Written by Joseph Madden on March 16, 2026.

When I first became conscious of my being, alone, on a path, which was my destiny. On a precipice overshadowing the deepest ravine. Clear skies above, radiant sunshine, lovely scenery painted upon the mountains and in the fields, brooks, and meadows; such a joy! This was the calm before the storm.

Young, immature, confused, inexperienced; stormy weather, sadness, lightning, and thunder; seeking calmness, tranquility, serenity, and gentleness. I descended a little way into the ravine until I felt secure, my shelter for the storm. This was my peace. 

From time to time, clouds would appear, and with them, storms, lightning, and thunder, and again, I would descend just a little more until I felt secure. After all, this was my peace.

One day, after many storms, I wondered why only darkness surrounded me. I had fleeting memories of having seen sunlight, but I had descended to such a depth into my shelter that, from my vantage point, all I could see was the bottom of the ravine. I lost hope. Alone, weary, and sad, several times I tried to be silent forever. Fortunately, I can live with those failed attempts, both literally and figuratively.

A ravine is an unnatural dwelling place for a person. I felt lost in my shelter, my secure place, miserable, alone, and desiring a better life. I determined to ascend back to the place I was before the first storm. I feel incomplete. I long to be reunited with the missing part of my soul, but here I am alone in a ravine.

Long have my eyes looked downward towards the bottom of this ravine. Desiring to feel hope again, finally, I raised my head, lifted up my eyes, and saw for the first time in years, some light like one sees when exiting a tunnel or cave. I was going to make an effort to return home.

I remembered a nursery story, “The Little Engine that Could” (Watty Piper), and found inspiration in her story to slowly climb back up to where I was also destined to return. I’m not sure whether to stop here and write part 2 or continue with how I climbed out to the place in line where I am now.