A Psalm of Life

I'm working on a Mentor Training program we will pilot in September.  Just ran across this and love it.  Might use it in the training!  My comments below.  What does it say to you?

A PSALM OF LIFE

      WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN
                    SAID TO THE PSALMIST

    TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
        Life is but an empty dream ! —
    For the soul is dead that slumbers,
        And things are not what they seem.

    Life is real !   Life is earnest!
        And the grave is not its goal ;
    Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
        Was not spoken of the soul.

    Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
        Is our destined end or way ;
    But to act, that each to-morrow
        Find us farther than to-day.

    Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
        And our hearts, though stout and brave,
    Still, like muffled drums, are beating
        Funeral marches to the grave.

    In the world's broad field of battle,
        In the bivouac of Life,
    Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
        Be a hero in the strife !

    Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
        Let the dead Past bury its dead !
    Act,— act in the living Present !
        Heart within, and God o'erhead !

    Lives of great men all remind us
        We can make our lives sublime,
    And, departing, leave behind us
        Footprints on the sands of time ;

    Footprints, that perhaps another,
        Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
    A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
        Seeing, shall take heart again.

    Let us, then, be up and doing,
        With a heart for any fate ;
    Still achieving, still pursuing,
        Learn to labor and to wait.

In the context of mentoring, I like the footprints idea.  It takes the pressure off the mentor to be the all-knowing guide.  Just a footprint in that life -- a sign pointing in a direction.  A hint.  And what else can we be to a young person?  We're different.  Each must make choices and pursue their way with effort, "Let us, then, be up and doing, with a heart for any fate"!  Choices, goals, even a bit of acceptance.  Like this poem!

Comments

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Nice thought for the day... I too like the footprint idea, we all must follow our own path, but guidance from those before us is always useful.