It really is ironic how life...happens. God has this amazing plan all set out for us, and we have absolutely no idea how it all works out....if we simply trust Him and continue believeing what we know 100% to be true...and that is that every plan he has for us are "plans to prosper [us] and not to harm [us]." They are "plans to give [us] a hope and a future."
Life is like a road. We find a road that is...comfortable...that is safe. We figure that, if we go down this road, all our life experiences will simply meet us along the way. We begin to focus simply on what lies at the end of the road, and not at what we are meeting along the way. We work our way through valleys, rivers, storms, even quicksand...but at least it's paved. And then one day when we see nothing but the goal set out before us, we find "The Road Not Taken." (Robert Frost) There's a door, and no way around it. There's a sign on the door saying, "Those who open this door and walk through may never find their way back. Do you dare take a step of faith into the unknown?"
Silently we wonder, Am I really brave enough to take part in this journey?
Some of us do choose the road, some of us will choose to run away from the door. Some of us will simply lose heart altogether and walk back up the road to where we started, thinking all the while, Why travel down a road if there is nothing but constant distractions? I'll just sit here and watch everyone else walk down the road.
But those of us who do open the door, we know, there is a grand adventure waiting for us. A calling to follow. A story to live. A tale to tell. This doesn't mean that the way is easy. In fact, it may be the hardest thing you've ever done in your entire life. But the reward is greater than anyting you'll ever know. The reward is Life.
Let me tell you what is behind the door....
You slowly turn the knob, and open the door. The door creaks from years of not being used. The hinges are rusty, and you begin to wonder what on earth your getting yourself into. As you step through the door, you step into total darkness. You can only see a little because the door is still open. You turn around to see the other side of the door, which states "To seee what lies ahead, you must close the door. But do be careful. The door will only reopen for those who wish nothing to do on this path." You begin to close the door with all the streangth you have. Finally, the door slams shut, and you are knocked to your feet. But rather than being in total darkness, it's as if the sun has a new type of brightness. You can see better than you've ever seen before. And for some reason, you really can't remember what you were just doing. Like an epiphany, you are filled with a new dream, a new passion, and that is all you can think about. You look around. This is no road, this is definitely a path...a path obviously that not many travel. You begin to wonder, am I really doing the right thing? There's a door there, should I go back through it? But you have this amazing peace about you...something you've never felt before...a peace that transcends all understanding. You realize that there is no going back through the door for you, and that the only way to go is forward.
You take a step...
Then another...
Then another...
And suddenly your heart starts pounding.... what am I doing??? There's no way this could ever work out!
You turn on the foot that is in front of you and face the door again. But when you try to walk...you can't move. You hear a voice in you head saying Go back! Go back! This is the only way! Turn around and find the life God has planned for you! With excitment mixed with fear, you turn around to face the uncertainty. The road ahead is still dark, but with each step you take, more light shines ahead. Eventually, no matter what your looking for, sunshine will shine on you and the whole path...you'll suddenly see what you're supposed to do in life....who your supposed to follow...what you've been waiting for your whole life. Because you chose the Road that is less taken, you will find your journey to be complete. Of course, you can still turn back...even now that your so far in. But know that if you do, you will be 100% unsatisfied with whatever the paved road may lead to. With each step you take on the beaten path, you begin to not care one little bit about the other road. When you reach your goal, you will turn around and see the path you have taken...see all the steps you took, all the bridges you crossed, and all the storms you have weathered...and you will stand in awe.
It's amazing what you can do when you trust God. You may be fearful. You may think, "What if I'm just following my own heart's desires, and not Gods?" But if it is truly God's will, it will become ours....and we will be amazed. [If you choose the Road less traveled by, it will make all the difference.]
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.
