Paths to Hope: A Spiritual Odyssey

In sacred lands, on distant shores,

A journey launched to seek the core,

From temple spires to holy domes,

The wanderer roams, yet never finds home.

A search for meaning, for love and grace,

Led me through time, from place to place,

From doctrines preached, to hymns adorned,

In every faith, some hope was born.

The Christian's cross, the Muslim's prayer,

The Jewish star, all filled with care,

The Hindu's chant, the Sikh's devotion,

Every path, a glimpse of the ocean.

But still, a longing, a quiet plea,

For something more, a lock with no key,

A cry for solace, for peace within,

A silent battle, I couldn't win.

Then Buddhism whispered, soft and true,

A path of mindfulness, something new,

A Middle Way, a life without strife,

The teachings held the keys to life.

In meditative calm I found,

A peace profound, a love unbound,

No longer searching, no longer lost,

In Buddha's wisdom, I found my host.

For faith provides a gentle rope,

A universal guide, a glimmer of hope,

Regardless of the creed we choose,

In belief, we win, we never lose.

In faith's embrace, we find our way,

Through darkest nights to a brighter day,

No matter the path, the name, the face,

In religion's arms, we find our grace.

© Susie Stiles-Wolf