Two Roads

The Road Not Taken by 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 marked 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. 


I woke up this morning with this poem echoing in my mind. I have thought of it often, and I still even recite it with distinct breaths and breaks pounded into my eighth grade brain by Mr. Elderidge. Two roads. And while for me this poem now means something different, when faced with choices of any kind I picture these two paths. In my adult life I have always taken the less traveled. The path of Jesus. No crossroads in this journey has been without risk, though I haven't looked back.


This morning I am facing a new kind of fork in this road. Neither path means choosing less of Jesus and more of anything. Just differences that can accompany a journey when taking a new road. I think of the leaves freshly covering the two paths, and I search for prints left by Jesus, and at this moment I'm certain He has left his mark for me to follow either way. Life has a way of twisting and turning, and sometimes I really think either path can be the one. There are so many good things... My difficulty lies in discerning at this moment, for this time, which is His best for me and which is His 'not right now'. Does that make sense?


I'm thinking as I type that this is sounding way more dark than it is... just wondering how y'all hear God's voice. Do you have a certain Bible verse you go to when making a decision?  Do you lock yourself in your 'prayer closet' for hours? (Now I'm really drawing on my southern roots for that analogy!) Robert Frost truly isn't who I consult for making decisions, just love this poem and the pictures it paints. I am actually feeling quite giddy with excitement at the plans He has for me. (Remember yesterday?) He has always been so gracious to allow this girl so much room to be inspired, teach others, and grow along the way... can't wait to see what's next!