Editors’ Note: We thank the author for sharing her personal reflection which first appeared on her FB page on April 14, 2024.  Sailyn is the Deputy Director of Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Inc., the legal entity of the Indigenous Peoples Ministry of the Philippine Jesuits in Bukidnon. The apostolate includes five mission high schools in with enrollment of 3150 students, mostly indigenous. Her family roots are in Sorsogon City. The featured header image of the author on Mt. Lali, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon was photographed by Fr. Jereme Asunto, SJ, Parish Priest, St. Therese of  the Child Jesus, Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon.

Inspired by Mary Oliver’s timeless poem, “The Journey,” I reflect on the profound moments from my recent 8-day retreat, eager to share some of its most significant revelations.

In late March and early April, I immersed myself in contemplation, often accompanied by the silent presence of Manoy Jess. Our encounters, usually at sunset atop the mountain or by the calming shores. But this time, it was different. There, by the bench, we sat silently and watched the sunset over the city—a place I had never immensely loved. Yet, amidst the urban sprawl, I felt a deep, intimate connection. It was comforting, like a whispered invitation to explore the unknown, to choose the path less traveled. And in that moment, I heard the quiet reminder: “The journey matters more than the destination.”

The Call to Consistency

“One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began,” resonated within me during my retreat. It marked a realization—the essence of consistency. Much like the relentless ebb and flow of tides, life’s push-and-pull tensions, our journey demands commitment, even amidst uncertainty and challenges. Unwavering consistency guides light through the brightest days and darkest nights. A call na “piliin nang paulit-ulit”.

The Maturation of Love and Faith

“Mend my life!” echoes Oliver’s plea, urging introspection and growth. So, I must. Love, too, matures. It’s not merely the fluttering of the heart; it’s the sturdy oak that withstands life’s storms. In my retreat, I glimpsed love’s depth—the selfless love that seeks the well-being of others, the love that forgives unconditionally. The love that persists, the love that never stops– even when tested, remains resilient—a choice– an everyday choice to become better for the lover and the beloved.

“Little by little,” as Oliver beautifully articulates, “the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds.” Faith mirrors this gradual revelation—an unfolding journey rather than a sudden leap. Through my retreat, I embraced the gradual unfurling of faith, trusting in the constancy of grace even amidst life’s uncertainties. It is a surrendering of doubts, allowing faith to spread its wings and soar beyond the confines of doubt and fear. Believe in Kairos, only in Kairos.

The Commitment to Growth

“You strode deeper and deeper into the world,” Oliver’s words echo the essence of commitment—a deliberate stride towards personal evolution. My retreat instilled a renewed commitment to growth for myself and those who have never given up on me. It is a pledge to embrace the journey, even when the path ahead is obscured, trusting in the transformative power of love, faith, and hope.

The retreat was not just a temporary escape but a profound invitation to embrace the journey with renewed strength and purpose—to walk boldly towards becoming the best version of myself, for and with others, guided by love, faith, and commitment.

It was like a long-awaited “salubong,” and with a pabaon na “piliin at gustohin mo nang lubos” with a reassurance that He is and will always be with us throughout the journey.

It’s a whole new level and intensity– mapa-ciudad o bundok man, there’s peace and confidence in knowing where your heart is.

What whispers of guidance have you heard amidst the noise of life, inviting you to explore the unknown and embrace the journey ahead?

The Journey By Mary Jane Oliver

One day you finally knew 
What you had to do, and began, 
Though the voices around you 
Kept shouting 
Their bad advice,
Though the whole house 
Began to tremble 
And you felt the old tug 
At your ankles. 
"Mend my life!" 
Each voice cried. 

But you didn't stop. 

You knew what you had to do, 
Though the wind pried 
With its stiff fingers 
At the very foundations, 
Though their melancholy 
Was terrible. 
It was already late 
Enough, and a wild night, 
And the road full of fallen 
Branches and stones. 

But little by little, 
As you left their voices behind, 
The stars began to burn 
Through the sheets of clouds, 
And there was a new voice, 
Which you slowly 
Recognized as your own, 
That kept you company 
As you strode deeper and deeper 
Into the world, 
Determined to do 
The only thing you could do,
Determined to save 
The only life that you could save. 

“The Journey,” from Dream Works by Mary Oliver, 1986

About Mary Oliver, the poet

Mary Jane Oliver was an American poet from Ohio who won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. She found inspiration for her work in nature and had a lifelong habit of solitary walks in the wild. She held the Catharine Osgood Foster Chair for Distinguished Teaching at Bennington College in Vermont until 2001. She received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. She also won the American Academy of Arts & Letters Award, the Poetry Society of America’s Shelley Memorial Prize and Alice Fay di Castagnola Award. Oliver lived in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Hobe Sound, Florida, until her death in early 2019. She was 83. — Poetry Foundation