In high school, our class was required to study Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” I remember not enjoying the study much as a ninth grader. Anything that required memorization was loathsome (a term Frost might have used back then 😅) to me back then. Little did I know that the final lines of the poem would form my worldview:
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
When you take that road, the one that is less traveled, it can feel lonely. I remember when I was starting out in life as a young adult, I had to choose whether to do what was obvious to me: become a nurse.
I surrendered my life to Jesus many years before then, and as I grew, I had no other desire besides to please Him with my life. Suddenly, as if overnight, I went from wanting to read the latest Judy Blume books to reading the Bible and going to whatever Bible study I could find.
Now, back then, you couldn’t go to any online studies. So I had to go with my friends or family who were very much involved at church.
Initially, everyone connected to me was pleased. After all, I could be out partying instead of going to Bible studies and church meetings. I had no interest in partying, I saw where it led to with kids from school and decided to skip sowing those kinds of wild oats in my youth.
Maybe everyone thought it was a phase I was going through, or I would eventually find my way to a logical path.
Little did I know I would take the road less traveled
The logical path for me was not going to be a popular one. It wasn’t one that would earn me accolades or money. When I decided to follow Jesus, I really decided to follow Him. That led me to the famous road less traveled.
No, I didn’t study nursing or anything medical. I ended up going to Bible school and earning a few degrees along the way, which don’t help earn money either. Simply, I just followed Jesus.
”For I have no one else of kindred spirit…”
Philippians 2:20 (NASB)
It seems my career path led me down roads that others have found lonely as well. Paul hints here in Philippians of his own struggle with loneliness in saying he has “no one else.” I have felt that sting over the years. But there’s no turning back.
I keep deciding
I have a list of favorite songs, and these days it’s on repeat: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” When you listen to it, the message obviously leans towards someone making their first steps in following Him. However, when you hear it through my ears of feeling alone, the last verse rings true: “Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back.”
Little did I know that many years ago, the road I chose would bring me to Africa. Over and over again, I keep making the choice to take the road less traveled. And yes, it really has made all the difference.
