Two Roads & Dried Leaves

Robert Frost's Poem, "The Road Not Taken", has always been one of my favorite poems.

"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;	5
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,	10
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.	15
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."

Isn't that beautiful? I love it. When I was young, a great friend wrote this poem on the first page of a journal she gifted me. I remember goofing around, reading it to her and acting silly so I could make her laugh. Terri had the best laugh (and I'm sure she still does). Her laugh filled the room and her eyes would overflow with tears...it was awesome. She was - and is - awesome....great memories around this poem. 

Year's later, as a teacher, I would assign this poem to my class for typing practice or as a Word Processing assignment....I loved sharing with my students. 

Tonight, I just read it to my oldest daughter. She loved it. Isn't is great how words live on? Isn't it amazing the power words have on us? Their impact, whether written or spoken, should not be taken without thoughtful consideration and the realization of the responsibility each author bears to the reader.

I've always felt that "I took the road less traveled by"....and it has made all the difference in my life. The Bible also talks about the "narrow way" and the choice between two paths. In Matthew 7: 13-14 kjv

"¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

There are no words spoken or written that have more power than the Holy Word of God.

"⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3: 5-6

Put your feet to the narrow path, the road less traveled, and put your trust in the Lord.

Keep on keep'n on...

The Detours We Take....

This beautiful peacock was my lunch companion one day last year. I had taken a detour on the way to the airport and stopped outside a local zoo to have a bit to eat. He was patrolling the grounds sounding the alarm at intruders. He would not tolerate my direct approach, but came right up to me while I sat quietly eating a snack at the empty pavilion. It was just the two of us and I was honored to enjoy his company for a few minutes.

Now, as I look through the photos and remember that day, I'm even more amazed how perfectly this beautiful bird is made. Look at the color he displays and how the patterns are put together...feather by beautiful feather....WOW!

I wonder, "Who could look at such a beautiful creature and deny the presence of an all mighty creator God?"

King David put it best in Psalm 8:1, 3 & 4
"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens."

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

"Thank you, Lord, for this earth and all the wonderful creatures you made for us to enjoy. Thank you for showing your love for us in your creation. Thank you for the detours you give me. Help me to slow down and enjoy the scenery."

You're as Young as Your Faith

General Douglas MacArthur said,

"Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.

People grow old by deserting their ideals.

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt;

as young your self-confidence, as old as your fear;

as young as your hope, as old as your despair."

Wow, reading that really made me think about the difference between faith and doubt. How would living in doubt shorten a person's life? How would living in faith add to a life? When I reflect on my own life, I remember the times when fear and doubt consumed my thoughts. A black, oppressive fog consumed me. I was scared, depressed, angry and unsure. My inner voice spoke in a negative loop, constantly playing the tape that reminded me of my failures, all the painful rejections and my feeling of guilt for not being stronger. Living in this state of doubt robbed me of my joy, zest and vision.

It would be in the night, much like this beautiful night, that I would walk outside and look up at the incredible sky. On full mooned nights there would be no need for a flashlight of any kind. Like the photo above, shot without a flash, the moon provides enough light to see everything around me. 

My favorite night sky is one with no moon - only stars. Wow...just incredible....I would begin to thank the Lord for His blessings. I would force myself to think of the things I could be thankful for. I would praise Him and thank Him. Always, and without fail, I would instantly begin to feel my spirit lift. The black fog would dissipate and my heart would begin to sing. The joy of the Lord was my strength when I had no strength of my own. 

"My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation." Psalm 35:9

Faithfulness

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." Mother Teresa

I saw this rusty spring on an old plow we own and thought of how the seemingly endless spiral exemplifies the faithfulness of God. Yet, because this spring does end I think it is more of an example of man's faithfulness to God.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the staircase." Martin Luther King, Jr.

  "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;" Deuteronomy 7:9

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." Isaiah 40: 8

What does it mean to be faithful? The first thing I think of when someone asks me that question is fidelity. 

Loyalty and devotion in a marriage, faithfulness, is primarily thought of in terms of sexual fidelity. But it is about so much more than that. What about friendship? What does it mean to be a faithful friend? How about a faithful employee or faithful co-worker? What about being a faithful church member? What does it mean to be faithful?

Today, our Sunday School lesson covered some of the attributes of God. One is His infinite faithfulness to us. I thought of how many times I've failed the Lord in my walk with Him. How many times have I let Him down? How many times have I been unfaithful to Him - yet He has always been faithful to me. Faithful to forgive. Faithful to redeem. Faithful to love me and give me assurance that He cares for me.

Then I thought about the many times that I have been hurt by someone who was not faithful to me in one way or another....how deep the pain of betrayal cuts - the anger felt - the embarrassment and shame... Then I thought of the people I have been unfaithful to in one way or another....and I'm reminded that we are all flawed vessels in need of the love of Christ. And without Him, faithfulness in all of it's forms, is lost. 

"Lord, thank you for your unfailing faithfulness to me. Thank you for your Word and the message you had for me today. Please help me to be faithful, to focus on you and remain steadfast....to lay down my fears, my sorrows, my painful memories and trust in your unfailing love. Thank you for your forgiveness and your mercy towards me. Help me to be a better person......more like you."

Seeds of Solutions

“Every problem contains within itself the seeds of its own solution.” Stanley Arnold

“I can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice that thorn bushes have roses…” J. Kenfield Morley

In Valorie Burton's book, "Successful Women Think Differently", she lists seven key decisions that will change your life. Decision #2 is to focus on solutions, not problems. It is that mindset, a conscious choice to focus on opportunities for growth in the midst of trials, tribulations and problems facing each of us that determines our success and the realization of our dreams. 

In the photo above, I was playing around with a new telescopic lens - shooting objects in my office. These lovely dried rose buds illustrate the hyper-focus that can be achieved when you focus on one thing. All other issues fade away into a haze in the background when we focus. Within every problem, there is hope. I can say that because I've been through hard times, painful experiences and loss. There have been moments when I felt poignant pain and despair, when it was hard to find any ray of light. So, I learned to set my focus and hope in Christ - trusting in His mercy, love and forgiveness - knowing that He knows all, sees all, hears all and will take care of me. He has never failed me, and never left me - and has always honored His Word...

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose.” Romans 8:28 kjv

Planting Seeds

“Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson

In H. Jackson Brown, Jr.’s book, “Life’s Little Instruction Book”, the very first instruction is to compliment three people every day. I agree with Mr. Brown, but would add one word to his instruction…I would say that it is important to give genuine compliments.  People know the difference – you’re eye’s will betray you. I’d go even further by saying that the challenge is to be able to make a conscious effort to see something positive in the

negative, pessimistic people who seem to feed off drama and discord.

The Bible has much to say on being kind to one another. In Ephesians 4:32 kjv, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  

I must say that this is not as easy as it sounds, but I know that on a personal level the small things matter. I will drive out of my way, or reroute my trip to stop at specific filling stations or fast food joints because of the kind, friendly and consistent service I get from the people who work behind the counter. I begin to bond with them, and they with me. I have one stop that I make once a week (or even less frequently). The woman that works there will come out from around the counter to get a hug from me and to give me one in return. She asks about my family and will ask where I’ve been if she hasn’t seen me in several weeks. We bless each other with just a few minutes of smiles, kind words and a genuine hug. It makes me realize how many people out there are lonely, sad and long for someone to care….anyone….you…me…

What are seeds of kindness? Well, to me they begin with a smile that reaches your eyes and just simply being polite…saying, “Please” and “Thank You”….then moving to “Have a nice day.”  It is opening a door for someone, giving up your place in line for someone with less to purchase, letting someone pull in front of you in a traffic jam, not getting upset when the waitress spills your drink…and the list goes on…. One thing that really means something to people is to recognize faces and remember names.

 Recognizing faces and remembering names is something that I am determined to make a priority because I fail miserably at it. The Sherlock Holmes ability to connect the dots is something I admire and there are those out there than can do it very well. My husband is one of those people. I would be happy with just the basics – remembering names WITH faces - even as life changes them! It makes a difference to me when someone remembers my name AND how to correctly spell it! 

Strength for Today

“Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.” Thomas Carlyle

“No longer forward nor behind

I look in hope or fear;

But, grateful, take the good I find,

The best of now and here.” John Greenleaf Whittier

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18: 1-2

Resolve to Improve

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Jim Ryub

It is at the beginning of each year that folks reflect on the year previous and ask themselves, “What do I need to improve on? What can I resolve to improve about myself?” It is when local gym memberships see their biggest increase, when diet aides fly off the shelves and when tanning bed bulbs get replaced in preparation for the busy season.

I am no different than my fellow “New Year’s Resolutionists” . I desire to be leaner and resolve to continue that fight (and the older I get the more of a fight it is). I resolve to spend more time in the Word – it greaves me that I have not spent enough time reading my Bible daily. My daughter gently reprimanded me on not posting more on my blog last year, so I am resolved to be more consistent in my posting for 2014. To do that I must develop a method to my madness…or a plan of action, if you will…. My main focus in starting this blog to begin with was to encourage others and share God’s Word. I realize that is too broad an objective, so I am going to give myself a theme each week and post accordingly. I love quotes from famous people, and some not so famous – and I want to share some of the quotes that resonate with me, serving to inspire, affirm, give peace, delight and challenge. Each post will contain at least one Bible verse as I believe that the Bible is the living word of God, God breathed and unfailing in the power of its message to humanity. Each post will also contain an image, either one of the photographs I’ve taken, or a piece of graphic art that I created to serve as a visual. I also have an idea if posting a blue tie image next to any “blue tie” statements or observations that I make….

Well, here we go! The first week is January 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th, the theme for this week is “Resolve to Improve”.

“Sow a Thought, Reap an Act, Sow an Act, Reap a Habit, Sow a Habit, Reap a Character, Sow a Character,  Reap a Destiny.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Above all that I can do within myself, I recognize that I am nothing without Christ.

 ^“ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6