Road Less Traveled

At the fork in the road,

Unsure which way to go.

Which will carry the heaviest load,

I do not know.

 In our lives, at some time or another, we will reach that place in the road where we have to make a choice as to which way to go...and we don't know! We think long and hard about our family's approval, our friends opinions, and our societies acceptance. 

Maybe we will take time to think about our own opinions...but probably not.

Many times we rely on our family, friends, and society to decide for us. We want to fit in, make everyone happy, and do whats expected of us.

But sometimes...

its good to do the unexpected!

When your at the fork in the road, don't ask for everyone else's opinions, ask for the Lords. He will lead you down the exciting and adventurous path that is His plan for your life. 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

-Robert Frost

Pathed Roads turned into Dirt Paths

The GPS was created for the directionally challenged. The people who can go to the same, familiar place fifteen million times, and still get lost every single trip. My dad knew I was one of those people when I first got my license, and after a few wrong turns and getting lost for over 45 minutes, my dad decided to wisely invest in a GPS!

I put my trust in this little computer! When I was lost, I had complete faith that all I had to do was press the "Go Home" button, and the GPS (named Percy) would guide me home.

One day, on the way back from visiting our grandparents in Ohio, we decided to put Percy to the test - punching the "Go Home" button for Richmond, VA, some 500 miles away from our current location, we confidently began our trip. My mom was skeptical about how successful Percy would be in leading us home, but I convinced her that Percy was an expert and he would have no problem getting us home.

I discovered all too quickly how wrong I was....

Following Percy's instructions, we turned onto a wide dirt road, with a beautiful canopy of trees curving overhead. We were excited about the lovely surprise, and began to enjoy the greenery. Slowly though, the road began to progressively shrink in size as we got deeper into the woods. We had no idea where we were; where Percy had taken us.

The trees moved in, closer and closer to the car, and we were unsure if we would squeeze through this now dirt path. Gripping the seat, I tried to ease mom's growing fears.

"It's alright, we will get through"
"The road couldn't get any smaller mom...ohh...well now it certainly can't get any smaller!"
"Dear Lord please help us see the end of this road!"

Finally we reached the end, mom shutting off the GPS, no longer lovingly referred to as Percy, and turning onto a main road she had never driven on in her life.

"Well I guess we do need the GPS to take us back to a road I know," mom spoke sharply as she picked the GPS up from the floor.

When we had finally gotten somewhere more familiar, I bravely spoke...
"Well mom, if you think about it, Percy did lead us safely down a road towards our destination. It just wasn't what we were expecting."

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Her Story

http://www.completely-coastal.com/2009/05/seashell-photography.html

Did you know that if you press a seashell hard against your ear and listen carefully, you can hear her fascinating story. The story of the journey she has been on; the trials, joys, and adventures that have taken place. If you listen really carefully, she whispers the secrets of her life. 

Next time you are on the beach, enjoying the hot sun and sand, pick up a seashell and listen to her story. 

Seashells are a perfect example of beautiful simplicity on the outside, complexity on the inside. They each have a story to tell, each beautiful, each perfectly intricate...

http://www.completely-coastal.com/2009/05/seashell-photography.html

And like every seashell, we too have an intricate story to tell. One full of highs and lows, moments of immense joy and complete despair. The beauty of our life though, is that even in those deep moments of despair, something beautiful blossoms - a story. Each seashell was given every adventure so that the moment you place her to your ear, she can tell you it all, she can sing to you the whispers of the ocean, in hopes that she will bless you.

Our lives are like that too! We are given our many trials and triumphs so that when the right time comes, we can share our story with the person who needs it the most.