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
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.
As I was thinking about the visit of the Magi [Wisemen], the statement in the Matthew text for January 3rd regarding their way home made me remember the Frost poem. They had received instructions in a dream to go home by another road without returning to Herod, and it made all the difference. We can all imagine what would have happened if they had ignored the dream and returned home by the familiar way.
This season of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany has been unlike anything most of us have ever experienced. At the same time, we all recognize that we need to move along. We have choices to make that are going to make differences in our futures and the futures of those around us. The choices we make need to be taken seriously and carefully. While the new medications offer help, they need to be taken to work. The government is going to make changes that we may or may not support. Still, we will be taking a road that has not yet been traveled. The most encouraging thing about traveling that road is that we will not be alone. Emmanuel, God with us has not changed, and we have that blessed assurance to help us choose and follow the right road for our lives.
God is Here
Lord of all, of church and kingdom,
In an age of change and doubt
Keep us faithful to the Gospel;
Help us work your purpose out.
Here in this day’s dedication,
All we have to give, receive;
We, who cannot live without you,
We adore you! We believe!
Lord of all, take us with you on the road we travel, that the differences made will be your way. Amen.
Pastor David Brosnan
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