And that has made all the difference

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.

--Robert Frost

This post began as thoughts on the recent snowfall here, compared with the tornadoes in my hometown. But as I was thinking today, I realized that there are far more important differences that begin with a simple choice.

I love "The Road Not Taken". Something about it speaks so clearly to me, and has since I was in junior high. Every choice is like a path. You cannot take both. We can walk our own path, or we can follow after God. Maybe our retelling with a sigh can be a sigh, not of sadness or regret, but of thankfulness and joy.

I have made some choices that some thought didn't make a lot of sense, but have truly made all the difference in the end. Joining band was a "random" choice, but it was so good for me emotionally and spiritually. Going to China twice, not a financially prudent choice, but a life-altering one. Even if only looked at from a purely secular standpoint, I have had the chance to change the opinions and stereotypes of 130 junior highers about China. I can awe young children into listening to me because I've been out the United States. But in the end, I had the priveledge of seeing one of my friends come to Christ. THAT has made all the difference in this world and the next.

I love good music. I love listening for the distinctive moods and colors of a piece of music. I have very little knowledge of music theory, but I love music. The colors and pictures a well-performed piece paint in my head stay with me for a long time.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to see the Maranatha Symphonic Band on tour. They did a great job. I loved being able to hear the songs that I loved playing in band from the audience. "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" was good. One of my favorites ever. I love the clarinet solo at the begining, the way the music sounds like a cold winter morning. I love the background of the arrangement. I also enjoyed the "Russian Sailors' Dance" and "Mansions of Glory", an arrangement of "My Jesus, I Love Thee".

In some ways, I miss it. I loved playing good music and traveling with good friends (for free, mind you). Meeting new people was fun as well. Ah, such wonderful adventures we had. Midnight trips to Valley Forge, pseudo-Catholics helping with National Government papers, a pet mouse on a bus, conspiring to hide a newly purchased engagement ring... What I don't miss is the getting up early for a 7:10 class. Or the required attendance at football games for pep band.



The funniest moment of the weekend, other than "inspirational socks", was when a young child, probably my niece, said quite loudly "Uh-oh" during a "grand pause." Hilarious. I'm not certain, but I think even Dr. Townsend laughed at that one. Obviously the pause was a bit too long. :)