Traces and Tracks on the Trails

Samples and examples

Slow banana slug
slides up tall trees, over rocks.
Trailing shiny slime.

Leaving wet traces
three slow slimy snails gain ground.
Ephemeral trails.

Tracing

May any traces
of our travels and travails
build compost, feed trail.

Fierce faith, fruitful feats.
Virtuous vestiges, kind deeds.
Nothing more, or less.

Treading

May our stepping tread
light and purposeful, without
trampling tender shoots.

Misguided action,
despite noble intention,
may have cruel impact.

Trail Teachers

May good guides lead us
through confusion and conflict,
through challenge and change.

May truth’s light steer us
when our eyes can’t find a trail,
when darkness blinds us.

Time-Tested Truths

Dawn sheds light on shadows’ shade,
illuminating tracks, revealing trails.

Until dawn and daylight come,
torches, flashlights help.

Tried and true trails:

• Curiosity leading to wisdom

• Generosity leading to justice

• Equanimity leading to peace

• Community leading to unity

• Goodwill leading to grace

  

Trusty Tracks

Who will guide
children and youth
if we adults
are bewildered, confused, lost,
going round and round
in the lobby of a majestic skyscraper
which has magnificent basements and penthouses?

Who, if not us?

• We need wise guidance to learn, to serve, to learn to serve.

• We are guided by the North Star, the cardinal points, aspirations, ideals, virtues, values.

• We can open ourselves to wise guidance, to know what to do and say, refrain from doing, refrain from saying, what goes first, second, later, never, where to go, who to follow, who to serve, how to learn and how to teach, how to love, and how to be.

Tracking

Whose tracks do we follow?
Who goes with us?
Who follows us?

How to find places to stay,
for the night, for a while,
for ever, for good?

Staying On-Track

How can our treading trace trusty truth trajectories?

How to avoid getting side-tracked by tricky distractions?

How to prevent getting off-track by false detours?

Trailheads

Good Guides, A job description in verse

Masters, Mentors, Models, a self-inquiry exercise

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Thanks for reading Pausing for Ponderings and participating with your perspectives.