Don’t Mourn the Past

Should you mourn the past?  
To lament for what might have been. 
Remembering the pathways unpursued.  
The could’ve, would’ve, and should’ve of life’s potentialities. 
Piecing together the riddles of before.  
Unsolvable they remain, puzzles unexplored.  

What do you see when you look back?  
Lost opportunities you’ll never have again.  
Despairing over what might have been.  
A step here and there on unknown paths. 
Each revealed over the span of time. 
Dreaming of possible futures.  

Didn’t anyone warn you?  
Some doors close once they’re opened.  
Others lost, never discovered again. 
A million possibilities gained, a million more lost.  
Transitional moments come aplenty.  
Reshaping and making the person you are today. 

Whom are you mourning for?  
For a person who never was.  
Someone you think you should be. 
Choices that seem more appealing now. 
Mulling over a distorted past. 
Hindsight is not always honest.  

Why are time’s tricks so deceptive?  
Growing older doesn’t always bring wisdom. 
Distortions that filter your perspective. 
Look at yourself and the paths you’ve taken. 
Rather than those unrealized paths from long ago. 
Avoid the past’s siren song. 

Have you ever considered yourself? 
The beauty your story reveals. 
And the transitions you navigated.  
Don’t glamourize what might have been.  
Appreciate the wonder of each step you’ve taken.  
Celebrate each step that brought you here to 

this…  

very… 

moment. 

Genesis 3

By: Jennifer Kerr Budziak, GEL Member

I.
who told you something was missing?
who told you were incomplete?
who told you all you are is not enough?
who told you?
who gave you reason to be covered?
who gave you cause to hide away?
who gave you knowledge that you knowledge lacked?
who told you?
the garden lies behind
and you cannot hear me
the darkness lies ahead
and you cannot see me
now you go where i am not
who told you?

II.
i cannot bear to lose you
i will not give up on you
i will never abandon you
i will follow you
come after you
so become you
born
live
die
alone
death is heavy

III.
i have found you
here
i have found you
in the place where i was not
i have found you
in the place of darkness
deep darkness
alone
and i am
with you
i am
in the darkness
i am
and i brought a light
a small light
but hot and fierce
a small light
but it grows
ignites
sets fire to the darkness
and all is light
light
and light is
on you
in you
light
i see you
i with you
full of
light
light
light

IV.
please come home

About the Author: Jennifer Kerr Budziak is a Chicago area conductor, writer, composer and educator. A frequent presenter and clinician at workshops and festivals nationwide, Budziak teaches on the choral faculty of Loyola University in Chicago, where she serves as both an ensemble conductor and as director and program adviser for the sacred music degree program. She also serves as an assistant conductor for the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Dr. Budziak has served on the faculties of North Central College, Concordia University, St. Xavier University, and the Catholic Theological Union.