The Path Less Traveled

The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
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.

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"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" (Ps 119:71) This verse, albeit quite true, has always made me squirm! The principle is certainly not something I care to equate with "life more abundantly". In practice, the trying of our faith accomplishes much. It forces us to question and confirm God's statutes as they apply to life. I've been pondering some of the promises of God, particularly promises that relate to the way or path in which He leads us. When I read things like "the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day", the words "shining light" and "perfect day" bring an image to mind that is not always compatible with reality. While I understand the path is not always easy, perhaps my definition of difficult has favored the lighter side. In the process of wrestling with some of these promises, I recalled the story of the Israelite's flight from Egypt. They were desperate to escape slavery and go to the land God promised them, "flowing with milk and honey". The way to the land was extremely difficult. There were daunting obstacles in their path. Over and over again God removed those obstacles, and in doing so one would naturally assume their faith grew. Perhaps it did to some degree. However, when they were finally ready to enter the land they met with their greatest obstacle -- themselves. The men who went to spy out the land admitted that the land was indeed "flowing with milk and honey", but most of them were taken back by what they perceived as giant enemies in the land. I can hear them now..."you mean we came all this way and faced all those obstacles and this is the land -- full of more obstacles?" I think they believed that when they arrived in the place God was leading them, their battles would be finished. What a disappointment for them -- if they were looking through men's eyes. Two of the spies were excited. Sure, there were some enemies in the land, but hadn't God always been faithful? The land itself was amazing!

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They came to the proverbial fork in the road. Would they take the path of faith and enter the land? Most did not. Most were done battling. They had had enough drama, enough excitement. They were ready to rest and take it easy for a while. They chose to diverge to a more pleasant-looking path. They spent the rest of their lives wandering, without purpose. Oh, but those who did get to go into the land -- they would say without a doubt that taking the path less traveled made all the difference.

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"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Pr 14:12) The other side of that coin would be the ways of life. Sometimes the ways of life just don't seem right. That path doesn't look too full of life! It is extremely uncomfortable. But it is the path of life. The path in which we can fully experience God. He didn't promise us a life of ease. In fact, He promised just the opposite (in this life you will have tribulation...). However, He also promised us life more abundantly. Life with purpose. Life that means something now and in eternity. We can choose to diverge onto a path that seems easier, but what a life we will miss! We will be the peripherals, the wanderers. Ultimately, there will be no regrets when we choose to take the path less traveled --the path of most resistance. We will have times we strongly desire to step off the path. But, my friend, choosing the path of faith truly does make all the difference. Stay the course. The promises of God lie ahead, and in those promises the bitter battles of the path fade to naught.