Amongst Other Things, I Like Robert Frost

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.

There are a couple of differing schools of thought on this poem.  One suggests individualism while the other is perhaps more personal to the author, a study of thought that a friend of his had of literally considering taking a different path while out on a routine walk.  I suggest both are valid.  None of us can know an author's true intent, but since it has been put out there to the world, it is forever up to the world's interpretation. 

My point in starting with The Road Not Taken is simply because it came to mind while I was thinking about my latest topic.  I was thinking about paths and being on the right path.  Dan and I are on the right path right now.  We are doing what we ought to be doing and it is making all the difference.

Last Thursday we had our first official temple prep class at Mike Strauss' house.  Nearly everything we read, learned, or discussed in the class was something that Dan & I together have read, discussed, or learned on our own in the weeks leading up to our lessons.  Dan & I have really taken to heart the need to study our scriptures, to learn as much about the Lord's plan as we can, and to honor our baptismal covenants.  Our natural curiosities are leading us down paths of enlightenment and preparation.  It was wonderful to have some of our questions answered during our prep class.  It was very encouraging to know the material and be somewhat prepared to become prepared. 

We are on the right path.  There are other roads we could travel.  We could save a few extra bucks each month by not paying our tithing.  We could have more movie date nights if we were watching rated R movies.  We could fit in a little more with our various friends if we drank cocktails and such.  We might be in Dan's mother's favor a bit more if we didn't believe the Book of Mormon to be another testament of Jesus Christ.  We might get more done or have time for other things if we didn't keep the Sabbath day holy.  Like I said, there are so many other roads we could travel, but I know we're on the right path.  We're on the road to the temple, and that's the best path of all.