Meditation on Ithaka

I was captivated this week by a poem Ithaka written in his native Greek by C. P. Cavafy.  The poem arrived by way of the blog http://revpatrickcomerford.blogspot.com.  Rev. Comerford quotes it in both Greek and a translation in English.  I haven't read Greek in several years so here it is in English:

As you set out for Ithaka
hope the voyage is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Posedon--don't be afraid of them;
you'll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon--you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope the voyage is a long one.
May there be many a sunny morning when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into the harbors seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind--
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.

And, if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

Have you ever been told, "act your age?"  I have heard that expression many times...especially directed at someone who is perceived as acting undignified.  I loved it when Gloria Steinem was told she didn't look like 50 and she answered (extending her arms outward), "I'm 50.  This is what 50 looks like." 
Ten years ago, when I set out to live in England for awhile, I heard many comments like, "At your age!  Well, I admire you for that."  What for? Why not go to England at any age.  I may decide to go to England, or Kenya, this fall.  I may not, but it's all a part of the journey, not doing something that is age-appropriate.
The aging process does bring on some new considerations.  For me, it occurs to wonder at times, is this the end of journeying, the end of new experiences, new wisdoms, new appreciations?  If reaching the beautiful little isle of Ithaka is a figure for reaching the end of one's life, why fold one's hands, sit down and wait for the end? 
It's about the journey....not just reaching the end.  When we are blessed with long life,  all the experiences, all the new ports we encounter, these things perfume our way....and continue to perfume.  I intend to continue to seek new ports, learn from new scholars, and buy more perfume... and lengthen that journey as far as I can.  Thanks be to God.