The Road Less Traveled

The closing lines of Robert Frost's poem Road Less Traveled have an important thought for us to consider. He said, "Two roads diverged in a wood And I took the one less traveled by And that has made all the difference." When faced with options in life we tend to take the path of least resistance like a river winding through the country side. The result is the same. Behind us is a crooked path with many side branches that go nowhere.

In our Christian walk we are encouraged to make two choices that are definitely less traveled roads. In Ephesians 4:17 we are advise to "no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles (ungodly) walk." It is always a difficult choice to be different than those around us but God makes it clear in I Peter 2:9 that we are to be a "chosen generation,a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Being peculiar doesn't mean being odd but rather being noticeably different. Perhaps the thing that makes us noticeably different is the other choice we are challenged to make. A few verses later in Ephesians 5:2 we are challenged to "walk in live as Christ has love us..." This too flies in the face of the typical lifestyle around. Most people do not willingly give of themselves for others as Christ did. We generally look out for number one.

Each day we have a new opportunity to make choices. We can continue down the same old road or we can choose the to walk the road less traveled. It must be done with determination and the realization that God is cheering us on. He offers his strength to forge ahead on the straight and narrow road rather than meander along the winding road of least resistance. The road we choose will make a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us looking for direction.