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;
We’ve all been the traveler. Everyday we have to make choices. Every single day. Life forces us to make some choices that are really not easy. There are also many temptations, daily. Do we allow such frustration to drive us or God? Have you noticed that you tend to make choices based on your surroundings? A person tends to adapt to, maybe even adopt, the lifestyle of those around them. If it is unhealthy then we will suffer. It may not seem like suffering at first. The stress of our negative choices will eventually take its toll. On the other hand, the joy of the positive is unbelievable.
I pulled the “The Road Less Travelled” because it was posted at Michele’s as a completion post…Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one…
Well, I’ve always said less travelled, it makes life more interesting. Think about it though. The road less travelled is going to be an adventure. There are going to be weeds, prickers, limbs, and who knows what to battle. There is a clear path available. Why do many of us always choose the path less travelled? We know the other would be much easier. We know that less travelled means there will be more scrapes and bumps. It’s a choice. Does that mean we have to take the path that is worn and shouldn’t take the road less travelled? I don’t think so. I think the adventures life has to offer can be valuable. However, in making that choice it requires us to begin with the end in mind. We have to choose to watch out for the prickers of life, those things that are going to hurt us and break us down. We’re not walking alone, but sometimes when we are not making the best choices, we charge ahead leaving the branches to smack God in the face. If we let God lead…He will get all of the cobwebs, hold the branches, and we’ll come out with a lot less scrapes.
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.
July 24th, 2006 at 9:13 am
I love that poem. It’s one of my all time favs. I have taken the road less traveled and even though I have a few bumps and bruises it has been a blessing. I’ve learned that God is always there and by taking that path I’ve learned that giving my heartaches and worries to God is the best choice, but even when I think “I can” and see “I can’t”, I know without a doubt GOD CAN!
Great post!
July 24th, 2006 at 11:58 pm
That is a very good point. I often say “All bumpy roads lead to somewhere nice.”
July 25th, 2006 at 9:47 am
i don’t know enough about Robert Frost (he is the author, isn’t he) to know about his beliefs, but I can’t help but comparing his “two roads” and Jesus’ wide road/narrow road analogy.
July 25th, 2006 at 9:58 am
I don’t know either Sage, but it is one of my favorites