Friday, 06 March 2009

  • To Take the Road Less Traveled By

    "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

    I took the one less traveled by,

    And that has made all the difference"

    From "The Road Not Taken," By Robert Frost


    "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field"     - Jesus Christ

    The road that is less traveled is often the one that is most demanding, dangerous, and marked with potholes of suffering.  Having heard of the treasure hidden in a field that lies at the end of the road less traveled, many brave souls will try to travel it.  But most turn back because it demands what they will not sacrifice – their families, riches, accomplishments… themselves.  And even if a few of these prideful souls manage to endure the suffering for the sake of the treasure, they will mistake its value.  For when they find it in the field, they take it pridefully as if their own efforts had earned them the right to do so and abuse it for the sake of exerting their power, boasting their righteousness, and consoling their fear of death.  Extolling the treasure as if it was theirs to give.

    In the end, these poor souls will see that nothing truly golden can be purchased by their own efforts and that a remnant of other daring travelers was not searching for the treasure.  The means for their (i.e. those who were searching for something other than the treasure) endurance was not directed towards the blessings, but towards the One who blesses.  And it was not by their own doing, but by the One who has already done.  

    Although the purchase of the field cost all that they ever had, it was only after they had discovered within themselves that they had nothing to give nor lose in the first place were they motivated to take the road less traveled by.  For before this new-found glory stirred within their hearts, most had felt the sting of rejection by those who traveled the beaten path and were far too weak and self loathing to even consider taking the dangerous road.  Thus, the beaten path seemed appealing only for the sake of moving along and the other option seemed rather brutal.  Suicide was frightening, but at the same time, it became increasingly more enticing as hope gave way to despair as one advanced further down the frequented road whereby the strong became stronger and the weak became weaker.  And nobody was content.

    But what about those rare souls that managed to escape the praise of men?  Why would any one of these strong souls want to leave behind their fame, fortunes, and success?  What temptation could possibly pull someone away from the fact that they are eloquent, intelligent, good looking, accomplished, and moral?  Indeed, it seems that these strong souls are more hardened than those pathetic despairing souls who have allowed their discontentment to become their identity.  Perhaps, there is truth to the fact that once you realize that you have nothing, only then can your heart be open to something entirely outside yourself.

    Thus, it is harder for those who meet or exceed worldly criteria to escape the fraternity of the will to power.  The relentless competition 'to be the greatest that they can be' is a ruthless one, but bewitching nonetheless, for they believe that there is an end to their toiling, some illuding prize to be won.  Self-respect, self-esteem, self-something.  Yet, some manage to escape this spiral, which could very well lead to a place where people compete for power and self-advancement for all of eternity.

    What takes people who are so obsessed with advancing their selves and moves them into a realm where they are obsessed with advancing the selves of others?  Ask them and they will speak of the miraculous.  They will tell you that the transaction was not their means of justifying themselves in the end, but quite the opposite.  It came about as an overflow of affection that for what the End had done for them while they were sinners.  It is as if they could do nothing else other than to give everything else because everything had sacrificed Himself for them.  Because He loved them when they loved Him not.

    Thus, the beaten path was never an option because their desire for God was so urgent and powerful that it was more than an honor and privilege to follow His words and take the road less traveled.  It was an irresistible duty – an act of obedience that spilled over from the fulfillment and empowerment of the Spirit.  Although the beaten path may have spared them from great pain, it would have also deprived them of great joy.  And it was for, with, and because of Christ that they carried their crosses and knew the great sufferings and the great joys of a life well lived.

    It seems that happiness is most alive in their selves when they are most outside their selves.  And perhaps, such a paradox lies at the very heart of reality, where everything becomes so much more intense, bold, and alive - sounds, smells, tastes, sights, feelings.  At the end of this road less taken, those who yearned for God will increasingly discover the everlasting joy of forever being outside themselves where they are happiest and most alive within themselves by tasting and participating in the power and glory of the eternal love that abounds from the Trinity.  It is a beautiful hope, and moreover, it is one that has been revealed and clearly perceived in the things that have been made.

    A good reason to be excited and hopeful always.

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