Five Minute Friday: When the Path I’m Called to Walk is Lonely

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I memorized The Road Not Taken as a senior in high-school, and though I can’t recall each line, the theme rattles in my head from time to time…

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
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Long ago, I pondered whether I would follow the path lovingly set by the Lord before me, or forge my own way, knowing which choice was the more popular of the two. Considering the sacrifice made by the One who went before me and made a way to meet God on my trail of self-seeking, the idea of following my own feet just wouldn’t settle in my soul.

Confident in the Lord who directed my steps, I set off on the less-traveled path. I delighted in the beginnings of my journey, as I knew I should. But when the path grew hard and lonely, darkened by death and disappointment, I wanted to back track.

This road would not diverge away from these obstacles, and turning back was an impossibility. I had to keep walking, knowing who walked with me, though I was not always aware of His presence.

There weren’t many who could have or would have walked with me on those paths. Though there are certainly ditches and trenches on every route, these circumstances were unique to my own, and I mainly maneuvered them alone. The dips and valleys many and fellow-walkers few, loneliness abounded, but just as at the time of my salvation from sin, grace did much more abound. The longer I follow Jesus, the happier I am on this path.

Not sure this is what Frost had in mind when he penned these words…

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.
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 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:8-11).

25 Comments

  1. This is just beautiful, Amber, and I love the picture, because it reminds me of home!

    Have to confess that I stayed awake hoping you’d be posting, and believe me, it was worth it.

    ‘The road less travelled’…the harder choice, always.

    And then, of course, there are those of us who decided to take neither, and go bush…ah, well.

    #1 at FMF this week.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-dying-spouse-201-send-me-fmf.html

  2. Amber, what a beautiful post! And, I love the way the girl is looking up at her daddy. 🙂

    The road less traveled can be the harder one, but there is peace in knowing we never truly travel it alone, right? I feel like i’ve traveled some of those paths, as well. They’re rarely easy, but when we get through them, the treasures we picked up on the journey can be very fulfilling.

  3. Just a beautiful post in both photo and word. These paths God puts us on are often traveled alone and yet, we find we were never truly alone. He is always with us and we take comfort in this. I am so glad I stopped here as I think it is my first time here so, “Nice to meet you!”

    • Nice to meet you as well, Joanne. I so appreciate you stopping by. I know my blog isn’t anything special but it is special to me that the Lord would use my words to touch anyone who stumbles upon this page. I love that I can speak the truth He speaks to me and then hear them back from those who leave a word here.

  4. I love that poem, and I like the link you make with following Jesus. So true that he often calls us to “the path less traveled by” and sometimes it’s not an easy path, but it is definitely the right path to take.

  5. I love both the poem and the verse! You’ve tied this together beautifully!
    This: “This road would not diverge away from these obstacles, and turning back was an impossibility. I had to keep walking, knowing who walked with me, though I was not always aware of His presence.”
    Thank you for reminding us again that, although it may be difficult, we don’t walk alone.
    Have a great weekend!
    Shauna (#18 today on FMF)

  6. Pingback: The Good, the Bad, and the Busy + my word for 2017! - Amber Taube

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