House By The Side Of The Road Poem

So, there I was, strolling down memory lane, flipping through my old school notebooks, when I stumbled upon a poem that had been etched into my memory years ago. You know how it is, some things just stick with you, right? This one was called "House by the Side of the Road" by Sam Walter Foss. Let me share it with you, and we'll chat about why it's still relevant today.

Here's the poem:

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn

In the backwoods far from towns,

They turn their back on what they knew

And turn away from all the new.

But all who dwell in the world away,

Know that a house by the side of the road

Is the face of God today,

Antique 1910s "let Me Live in a House by the Side of the Road" Poem by

For the eyes of all who pass may be

Wearisome, heavy, laden, and sad.

Over the threshold of every door

Where people meet and greet,

The still small voice is heard again,

And the smile of God is seen.

House by the side of the road by Samuel Walter Foss. One of my all time

So, what's the big deal about this poem?

Well, my friend, this poem is like a little nugget of wisdom that's been around for over a century. It was published in 1916, and yet, it's still got something to say to us today. Let's dive in, shall we?

The first stanza paints a picture of hermits, people who've chosen to live in isolation, turning their backs on the world. Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with a little 'me time', but Foss is saying that by withdrawing from the world, we miss out on something crucial.

The second stanza is where it gets interesting. Foss suggests that every house, every door, every threshold we pass is a potential encounter with the divine. Think about it, every time we meet someone, every time we greet a stranger, we have the chance to see the face of God, to hear the still small voice.

But here's the thing, Foss isn't saying that we should go around seeing God in every person we meet in some sort of spiritual hallucination. No, he's saying that every person we meet is a reflection of the divine, a chance to see the best of humanity, a chance to do good.

So, what's the moral of the story?

Foss is reminding us that we're all connected. Every person we meet is a potential encounter with the divine, a chance to make a difference, to show kindness, to be a neighbor. It's a reminder that we shouldn't turn our backs on the world, but rather, engage with it, embrace it, and make it a better place, one house, one door, one threshold at a time.

So, the next time you're out and about, remember this poem. Remember that every person you meet is a potential encounter with the divine. Remember that you have the power to make a difference, to be a neighbor, to be a friend. And who knows, maybe you'll find that the world isn't such a scary place after all. Maybe it's just a house by the side of the road, waiting for you to knock.