The Road Not Taken
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;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
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.
--Robert Frost
I like this poem. Makes one ponder all the decisions one makes in life. How a single decision leads inevitably to another and on and on.
The problem for some of us is, God wants us to take one road and sometimes we really want to take the other. A further problem is, God's road isn't always the easy road. He did say, after all, "Take up your cross and follow me."
Never mind me. I'm just being philosophical. In an uncomfortably didactic manner. Go back to discussing things amongst yourselves.
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13 comments:
if this poem of robert frosts is referring to the road that leads to heaven, which we know is less travelled, and the one that leads to hell which is very much travelled, its like i said on my blog on my notable quotes,There are 2 paths to follow. Which one will you take? The one to heaven? or the one that leads directly to hell? the decision of the road we take is up to us. either travel the road to heaven which is not easy by a long shot, or take the easy road which leads directly to hell. the choice is ours. for all those who do not have God by choice, well when their soul awakens on the shores of eternity at the judgement seat of God, i would not want to be in their shoes. either chose God and go to heaven, or chose the devil and go to hell. take your pick. God did give us free choice. if we chose stupidly, well, then one cannot complain about the outcome of their decision now can they? if one choses wisely and follows after God then one can be joyous in knowing they made the right decision. the simple answer is, you make your bed you sleep in it.
That's one interpretation, Marilena. But I take it to mean we look back at decisions we make in life and wonder how things might have been different if we'd taken a different road. I'm talking about basically morally neutral decisions. Ones where we're free to choose one or the other. Not good vs. evil.
No one's going to look back on their life from heaven and regret not following the devil to hell.
good point doc. good point. i took it to mean exactly what i posted, but you shed a different point of view on it. still, most excellent post!
Nice poem. I've always liked Robert Frost. I find the last line rather out of place, though; it doesn't seem to flow with the rest of the poem.
We've all stood at the crossroads of life and chosen one path or another, haven't we. I guess if we remember to pray before making decisions, we're much more likely to choose the correct path. Then any regrets will be small, if they exist at all.
What if there is no "correct" path? What if both paths are morally neutral?
A wise priest once told me that God has a vocation for everyone, whether to religious life, marriage or the single life. If we choose the one that God did not intend, we aren't doomed. It's just that it will be more difficult for us to achieve salvation. But, God will give us the grace we need no matter what path we choose.
It would be much easier if God put flashing neon signs with arrows pointing to the right path. There'd never be any doubt that way.
well, He didn't. if one wants to know their vocation in life, one must pray to know what that vocation is. they will get an answer. when one knows their vocation then they have not strayed from their true calling. the answer then is to pray devoutly about their vocation.
Marilena, of course that is true, but how many people actually pray to God before making a major decision? I bet that most Catholics today jump right into relationships or marriage without giving God a second thought. He's on the back burner for many people.
Dr B., what your priest told you is comforting indeed, to know that there is still hope if you ignore your true calling. But for those who have prayed about it, and do know their calling, it would seem unwise to ignore it, wouldn't it?
"It would be much easier if God put flashing neon signs with arrows pointing to the right path. There'd never be any doubt that way."
Well Dr. B.,maybe the neon signs are there but you're not looking at them. Some people have to be dragged kicking and screaming to something that turns out to be just what they wanted. Usually if there are obstacles on the path to salvation, it's the devil that puts 'em there.
I'm a man. I don't take subtle hints. I don't take obvious hints. Just come out and tell me. That's what I keep telling God. Just tell me.
He's more in the hint business, however. Granted they're obvious, but they're still just hints. I need explicit commands. Something like a voice from the heavens saying, oh I don't know...."Go sit on a beach in Florida until your money runs out."
Now that, I could do.
I like this poem, too. But at the end of the day, we have to settle for the our actions and the paths we have selected. Good poem selection.
I, however, think that PG is better at being philosophical than you. Maybe it's because she's prettier. I don't know:0)
Tom
doc,
if God is giving you obvious hints then there you have your answer. just don't ignore those hints.
Ah, but they're just hints. They're so easy to ignore. I can always fall back on the excuse that He never came right out and told me. Think that will fly with Him? Nah, me neither.
Tom, she is prettier. She has a pretty car too. Luckily what I lack in beauty I make up for with my wit and charm.....
Thanks for reminding me of this poem...First heard of it in Elementary School but forgot much about it.
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