Poet Robert Frost wrote a piece in 1916 entitled “The Road Not Taken”. It tells the story of a traveller who finds two roads diverging in a wood and the subsequent decision as to which way to go. The poem ends with these words:
Our school community is serious about producing leaders in our community. As such we view values as the primary building blocks on which our curriculum rests. Strong senses of values give us that firm foundation required as we continually develop our character.
Often as we travel down life’s path, we find times where we are torn between the desire to do the right thing and the option of doing the easy thing. These are ‘diverging-road’ moments. These are moments that, if we can stand and be strong, will make all the difference down the road of life.
Of all the virtues that we teach, one of the hardest to master is ‘will and won’t power’. However, it is also the most important. It is the courage to be different; the courage to stand up for what is right in the face of opposition. It is the strength to say yes to the most important things and the strength to say no to less important things and to peer pressure. As Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Mount Everest put it, “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Taking the road less travelled involves us not allowing our fears to make our decisions. We make our life decisions based on our principles and priorities.
Jesus says ‘the choice is clear’. The Christian life is a path less travelled. We need to seek to live under a set of values radically different to society’s norms. God calls us to focus on people rather than things; on our soul rather than our body; on our future rather than the here and now; on peace and contentment rather than sensual pleasures; on storing up treasures in heaven rather than riches on earth.
If you want to be a leader, take that road less travelled.