Traveling Mercies: The Traveler, the Destination, the Journey

(for the 2014 Chi State Convention and to honor the women of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society, International, with special thanks to Epsilon. Dedicated to the memory of Kathryn E. “Betty” Breidenthal)

We've oriented our compass,
We've sighted our lodestar,
We've mapped our destination,
We've asked for traveling mercies.

We've booked our room,

We've packed (and re-packed),
We've checked the address,
(More than once.)

We've consulted our maps

And asked our friends for shortcuts;
We've fueled up
(At some cost.)

We've brought confidence and energy enough to share;

We've looked back and waved,
Calling, “We'll meet you there!”
And set out.

We're engaged in friendly chatter

When suddenly the road looks unfamiliar.
We've missed an on ramp, an off ramp, a road sign,
And we're lost.

We hem, we haw, we put on our Brave Face,

And our worry lines begin to deepen,
When some internal guidance
Softly speaks:

“You are the compass,
You are the lodestar,
You are the destination,
Here are your Traveling Mercies.”

And one of us cries,

“Oh, how lovely—a scenic route!”
We laugh heartily,
And our spirits are lightened.

We pull in to consult our roadmaps

And ask each other for directions;
A brief backtrack, a short side-trip,
And this time

We take the transition road smoothly,

Changing highways like the pros we are,
Signaling our lane changes,
Always looking ahead.

We look at each other and think,

“Where would I be but for you,
My companions, my guides?”
Then we remember:

Someone is looking at us, thinking,

“Where would I be but for her,
My companion, my guide?
I'd be lost.”

We are the compass,

We are the lodestar,
We are the destination,
We are the Traveling Mercies.

Someone is inspired by you.

Someone is counting on you.
Someone needs what you have come to share:
An act of intentional transition.

So, tonight let us gather
Nourishment for the journey,
Food for thought,
Sustenance for the heart.

Let us find enough of what we need:

enough light to see the path;

enough courage to take the step;
enough sense to enjoy the walk;
enough company to share the time.

We are the compass,

We are the lodestar,
We are the destination,
We are the Traveling Mercies.