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"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
-Robert Frost
If you ever try to be someone else, you'll only be second best. If you ever walk the same path as someone else, your footprints will form a different pattern in the sand. If you choose to adopt the same motto as another, I'm telling you that you'll become a carbon copy at best. If you ride the same horse that wins the race every first Saturday in May at the Kentucky Derby, you won't have the same emotional moments as the horse's main rider. Your experience will be different.
This quote by Robert Frost propelled me to begin to reflect on "individual purpose." Why did God make us unique? Why should we follow the road less traveled? There may be different interpretations for that quote, but this is how I saw it:
"Each of our foot prints are different, and there must be something unique about all of us. And if this is correct, we cannot spend our whole lives following the paths that the masses have traveled."
Wait a second...No, I haven't forgotten the words of Ecclesiastes Chapter 1:
"That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which may be said, "See, this is new?" It has already been in ancient times before us."Of course, there is nothing new under the sun. Why? Because everything that was made by God was put into place way before you and I were born, and there have been many generations before us recycling principles upon principles of life. Still, we are unique because we are relevant to our generation, not because we're inventing something new out of the skies.
A 3-point Summary:
#1: There is Nothing New Under the Sun:
#1: There is Nothing New Under the Sun:
It is true that there is truly nothing new under the sun. Everything we have on this planet was put into place on the very first day of creation. Our fore-fathers found ways to survive; look around you, today we are still finding multiple ways to survive. Those before us had a form of government or hierarchy; today we have various forms of government. They cried out when they were hurt; we are human too, so we cry out when we are hurt. The elemental principles of life haven't changed.
#2: Amazingly, Still You Can Take the Road Less Traveled:
The fact that there is nothing new under the sun does not mean that you are not unique. There's something about you that you have to showcase for God's glory. You have a unique identifier because you were built to take the old things and place your footprints on those old things. The roads less traveled are the brand new ways in which we handle old affairs in our own generation.
We were not created to take the roads that others have walked, even though their own paths will always be there (this is not a call to be radical and not follow those great words of wisdom from those who have gone before you; rather, this is a call to find out what your own unique purpose is in this world). Out of six billion, eight hundred and seventeen million, three hundred thousand people (U.S Census Bureau of world population), YOU have a unique DNA...and a unique path to walk even within the ancient paths that will always be here.
#3: And Why Again Do You Have to Be Unique?
I decided to ask hubby this question and his response to me (paraphrased) was that God created us in His image, and He is unique. Since He is unique, He also made us unique. And our uniqueness is to showcase His glory. Imagine if each one of us showcased our unique abilities, wouldn't God's glory easily radiate and fill the entire earth? Again, more than ever this means that we need to find our unique purpose and walk in it.
Question for the day: What does the 'road less traveled' mean to you and do you feel the need to find it? Thanks to everyone who participated in the "True Celebrities" series *Grin*. I learned a lot from you. Happy Monday Everyone. May your path shine brightly before you :)