Life is a journey. When we stop, things don't go right.

Hear now, O seekers of wisdom, the words of Pope Francis, who speaks of the journey of life: "Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right." These words echo a profound truth that resonates through the ages—the idea that life is not a static condition, but a continuous movement, a path that must be traveled with purpose, courage, and persistence. Just as a river flows, carving its way through valleys and hills, so too must we move through the landscape of our lives, overcoming obstacles, embracing change, and ever striving forward. To stop, to cease moving, is to lose the vitality and direction that life demands.

In ancient times, the great philosophers of Greece and Rome understood this truth. Heraclitus, one of the pre-Socratic philosophers, taught that everything is in flux—that the only constant in life is change. To him, life was not a static condition to be endured but a dynamic process to be embraced. He famously said, "You cannot step into the same river twice," for the water flows, ever changing, never the same. Just as Heraclitus saw life as an ongoing journey—a movement that cannot be halted—so too does Pope Francis remind us that when we cease to move, we cease to live with purpose.

Consider also the great traveler and explorer, Marco Polo, whose journeys across the world in the 13th century changed the course of history. Polo did not sit idly in his home, nor did he allow the challenges of his journey to stop him. Despite the dangers, the unknowns, and the hardships, Marco Polo pressed on, discovering new lands and cultures, sharing his insights with the world. His journey was one of perseverance, and it was through his movement—his willingness to keep going despite all odds—that he became a symbol of the human spirit’s resilience. Polo’s story reflects Pope Francis’s message: life’s meaning is found not in stopping, but in continuing forward, no matter the obstacles in our path.

Similarly, the spiritual journey of Saint Augustine offers an example of a life shaped by movement, both physically and spiritually. In his Confessions, Augustine describes a life of inner turmoil, of seeking meaning in fleeting pleasures and pursuits, until he finally found the peace he sought in God. For Augustine, life was a journey of transformation—a journey of movement toward spiritual truth and purpose. To stop this journey, to stop seeking or growing, was to turn away from the very essence of life itself. Augustine's spiritual odyssey teaches us that when we stop seeking, when we cease to move forward in faith and understanding, we cease to grow, and our lives lose their direction and purpose.

The lesson in Pope Francis’s words is a powerful one: life is a journey that requires constant movement, constant growth, and constant action. We are not meant to be stagnant beings, waiting for the world to come to us. Rather, we must move forward, seeking new paths, new understanding, and new opportunities. When we stop striving, when we allow ourselves to become complacent, we lose our way, and life begins to feel like a mere existence, rather than a journey of discovery and purpose.

In your own life, O seekers, take heed of this teaching. Ask yourself: are you truly moving toward your goals, your purpose, your growth? Or have you stopped, becoming complacent or passive in the face of life’s challenges? Life’s true meaning is not found in sitting still, but in the journey—in the effort you put forth each day to move forward. Embrace the unknowns, face your obstacles with courage, and keep pressing forward, for it is in the act of moving that we discover our true strength, our true purpose, and our connection to the divine.

So, O seekers, let your life be a continuous journey, one filled with purpose, action, and movement. When you feel the urge to stop, to retreat from the challenges before you, remember the words of Pope Francis: "Life is a journey." Keep moving, keep striving, and in doing so, you will find that the journey itself is as meaningful as the destination, and it is through this movement that you will uncover the fullest expression of your being.