Robert Frost’s famous poem The Road Not Taken is often mistitled, The Road Less Traveled – such is the power of its final claim,
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
For many, this poem symbolizes the value and reward of non-conformity and bold risk-taking. A prideful reflection of good decisions made. And it is often championed as such. However, a closer reading of the poem reveals that its conclusion is a reshaped nostalgic remembrance. The paths were, in fact, equally fair and similarly worn. The speaker simply made a decision of which one to take, but that alone would not make for a meaningful story, “ages and ages hence.”
I wonder how often we clergy and ministry leaders – or Christians generally -make decisions that we later feel compelled to recount differently, maybe as discernment. We recognize that the Church uses a unique vernacular, and so when our actions don’t reflect it, we retrofit with the language of faith. We reframe a choice made as a calling, a leading, an obedience – even a reluctant faithful submission to God’s will. It is another kind of reflection and nostalgic remembrance, arguably rooted in a desire for meaning and purpose.
Scripture is clear that God can and does author our convictions, grants the desires of our hearts, renews our minds, and guides us on the right path. It is also clear that we must seek the will of God, pray for wisdom, align with Scripture, and solicit wise counsel. For God’s ways are not our ways.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Faithful ministry choices are not ultimately determined by things such as strategy, cost-benefit analysis, communal votes, or individual desires – though all may be important tools in the process. We are not (primarily) in a business of decision-making. Rather, we are part of something bigger and better that demands discernment.
“Christian discernment is not the same as decision making. Reaching a decision can be straightforward: we consider our goals and options; maybe we list the pros and cons of each possible choice; and then we choose the action that meets our goal most effectively. Discernment, on the other hand, is about listening and responding to that place within us where our deepest desires align with God’s desire. As discerning people, we sift through our impulses, motives, and options to discover which ones lead us closer to divine love and compassion for ourselves and other people and which ones lead us further away. Discernment reveals new priorities, directions, and gifts from God.”
Henri Nouwen, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life.
We are faced with and drawn into a multitude of decisions every day. Some are basic and benign, others foundational and consequential. All can be exhausting, prompt second guessing, and demand explanation and justification. Discernment is not the pursuit of certainty, but rather the pursuit of faithfulness. And confidence in the choices we make comes from submission to God in the process of making them.
Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
Psalm 25:4
The road less traveled is the one grounded in discernment, not decision-making. And whether the road is wonderful or challenging, knowing it was the faithful path – that makes all the difference.
Reflection Questions:
- Where in my ministry am I making decisions when God may be inviting me into deeper discernment?
- What voices most influence my choices – success, fear, efficiency, people’s expectations, or the Spirit of God?
- What practices (prayer, Scripture, silence, wise counsel, worship) help me discern God’s will, and which have I neglected?
- When have I followed what I believed was God’s leading, even though the path was difficult? What did I learn from that experience?
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