Life Notes—July 12, 2012
“…Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Excerpt from The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost
A few weeks ago I went to a reunion of people from my Junior High School. It wasn’t a significant anniversary; we just have a handful of people who enjoy the company of this particular class enough to arrange for reunions every few years. And we have a few dozen people interested enough to attend. I have attended most of the numerous reunions held over the past 15 or so years and have enjoyed them all, even though there is no one from that class I keep in regular contact with anymore.
One interesting thing about reunions is not just how people have changed, but how many have taken dramatically different paths for their lives than what I had imagined they would when we were still in school. One girl I felt certain would marry a rich man and live a life of luxury far away fromKansas. But all these years later she lives a modest life in the town she grew up in. One boy, bright and enthusiastic in school, I thought would certainly rise through the ranks quickly in whatever profession he chose. Instead, he has remained a blue collar laborer, treasuring the freedom of unencumbered evenings and weekends. As I look back on my life at the various choices I made that led me down far different paths than I had once intended. I love the life I have today, but had someone described this life to me in high school and said this was where I was headed I would almost certainly have made dramatic changes to try to steer my life differently.
Many times we make decisions with no idea of the long-term implications. Sometimes world events beyond our direct control happen and change the course of world history. Some positive, some negative. If Hitler had succeeded in conquering the world, what would our world look like today? What if Goliath had killed David? Jesus’ lineage traces directly through David. Our lives can take strange and wonderful and troubling twists, sometimes with little or no notice. Personally, I believe the decisions and events that shape the years to come are divinely guided. While I try to prayerfully consider all decisions I suspect may have long-term consequences, some do not seem to rise to that level at the time. Many years ago I opted to strike up a conversation with a young lady on an opposing volleyball team. Had I not done that, would she be my wife today? We cannot know how life would differ had we taken another path. But we can rejoice in the blessings of the roads we have taken.
Both Tom and Mitch continue their seven-week series on David this Sunday, Tom downtown and Mitch at the west campus. Their sermon title will be “David’s Dramatic Journey to the Throne,” based on 2 Samuel 2:1-4. Life worship is at 10:00 AM in Brady Hall, traditional worship is at 8:30 and 11:00. West campus worship is at 9:00 and 11:00.
Come home to church this Sunday. What has made all the difference in your life?
Greg Hildenbrand, Life Music Coordinator
Contemplating Grace 