The Road May Twist, But My Soul Stays Straight ~ Why stumble through life fearing the future or clinging to the past when you can walk forward with a happy heart and a courageous soul? Henry Van Dyke hands us the travel map for a life well-lived—detours, potholes, and all.
Life
Henry Van Dyke
Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.
So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.
Reflection:
Van Dyke’s poem reminds us that life isn’t about clinging to what’s behind us or fearing what’s ahead. It’s about walking forward with cheerful resolve, honoring both youth and age, and chasing the same wonders that lit our hearts as children—friendship, adventure, and meaning. What a gift it is to keep the courage of the quest, no matter how the road bends.
❓ Three Soul-Poking Questions:
- Are you living with a “forward face,” or are you still haunted by ghosts of the past?
- What adventure still burns in your heart the way it did when you were a child?
- How might your journey change if you embraced the “last turn in the road” with hope instead of fear?