Two Roads Diverged in a Wood…

Two Roads Diverged in a Wood…
Author: Bruce Lane, Executive Pastor
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


“Two Roads Diverged in a Wood” is from the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. According to The Paris Review (September 2015), “On a word-for-word basis, it may be the most popular piece of literature ever written by an American.” Why is it so popular? I think it’s because we can relate to Frost about what happens when we come to a fork in the road and must decide which path to follow.  

On Sunday, Pastor Josh Rhodes reminded us that doing life God’s way is the only life-giving way. He used the illustration of starting on and staying on the right path. Just like in Robert Frost’s poem, we must pick from two paths in life, one leading to life and one leading to death. Jesus says this about the path that leads to life—
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
– Matthew 7:13-14

Just like in Robert Frost’s poem, we must pick from two paths in life, one leading to life and one leading to death.

Once we choose the path that leads to eternal life, we need to make sure it is life-giving each day. We do this by trusting in the Lord with all our heart and not relying on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), by living by the commands or instruction of the Lord (Psalm 119:35, 105; Proverbs 10:17), and by not turning to the right or to the left and veering off course (Proverbs 4:26-27).

While I’m confident I’m on the path that gives eternal life, there have been many times in my life that I’ve veered off the daily-life path and chased money, fame, career, and things that were not life-giving. I am thankful that, like the prodigal son, when I came to my senses and asked for forgiveness, my Heavenly Father welcomed me back into a right relationship with Him and helped me get back on the daily, life-giving path. And He continues to do so today.

At the end of the poem, Robert Frost says that taking the road less traveled made all the difference. But doing life God’s way is the only life-giving way—and that is what will make all the difference!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.
– Proverbs 3:5-6

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