Robert Frost’s famous poem, The Road Not Taken, ends with this phrase:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Don’t we all wish that sentiment reflected our own life experience? Unfortunately, most of us have, from time to time, come to two roads diverging in the wood and taken the one more-traveled by. Like many others before us, our attention was captured by a shiny object leading in the wrong direction, but it looked so enticing…
As Andy Stanley says in his book The Principle of the Path, what grabs our attention determines our direction. And our direction, over time, determines our destination. So, if what captures a person’s attention is wealth, guess what direction the person takes in life and where that ultimately takes him? Same is true for the pursuit of happiness, pleasure, power, status, beauty, security, control, you name it – all shiny objects of desire that can take us to a destination that is empty and possibly destructive.
We’ve all been there, done that, and purchased the tee shirt. The real question is whether we are willing to change direction before we’ve gone so far down the path that we’ve become lost. It’s a fact that most lost hikers in the backcountry will start going in circles after a while, and if they die in the woods they will be found within one mile of where they first got lost. Being on a bad path is disorienting and leads to hopelessness. And when that’s where we find ourselves in life, there is usually not a quick fix. If we had taken a map, a compass, and a trusted traveling companion with us, we wouldn’t be at this destination in the first place. But here we are.
So, the sooner we wake up and admit that we’re on a bad path, the better off we are. Then, we have to turn around (the Bible calls it “repenting”) and see if we can find a better path. The space between where we are now and where we want to be is often called “the wilderness” – the place of “learning things the hard way”, otherwise known as the “meantime.” Some of the most valuable lessons in life are learned in this territory. But, most of God’s heroes in the Bible had to go through this wilderness to get to the new path and the new purpose God had for them. So, we’re in good company!
So, let’s say that my attention has taken me in a direction that’s not hopeful, and I’m afraid I’m going to end up in a place I don’t want to be. What do I do? Here’s what God says:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in
all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Remember – it was my best thinking that got me lost in the first place!
“Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path.”
(Proverbs 23:19)
Consider – getting on a new and better path is basically a matter of the heart.
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at hour right hand.”
(Psalm 16:11)
Know that – God promises He will make the path known if we seek Him. And finally, once His path is discovered, we still need three things to make sure we stay on the path and take a long journey in the same direction:
1. A correct map: The Bible
2. A compass: The Holy Spirit
3. A companion who knows where we’re going: Jesus Christ
New Direction Christian Coaching would like to be your partner for the journey.
