Follow Me down a Different Path

Reflections

This short poem begins with an internal contrast that immediately creates tension: My soul should be like a pond, still and clear / But inside me rages a stormy sea. The image acknowledges an important truth—inner conflict is part of the human condition. It is rarely resolved quickly or easily.

In the second stanza, the speaker recalls setting out on the “common road” only to be led astray. This reminds us of life’s unpredictability and our limited control over events. The speaker is also learning from experience: the crooked byway becomes his teacher. The path twists and turns; on it I’ve learned / To take it day by day. One way to cope with psychological struggle is simple yet profound—to live one day at a time.

A shift in perspective

The final stanza introduces a different perspective. The dream of a perfectly still soul remains, but the speaker recognizes the level of calm he seeks may never happen, at least not in the near future: Yet storm and strife remain in my life — / This too is my Creator’s will.

With the reference to the Creator, spirituality is introduced, not as doctrine but as a path to reconciliation: Acknowledging a Higher Power relieves us of the burden of believing we are in control. With this spiritual perspective, we can begin to see our inner conflicts as part of our purpose, a necessary step in the growth and refinement of the soul.

The message of this short poem about spiritual experience is clear. Inner conflict may always be part of who we are, especially after hardship or trauma. But when we choose to see our struggles as opportunities for growth, and trust in a Higher Power, we may discover a better way to live. Day by day, step by step, we grow—not by erasing internal conflict, but by embracing it as part of the purpose of our very souls.

Affirmation

I can accept inner conflicts as part of who I am. I trust in a Higher Power to guide me as I grow day by day.