Choices


Robert Frost wrote his poem The Road Not Taken in 1920. The poem is about a traveler who comes to a branching in his road in the woods, where he has to make a decision. He weighs both options, and decides to chose the less worn path, considering that perhaps he might return some day to take the other road, but knowing that this will likely never happen. And this less traveled road is the one that “made all the difference”.Fork in the road

Every person has an important place in their life where they must make a decision that also makes “all the difference”. It may be a single choice, or it may be a series of choices, but it determines the direction they will follow for the rest of their days on earth. And even on that path with multiple branches, there is still the one fork in the road that starts the journey in the direction they choose.

This first step on the narrow road, the road less traveled, is well covered in literature throughout the ages. In the Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, It can be the step Saruman took in studying the arts of the Enemy too deeply, and which resulted in his ensnarement by Sauron. Or it could be the decision by Frodo to leave his safe home and take the Ring on that hopeless journey to try to destroy it in Mordor. The paths of Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga track similar choices that show how they learn to handle power, and how it shapes their lives and destinies.

Even for those of us who live less exciting lives, those who live lives that seem to be inconsequential, we all have our moment in time that starts us on a path. Jesus once told his disciples to find the narrow gate on their path in life. “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) The choice of the narrow road does not determine whether the outcome is riches or poverty, but whether or not the journey is one of fulfillment or despair.

Larry Norman in his album In Another Land made reference to Frost’s poem. His song One Way poignantly emphasizes the difference his choice made to him.

Newsong also addressed this topic in an indirect way. Their song from the Sheltering Tree album identified this fork in the road as a Defining Moment – the point that clarified the rest of a person’s life.

Here is your double play (* double play! *) for today. First, Larry Norman’s song One Way:

One way, one way to Heaven
Hold up high your hand
Follow, free and forgiven
Children of the Lamb 

Two roads diverged in the middle of my life
I heard the wise man say
I took the one less travelled by
And that’s made the difference, every night and every day

So I say one way, one way to Heaven
Hold your heads up high
One way, free and forgiven
Children of the sky

And here is Defining Moment by Newsong:

There comes a time in every heart, a time of real decision
When we reach the point of choosing how we will live our lives
All our hopes, all our dreams will rise up from that moment
The moment we surrender and choose to follow Christ 

He’s been waiting all our lives to hear us say
“I am yours, Lord, take my hand and lead the way”

CHORUS:
When you believe He’s all you need
That will be your defining moment
As you live your life walking in His light
Trusting Him completely
That will be, that will be your defining moment

All I have, all I am is resting in his promise
The promise that he’ll make me everthing that I should be
I will live, I will die, for the cause he set before me
To take this love inside my heart for all the world to see

All of heaven celebrates when they hear someone say
“I am yours, Lord, take my hand and lead the way”

CHORUS

BRIDGE: His amazing grace is such a mystery
How in an instant it can make your life complete

(Repeat Chorus 2X)

In Another Land, Larry Norman 1976

 

Sheltering Tree, Newsong, 2000

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