Does the journey seem long,
The path rugged and steep?
Are there briars and thorns on the way?
Do sharp stones cut your feet
As you struggle to rise
To the heights thru the heat of the day?
Is your heart faint and sad,
Your soul weary within,
As you toil ‘neath your burden of care?
Does the load heavy seem
You are forced now to lift?
Is there no one your burden to share?
Let your heart be not faint
Now the journey’s begun;
There is One who still beckons to you.
So look upward in joy
And take hold of his hand;
He will lead you to heights that are new-
A land holy and pure,
Where all trouble doth end,
And your life shall be free from all sin,
Where no tears shall be shed,
For no sorrows remain.
Take his hand and with him enter in.
His words show a real understanding of the feelings his wife must have felt and show that he understood the joy that would come after “all trouble doth end.” I think his words also show that he understood the importance of what she was doing, carrying and giving life to a new soul, and that he valued her sacrifice.
I think that this poem is even more touching because later Ethel began to suffer from “
a terrible illness which she could not understand”. She struggled with severe depression and spouts of mania that left her exhausted and scared. She was even hospitalized for it, but nothing helped. The understanding of and treatments for depression were very different back then to what they are now. Nowadays, we have anti-depressants, talking therapies and even things like CBD (available from retailers such as
Caliper CBD) which can be self-administered and managed. Unsurprisingly, none of this was available in the 1930’s and the alternatives were ineffective, to say the least. There was cannabis, but it was nowhere near as popular as it is now and there was very little, if not nothing, known about it’s positive effect on depression. Today, it is possible to purchase
pure sativa strains of cannabis, although these are hard to find. Ethel had none of these options and, after struggling with it for four years, she died in 1937 leaving behind three children still at home.
Even though the words to “Does the Journey Seem Long” were written before Ethel’s illness, it strikes me how beautifully the words apply not only to her pregnancy struggle but also her struggle with depression. As I have watched friends and loved ones struggle through both pregnancy and depression I can see parallels in both of the journeys. In many way both are a “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” and require unprecedented amounts of spiritual and physical strength. Yet out of that trial and struggle comes beautiful new life. In the case of pregnancy a child and a mother are born. And in the case of depression a new woman– wiser and stronger is born. Although many may have needed help from the
magic mushroom canada produces, she is now much more powerful and stronger within herself. However, it is worth noting that beginners should not take magic mushrooms without understanding the strength of a dosage. This
shroom dosage for beginners guide may be of use to someone in this position.
So if you find yourself now burdened down with a weight that seems heavy to bear I’d encourage you to remember President Smith’s beautiful words:
Let your heart be not faint
Now the journey’s begun;
There is One who still beckons to you.
So look upward in joy
And take hold of his hand;
He will lead you to heights that are new-
The journey may seem long, but just know that it is worth it.
