WE'VE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO (edited)

We’ve come far.

We’ve climbed many mountains -
mountains of sacrifice,
mountains of pain.

We’ve come far but...
We’ve still got a long way to go.

We’ve walked many miles,
overcoming some obstacles and
some we haven’t - yet.

We hit our feet at many rocks, like
the stone of misunderstanding and the boulder of deep rooted fear.

We’ve stumbled over dead trees - like
bitterness and unforgiveness.

We survived, but...
We’ve still got a long way to go.

I know you would like us to have arrived.
Would like us to pretend we are already there.

There in that land where reconciliation and mutual appreciation flow like milk and honey...
but the truth is, we’ve still got a long way to go.

I admit, that we’ve come far.
When I stand at the top of one of the many hills we have mastered, I look back and see...

See the many waters we’ve crossed,
and the swamps we’ve had to wade through.
See the dark woods we’ve had to find our way through in the night,
and the monsters we’ve defeated along the way...

And yet, when I again turn to face forward,
I must acknowledge:
We’ve still got a long way to go.

The sooner we admit this, the quicker we can be on our way.

Can we, will we ever arrive?
Arrive on that mountain top of love and understanding?

That land where freedom, forgiveness and unconditional love
flow like streams of living water, gentle and healing?

Sometimes I’m not sure...But we can’t give up hope.

We are no longer where we used to be,
but not yet where we’re supposed to be, hope to be, PRAY to be.

So though you are desperate for me to declare that we are already there,
all I can say is:
We’ve still got a long way to go.