Road Less Traveled

“Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” ~ Robert Frost.

Aaahhh, one of my favorite quotes for sure. The visualization of two roads diverging – one to the left, and one to the right – one less popular than the other – one going in a lone direction; the other road pointing to the opposite. Which is the best route?

As a Christian, have you ever found yourself taking the road less traveled? Unfamiliar territory? You’ve experienced and seen the fine line in the road between happiness and sorrow, truth and untruth, God and anti-God? Sometimes sorrow and pain seemingly come out of nowhere! Like that deer that darts out in front of your vehicle, or the driver who nearly collides with another driver’s car. You’ve driven too close to the shoulder of the road and had to swerve to miss a mailbox or an animal in the road? Unexpected things do take place! We can all be left asking of ourselves, “How did this happen?”

As the holiday season in America quickly approaches, you may be thinking ahead to New Year’s resolutions, goals, or aspirations. New roads you want to take! There’s a reason gym memberships and weight loss programs have their highest annual revenue drives between December 1^st and January 31^st. People want a fresh start! New hope! We want to dream…to hold on to old dreams and form new ones. People are starving for acceptance. For love. For forgiveness. For encouragement! For skinny abs and less cellulite. People are looking for an answer to their problems. And you can get it all for 3 low payments of $29.99 if you listen to the info-mercials. {Life Moment: In truth, everything we need is provided in God’s Word. I heard a minister say this past Sunday that 80% of our problems would resolve themselves if we would center our lives around Jesus and His church above ALL less….There’s something to think about in that comment!} There is no “do over” Staples ® button for our lives.

Admittedly, when scientists and physicians finally develop a topical fountain of youth or a miracle weight loss pill, I’m in! (Apologizes for the expression of vanity – yet I doubt I’m alone in my moderate focus on the ‘battle of the bulge.’ Can I get a witness?!) Ha!

Seriously, when we choose a path forward for ourselves, we sometimes go the road less traveled, but if we’re consciously honest, most of us prefer the path of least resistance. Right? Often crowded and familiar, the road most traveled appears to guide us where we want to go! This is a time of caution – slow down. Look around!

You don’t even need to know the name of the road where I live. You can say, “Turn left at the fire department and make a right at the big oak tree,” and you’ll end up exactly where you wanted to go.

Life Moment: Sometimes it seems like everybody is on the same road, but this is clearly not accurate for God’s children! You’ll be on the road by yourself on occasion! For those with a GPS or navigators for your car – have you ever precisely followed the directions only to wind up lost?! At a dead end road?  Oh my, be careful which road you take, friend! They don’t ALL take you where you WANT to go!

Things I’ve personally learned about the road less traveled…

#1 – It isn’t easy!

#2 – It can feel lonely sometimes!

#3 – The grass isn’t greener on the other side – weeds grow their too!

#4 – Not all roads lead home!

#5 – You can be on the wrong road for a long time (or a short time). Don’t be fooled by billboards, false advertising, and poor directional signs!

#6 – Be alert for falling rocks and narrow shoulders!

#7 – Ask for directions -- in God’s Word – the Word is your map!

#8 – Don’t pick up hitchhikers! (Like paranoia, bitterness, competitiveness, or fear)

#9 – Drive your own car! (Don’t load up in someone else’s wagon)

#10 – Follow the speed limit – God doesn’t speed ahead without us!

Look UP my friends!

PRAYER for TODAY: Thank You, Heavenly Father… for being the Gate, the Door, the Window, the Hallway, the Path, through which the road less traveled passes! We cannot go anywhere without you.  Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet. Help me to be aware of false advertising, falling rocks, and dangerous hitchhikers! Help me to resist the lull of the path of relative ease. Show me the way of YOUR will. In Jesus' name, Amen.