I’m sure that there are plenty of us who at some point or another were made to read or memorize “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost.
I’m sure that there are plenty of us who at some point or another were made to read or memorize “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost.
If you somehow managed to not read the poem in school, or haven’t read it in a while, I highly recommend you do yourself a favor and look it up.
When I first heard the poem as a seventh grade student, I automatically assumed that the poem was saying that I needed to make my own way through life and not follow the crowd. Though, as I’ve gotten older and heard more interpretations of the iconic poem, I’ve come to realize that it was saying something more meaningful, profound and simple.
If I could re-title the poem it would be something a little more blunt like, “Make a Choice, you Idiot.”
My title lacks a certain finesse, but it gets the point across.
This poem has been coming to mind as I’ve witnessed a strange phenomenon on social media of ranking social issues and injustices.
Questions that go, “How can you care about blank when blank is happening?”
The questions, which aren’t even really questions, are accusatory and insinuate that there is one issue that deserves to be at the top and demand the attention of the world, and if it’s not at the top of your list, then you become less than.
If you have read my previous articles then you probably already know that my life’s passion is foster care and adoption.
I have been given direction and a path that I intend to run it until the sun sets. But just because I have this passion and believe it to be a worthy cause, it does not mean that I have to or should ignore any other problems or issues that are brought to my attention.
We are beings that were made with hearts capable of great compassion for people of all walks of life, no matter the issue or injustice facing them.
All of the current social media hubbub of belittling people's concerns brings one verse to mind: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13.
Friends, our written word has become unbearably loud.
If we were to show an aerial view of the situation it would be a helicopter flying over a wooded area with a gathering of people on the outskirts.
Skirmishes would be breaking out in the crowd, fingers wagged in faces and I’m sure a large amount of eye rolling would be taking place.
The crowd gathers at the fork in the road and is debating which one is the best route.
They debate all day about which one is the best, but as the sun sets they realize that nothing of worth was accomplished.
The point of the poem is that each road is different. Each road will have its ups and downs and at the end of the road you may wonder how the other one would have been different. But ultimately, it is better to have chosen and traveled, than to sit at the fork and never traveled either.
So today, instead of arguing, which is the greatest social concern, figure out where your passions are, what you can do to help your chosen issue/injustice (arguing on social media doesn’t count for this assignment) and make a choice to move from the fork and do something.
Or, politely consider not adding to the clanging by simply being quiet.
NOTE: Jennifer Avery is the Director of the non profit agency, “The Rowan Fund,” which seeks to support adoptive and foster families in Okmulgee County. She resides in Morris with her husband and two children. Questions or comments? Send them to: RowanFamilyTree@gmail.com.