Diverging Roads and Questions

Robert Frost has a famous poem that, essentially, says taking to road less traveled makes all the difference. The poem casts a positive light on this conclusion, which is possibly why so many Christians cling to it's sentiment with the same fervor they cling to the "Footprints" poem. However, the question must be asked, what happens when you take the "road less traveled" and it only causes more pain and grief? The argument could be made that this is still parallel to the Christian life, but at least with the Christian walk there is the promise of good things to come in the end. The situation that I am raising involves standing where the roads diverge. One road has caused pain in the past (though being less traveled by many people), and the other causing an equal amount of pain (though of a different nature) and being traveled by more people. What happens when both roads will cause an immense amount of pain and grief, just for different reasons. One for completely leaving some awesome things in the past, and the other for walking beside those memories, wondering if the hurt will turn around for good and reconciliation. Yes, taking the road overlooked by many others will still make "all the difference" in the grand scheme of life, but what if that "difference" is not in a positive light? Or the way it seems right now is not necessarily in a positive light, because you know all the pain that it has caused in the past?

I used to just follow the crowd in almost every decision throughout life. That is how I "survived" junior high and much of high school. I didn't know any better. Senior year, changes started to happen. My processing and evaluation skills were challenged beyond all reason, and I became determined to not cave under the pressure of what everyone else did, or thought that I should do. I challenged the waves of culture and voiced my opinion of values and ethics. I continued to do this throughout a lot of college, fighting to make my thoughts and views known, even though it caused some difficult in relationships. Some close friends thought I went off the deep end a few times. Had I gone that far? Maybe. Often times those misunderstandings were cleared up after further explaining a specific stance, though.

If I follow the road that others consider to be the "correct" road, even though it's the one that many people take, I will always wonder "what if...[this and that]?" I could end up with a lot of regret if things, somehow, turn around and I am not willing to give it a chance. However, if I follow the road that is "less traveled" by others, I know the pain that awaits. I am not unfamiliar with this pain, in fact, this pain and I have gotten to know each other quite well over the past few years of tear-stained pillows. There is also the chance that I will miss a different opportunity by following this road. Both roads will cause pain. Both roads will include many nights of crying. Both roads could mean a loss of some kind. So I guess it comes down to this: when the pros and cons of each road balance out to the same result, what is someone supposed to do? Pray? Yes. And what about when God is silent? I desire to do what is right. When is taking the "road less traveled" wrong?