Here I stand and sit

Here I stand and sit
Within this great hall
Yet wait I
While time
Tis passing

So gaze I at others
Passing, pausing
Then each one
Finding his particular door

As if twas always this one
Or that (without question)
They enter

Yet still I
Remain
In this hall
Waiting
Wondering
In vain?

When shall the time be
When shall the light I see
Shall it come all at once
Or in simple small doses
Nudging me from my chair
Closer and closer
To that doorway
To that arch
Which stands waiting for me

But do I yet see
Which one is 'best' for me
While still I sit here and remain
How long shall it be

Such time a grand mystery
And oft a misery
To go on pondering
A mind so wandering

Musing
While the seconds and minutes
And hours I sit losing
Are not all they of your choosing

When shall I stand
When shall I depart
Must I remain
Within this hall
Throughout all
Of life

Though I think at last
I begin to see
Why each in time
Remains a little longer
Or shorter
Than the one before

Each requires
One's own particular time
Before they're ready
To stand
And enter
The destined door
For which their heart desires

Each purpose is different
Each path a different climb
But in time doth discover
Twas all the same

Was all such striving in vain
Who can know but Him
Who is to gain

Such glory is found
At last
When each enters
The door destined for him

Yet as he enters
And see those
Still remaining
Within the hall
May his prayers
Be for them
Whether friend or foe

For all need nudging
Towards that final end
Yea all need the encouragement
Of a friend

Who desires one's best
For he too once
Sat in silence
While others passed by
And in time found he
Forgiveness

And fortune
Found eternity
Lying but just
A mere distance ahead
Past this grand corridor
Of longing

-Joshua Lee Foist

(Inspired from "A Gentle Welcome," from the Preface of C. S. Lewis' 
Mere Christianity")