The Road Not Taken

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 kept 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.

I've always been a little subject to the angst of pondering whether another route would have been better somehow; faster (my usual concern), less hassle, better sights, something...

As my son (pictured) recently pointed out, Frost concludes his poem "with a sigh", leaving us to think perhaps he had a bit of that same contemplative reflection with a twinge of unresolved wondering, not fully formed as regret, but rather a curiosity born of some impatience.

I think the answer is in Paul's admonition on contentment (Phil. 4:11).

A Hill to Die On?

We use various phrases to describe positions we take.  Like, 'drew a line in the sand', 'planted a flag', or 'it's not a hill to die on'.  Most of us never get anywhere close to actually dying on a hill.  But we can often be very passionate about the various causes we take up.  Most of the time I've heard these kinds of exclamations, it's been for issues that aren't all that important in the grand scheme of things.

But every now and then along comes a situation that sends us to the core of our being and requires a firm declaration of where we'll stand.  Like Joshua of old, we are asked to "choose you this day" (Joshua 24:15).  And it's usually best if we've ironed out our convictions in advance of the challenge.  Either way, we must shut out the "madding crowd" and seek God's face.  His Spirit will never lead outside the whole counsel of His Word.

Is the choice you are making today really a hill to die on?

Big Rocks

Someone I work with often asks, "What are the big rocks?".  Meaning, what should we be focusing on right now?  It's a reasonable question since, by definition, you can't focus on everything.  And it's important to prioritize.

But beneath the surface, there are often submerged and hidden issues that may need a little extra time and discernment to discover and navigate around.  I was told recently that our Midwest drought has lowered a reservoir to the point where an old barn--flooded over long ago when the dam was built--has become a hazard to navigation.

How do we navigate these turbulent and confusing times?  God's Word speaks in every time and place:

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1Co 14:3)

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1Co 14:20)

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Pr 11:14)

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Mt 7:20)

 

Amazing Grace

I pray the glory of God and the startling nature of His mercy and grace is never far from my mind. 

An interesting blog post informed me that my favorite verse, the seventh, was actually not penned by John Newton. I agree that it was a fitting conclusion to this beautiful hymn, don't you?

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

--John Newton, 1779.

Vigilance

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (I Pet. 5:8) 

A foreign sound.  The head goes up.  Watching.  Discerning.  Friend or foe?  

Imagination?  Unwarranted Fear?  Out of control panic?  Shouting unneeded warnings?  Stirring up others? 

Pause and remember, "Perfect love casts out fear."  (I John 4:18).  Soberness., vigilance, discernment.  "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20).  Often over time.

The Holy Spirit will never work through actions that violate God's Word.  Satan is not thus bound.  His wolf fur will eventually show under the sheep's clothing.  His biting and devouring will make itself known. 

"Be still and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10). 

"My sheep hear my voice." (John 10:27) 

"I am with you always." (Matt. 28:20)

Zeal

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." 
(Ps. 122:1) 

This reflex shot from the church bus in Magdalena, Mexico serendipitously captured the best portrayal of this verse that I've seen.  I'll let you ask yourself the obvious question.

Confirmation Bias

I find that reading about a particular subject can shine light on a completely unrelated area of life.  Not long ago, I enjoyed an article in an aviation magazine that assessed the factors involved when pilots make really stupid (in hindsight) decisions, often in the face of information that makes the choices made seem ridiculous, especially in light of the tragic outcomes that follow.

See if you can find any application for these human factors revealed in research and aviation experience:

• We tend to "seek out and trust information that confirms what we already think or believe or want to believe, and avoid or discount information that goes against what we believe or want to believe."
• We "are more likely to notice information that we agree with or consider positive rather than focusing in on information that is contrary to our beliefs or goals."
• We "will ask questions so that an affirmative answer supports what (we) want to do."
• We "tend to give a lot more weight to the information that we receive early in a communication over information that is received later."
• The costs of proceeding in our desired course, in the face of more careful alternatives, are often unknown while the costs of not pressing on are often more certain.

I'm pretty sure we are all subject to this form of blindness. As the author says, the first line of defense is being aware of that.  Then we had better work to help our brain jump out of its rut and consider information that just might save us from a world of hurt.  Having people around us we can trust to tell us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear is an important part of doing this.

Prov. 11:14.

(Quotes taken from "Looking for Confirmation" by Jay Hopkins, Flying, April 2012 pp. 26-28.)

Lenticular

Otherwise known as Altocumulus lenticularis, or a cloud shaped like a lens.  And it made for a beautiful backdrop as we headed to the trail head for Mt. Chapin in Rocky Mountain National Park.

My kids once gave me a sweatshirt with the message, "As a matter of fact, my head is in the clouds." Guilty as charged.

How Great

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art...

How great, indeed.

"How Great Thou Art" -- by Stuart K. Hine

Seeing is believing?

If you think so, you clearly aren't familiar with Photoshop! But this post isn't about altered images. It's about our senses, our view of things, our perspective.  What references would you use to decide which direction is "up" in this image?  The trees?  They always grow straight up, don't they?  The ground?  It's usually level; at least in the Midwest.  The clouds?  Pilots know they come in all kinds of sloping patterns and that using them as an "artificial horizon" can be deadly.

Or maybe you know me and know that I try to hold the camera very level, that I'm not one of those photographers who loves a quirky camera angle.  The more you trust or agree with me, the more you might be inclined to believe that what I say is "up", really is "up".

Paul was very clear to say, "Follow me as I follow Christ" (I Cor. 11:1).  Be sure your reference point is on solid ground, always true. And then check it often.  Like pilot (or even hiker) vertigo, you'll be surprised how soon your senses will fail.