Climbing the Hill of January

Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset.
One foot following the other,
Searching for the trickle-down
And thanking God for my daily bread.
I'm on the spiral road to infinity.
An evil impulse is tracking every move​,
By following my digital exhaust.
As I climb the hill of January
I look the left and slightly below
To the descending Januaries ​behind.
To the right and above, only clouds.
Home is wherever my heart is at peace,
But sin is crouching at every door,
Ready to jump at the first opportunity.
I keep marching, marching up the incline,
After January, the boredom of February,
And then the treacherous Ides of March.
Finally the road smooths out in April
With rain that brings the May flowers, 
And​ the May​ flowers ​that bring June Pilgrims.
The lazy, hazy days of mid-summer
Are a​ sweet respite from the steep climb​,
Until I begin the willy-nilly slide ​into Autumn.
Year after year, round and round it goes.
Where will it stop? The Lord only knows.
I fear that one day all of my desires
Will awaken within me at the same time
And hold my tattered soul for ransom.
We only think we enjoy our desires
While all the time we are their slaves.
Once I was young and now I am old,
​Material desires have faded to memories.
The only desire truly worth having
Is the desire for humility and charity 
Through self-sacrifice, and eternal union
With the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.  
(Bob Mrotek 2025)  

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