Unto each mortal who comes to earth
A ladder is given by God at birth,
And up this ladder a soul must go
Step by step from the valley below.
Step by step to the center of space
On this ladder of Life to the starting place.

In time departed which Time endures
I shape my ladder and you shape yours.
Whatever they are, they are what we made
A ladder of Light or a ladder of shade.
A ladder of Love or a hateful thing,
A ladder of Strength or a wavering string.
A ladder of Gold or a ladder of straw,
Each is a ladder of Righteous Law.

We flung them away at the call of death,
We took them again at the next life’s breath,
For the keeper stands by the great birth gates,
As each soul passes this ladder waits.
Though mine be narrow and yours be broad,
On my ladder alone can I climb to God.
On your ladder alone can your feet ascend
for none can borrow and none can lend.

If toil and trouble and pain are found,
Twisted and corded to form each round,
If rusted iron or moldering wood
Is the fragile frame you must make good,
You must build over and fasten it strong,
Though the task be as hard as your life is long,
For up this ladder the pathway leads
To Heavenly pleasure and spirit’s needs,
And all that comes in another way,
Shall be but illusion and will not stay.

So, in useless effort then waste no time,
Rebuild your ladder and climb and climb, and climb.

~Reverend Violet Broostom