I began this blog website with several writings as foundational points. Three are from the Bible, and one is a poem by Robert Frost - "The Road Not Taken." Each of these foundational writings can be found on this website www.lesstraveled.blog. In Frost's poem he writes that the road he chose to travel made all the difference. His poem makes the case that the difference that was made was a positive one.
Don't you wish that every choice you make in life results in a positive outcome? I certainly wish that were true. While reality reveals that some choices do have great results, others have disastrous results. I guess that probably all of us could give examples of both the positive and disastrous results from our own choices. So by agreement between this writer and you, the reader, let's not list our results for everyone else to see. Instead, I will share one of my wrong road choices that has become a major story in our family's lore.
Between thirty and forty years ago, our family had made a trip to Louisiana to visit family. We had a good time with my wife's parents, our children's grandparents, and my in-laws. Our usual travel route from our home to theirs kept us on interstate highways at least 95% of the way. Before we left to return home, I consulted a map to find a more scenic and perhaps a shorter return route. And that was the beginning of my children saying, "if Dad says he knows a shortcut, do not believe him nor follow his directions!"
The map showed a state highway a few miles back into Texas that would provide both the scenic views and the shortened trip I envisioned. We left Louisiana by crossing the Sabine River, drove through Orange, Texas, and came to the small town of Vidor. I saw the sign with the road number I had memorized. Off to the right we went on my planned shortcut. A couple of hours later it was obvious that something was not right. The road narrowed and was in poor condition. None of the towns I had expected us to see had appeared. My wife pulled out an old map from the glove compartment (we had never heard of a GPS in the car and cell phones were not yet available).
Much to my embarrassment, the map revealed that two roads very near each other in Vidor had the same road number. One was the state highway that I had planned to be traveling. The other was a small farm to market road that is common in rural Texas. Of course I had taken the farm to market road instead of the state highway. After fruitless searches for familiar restroom stops, a roadside picnic where the mosquitoes ate us, and an unbelievable amount of grumbling aimed at yours truly, we finally made it home about two to three hours later than the interstate route would have taken us.
Maybe you have taken a wrong road at some point in your life. No matter what that road was, or is, you can find a way home. You can also find forgiveness. In many situations, that forgiveness needs to come from God. The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 these words:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness."
I have found myself in that position many times and always the Lord has been faithful in forgiving me and showing me a better road for me to travel. I believe He will do the same for you.
In case you are wondering, my wife and I are still married and will celebrate our 56th anniversary later this year. Our children still speak to me and will even ride in the car with me (on occasions where no shortcuts are involved). And when our family is able to gather from various locations, stories are told that bring great memories and sometimes loud laughter. Even our grandchildren have heard these stories and they question my ability to find a shortcut when driving.
I hope you stay on the right roads this week as you live the life that God has entrusted to you.
Love it! Getting lost and on the wrong road is too familiar to me. I think having GPS on my phone has freed me to take adventures I never would have imagined; however, I can still get lost. :)