alone, I do not feel isolated I feel close to those I love The wife of my heart and the father who nurtured me The mother who has passed on The friends who have touched me The strangers whose heartaches I have glimpsed The sorrow and the beauty and the mystery of life fill me Thank you, God, for this moment.