The Paths I Walk

The Paths I Walk

The paths I walk are now well worn 

Decades of walking the same trails and paths 

What makes it new again each time

Looking for something that sparks a new thought or memory 

The Rock where she sat and seeing her the one I love 

Walking a little slower now

I see the leaves dropping 

They fall more slowly than years before 

The woods a bit more restful at dusk 

The sounds of summer echoing in  the air, calming my anxious heart 

What was the breath and the height of the day today? 

Was it talking with a friend along the street? 

Or was it seeing old photographs - my heart skipping beats? 

The call, beauty on the call, the image of her in early life now today cariried on 

or the text -requesting help for uncommon times, or just to let me know, -thinking of me

Was it the words I read this morning in the quiet, the sun coming up over the hill, 

“Think of it, the sky, the Earth, 

and everything on it” 

Choosing you to be His own- the wonder

Wind blown trees uprooted across the well worn path 

Can’t see very far ahead, but unearthed a new way

“You’ll get there, a light breeze against my face

Detour and turns, fragrant pine and earth in the air

Anxiety sinks down, straight on to the circumstance; calmly, faith rising, sinking deeply into my heart

The sun setting, footsteps along the path

Hope all around, walking together, remembering 

“the best is still yet to come”

The Paths I Walk, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: The Paths I Walk is a poem about a path I frequently walk in the woods. Jayne  and I walked this path when we were first engaged, and after I gave her an engagement ring we took pictures on a rock near the path.

That was forty-four years ago. We still walk this path, but the woods have changed- trees have fallen, and a wind shear early in the year block the path with fallen trees unearthed at the roots. More recently, I took a walk and was just thinking about how many times obstacles are placed in our way in life and many times our path is not a straight shot, but there’s turns, and high cliffs, and deep valleys that we go through, but we need to know that God is with us and cares for our welfare and lowers our anxious cares and points us to a future and a hope and  “the best is still yet to come!”

“And He will be leading you. He’ll be with you, and He’ll never fail you or abandon you. So don’t be afraid!” 

(Deuteronomy 31:8 voice)

“And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

- Joe Holuta

 

Walk along the path

Best years

  

Best years

Those are some of the best years of my life too

Always have been 

always will be

Depth, relationships,

There for your highest highs and your lowest lows

“Front row people” *

“Be one to someone else…

cherish the people who hold those special seats in your world”

Inspiring people, beautiful journeys

Like the tree that lends its shade to shelter on the sweltering day

Summery light on the darkest night

Refreshing swim water on a hot summer afternoon 

Evergreen trees when all the earth seems scorched 

Gently breeze over the water’s edge

Heart’s racing to proud smiles

Sleepless nights to mornings bright 

Plans and dreams steps along the way

Promising to be there for one another as the years go fleeting 

Remembering our story, remembering our Creator and life together

Best years, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta 

 *Sahil Bloom, The 5 Types of Wealth…

About this poem: Best years is a poem about years earlier in life that you can see clearly now were some of the best years of my life, with the most cherished people in my life.

We’ve all been to funerals, weddings, church services, graduations, “ Close your eyes, and take three deep breaths:

Who is sitting in the front row? These people- your Front-Row People - are the ones who truly matter. 

Open your eyes and think about them.

Find your Front-Row People. Cherish them. Be one to someone else.

• What am I doing to cherish the people who hold those special seats in my world?
• How am I letting those people know what they mean to me?
• Am I prioritizing time with them or letting it float by and disappear?”

Some questions Sahil Bloom writes about in The 5 Types of Wealth A transformative guide to design your dream life. -Joe Holuta 

The Journey to Kilbourne Lake

The Journey to Kilbourne Lake 

Tranquil Harbor and border crossings 

Travel to the commons, Doc and Mary’s garden

Packing 4Runners oh so tightly at Mallory Lake 

The smiles and greetings of five grandchildren and two cousins toward the three others that traveled far 

Lightening the day, and cooling the heat, and lessening the flies annoyances

Hiking and walking in to camp over the rocks through the Beaver Pond, dry this year,

4Runners rock and scrape and lift and go forward as the Jeep so many times and years before

The steady, creeping gears , trudging along, scraping skid plates to reach the camp

Siblings gather and embrace- being 20 years that they were all together at Venaterra and Kilbourne Lake

Snapshot from years ago, fishing pole and ax in hand 

Four friends knitted together, 

arm and arm, smiles ear to ear, and a love heart to heart

Decades ago, being the age of their children now

Running along the paths to the rocks toward Abby’s rock and Grandma‘s rock 

Fishing for perch and wading tirelessly for frogs near the cabin

The campfire smoke rises

Loons landing on the lake and greeting the morning and evening

Clouds drift overhead, then drift away, to the bluest skies

Kayaks dot the shimmering Lake 

Children’s voices echo along the beaten path 

The sound of wood being chopped and stacked

The washbasin clangs a familiar sound, and screen door sounds as dinner time nears

The fragrance of pine near the tent at the campsite near the lodge

A quiet surrounds us now

As the dark night nears, the full moon’s light towers high above the trees

Reflecting off the tin roof of the camp

And brightens the soul 

Sitting around the campfire, 

Some make their way to the swimming area of the lake 

Echoes of laughter, splashing, and sounds of joy and family 

Starry skies light up the night

Colorful hammocks, anticipating rest, swing to the sound of kayaks and row boats going across the lake 

Older kids, nestle young ones and care for and help the younger ones 

In every way helping and showing signs of affection and care 

Softening falls and leading along the way

As calm comes over the night and rest to our bodies. 

You remember Life has been good 

“Amazing journey filled with Promise,

 some conflict, Victory, and some disappointment, cherished, memorable moments, step-by-step promises fulfilled, Remarkable stories, and our story 

Each individual’s story has carried on to the next generation and to the next

As life continues on this journey 

The Journey to Kilbourne Lake Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: The Journey to Kilbourne Lake is a poem about a recent family trip to the Boone family camp in Ontario Canada near Kilbourne Lake. This was the first time that our children Matthew, Jonathan, Rachel, and Emily were able to be together since 2005 along with their children. Their cousin Megan and her husband Ryan joined us as well with their two children.

Though the days were very warm and the nights as well, this year, most everyone enjoyed cooling off in the lake from which the sounds echo in my mind. 

Hearing the laughter, the fun, remembrance of years passed, dreaming about the future, children amazed with simplicity of land, sky, kayaks, boats and water-And especially each other!

Wealth consists of many things, many factors. The family surpasses them all and Time together where hearts yield, mend, and rise - is the sweetest of all gifts of God. - Joe Holuta