The Road Not Taken

    I have been feeling well, and things are going fairly well. We have been pretty busy with things, and that makes time race along, which is kind of sad, but time marches on for all of us. Margaret and I took a few days and spent some time in the Black Hills. It was beautiful out there, and we went on some walks together. One hike took us from Spearfish Canyon Lodge up to Roughlock Falls. On that path, we stopped to take a few photos. This little trail led off up the hill by itself, and reminded me of “The road not taken” by Robert Frost. I had always liked that poem, and have pasted it below for those of you who may not have committed it to memory from your elementary school days. I had this poem written on a piece of paper in the shape of a footprint and kept it near my desk at Sioux Falls Fire Rescue. It reminds me that we are all on our own journeys, and that there are times when we need to go off onto “the road not taken” - that we do not have to follow everyone else to follow God’s plans for us. 

 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 marked 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 seem to be going down a road less traveled once again at this point in my life’s journey. I do not know that I would have chosen this fork in the trail, but I have always been one for a new trail when out hunting or hiking, so it seems fitting. I have met a lot of great people and seen many beautiful things on my journey, and have few major regrets. God has steered me more toward Himself these past few months, though I always knew He was there. I was just too busy many times to take the time to visit with Him as I should have. Now I seem to have that time, and it is amazing what He is still teaching me.

Take care, have a great day, and God Bless all of you who are praying for our family as we journey down this road.