The Road Less Traveled

There is a famous poem by Robert Frost (American poet and writer, 1874-1963) called:

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 as far as I could

To where it bent in the under growth;

See this website for the rest of the poem: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15717  

The Road Less Traveled is also the title of a book by M. Scott Peck (American Psychiatrist and writer, 1936-2005).  Mr. Peck in this best known work describes our emotional, mental and spiritual journey through life.  He also gives advice on how to travel this road; not the popular and fashionable way but rather accepting a path of discipline, delay of gratification, and accepting responsibility.  He also argues the idea of romantic love and concludes that it is a myth.  He suggests that true love is achieved if one is willing to limit his ego, sacrifices the self and nurtures each other in a committed relationship. Love is attentive, courageous, and willing to risk loss, independence, commitment, and confrontation.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

~ Edmund Burke

Mr. Peck’s analysis is truly unpopular today in our liberal dominated society.  Is this why we have fallen from the grace of God?  

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)

Great leaders, teachers, discoverers and inventors have always taken the road less traveled.  If people like Abraham Lincoln, Jesus, Columbus, Thomas Edison, Mahatma Ghandi, and Martin Luther King had not taken the road less traveled we all would be worse off.  They were courageous in that they didn’t listen to opposition, persecution and ridicule.

When I met some followers of Rev. Sun Myung Moon in 1972 I was searching for purpose and meaning in my life.  I was also looking for ways to solve the division of my fatherland Germany which at time was still divided.  I joined the Unification Movement and began to travel and met many young people who had the same ideas.  In 1982 I was blessed in holy matrimony at the suggestion of the Rev. Moon.  My husband and I have been married for 30 years as of yesterday.  Have we taken the road less travelled? You bet.  We didn’t experience the romantic love from the beginning.  With commitment and determination we built a relationship which has lasted through separation (because of different missions), delayed education, cultural differences, raising a family, sickness and health.  The courage to stand up against ignorance and misunderstandings because of different beliefs (mostly from the families and relatives), came from a deep conviction and knowing God as our heavenly parent and learning that history has evolved around the providence of restoration directed by that same God.

 

We enjoy now an extended family with our two children being married and blessed with a grand-daughter each.  Do we have challenges?  Sure.  Life is never without it.  I have never regretted to have taken the road less traveled because my life has hope now and doesn’t just end ‘til death do us part.’  I know that I will live with my family forever and ever in the presence of my Heavenly Father.

I am very proud of the 30 years and celebrate this day not only with my husband but with 2075 other couples who made the same commitment 30 years ago.

Happy Anniversary!