On the long road of life, where getting from point A to point B is a daily activity, it’s easy to get lost in the ‘road rage’ energy that comes with interacting with other individuals on the highway of life.
The first step to changing your course, along with your attitude, is to find another route. or, as the poet calls it, “The road less traveled.”
Years ago, I found myself getting caught up in feeling competitive and raging at slow or distracted drivers. I didn’t like how I felt and that feeling usually carried on throughout my day, and into my work.
Deciding to change my course, I would drive 15 miles out of my way to circle the city, rather than drive through it, just so that I would be on the road “less traveled.” It was on that road that I calmed down, listed to books on tape and found myself entering into a state of prayer and thankfulness while I drove.
Whenever I would spot an intersection where birds had camped out on the telephone lines to feast on bugs and gossip about the day’s events, I’d roll down my window, to listen to their happy chatter.
As I became familiar with that route, I would drive slower over bridges and water ways, just to hear the water flow beneath me or beside me and to quickly refresh my attitude of gratitude.
During this time, I ran across this photo of a rain storm crossing the road and was struck with the fact that the rain poured down more generously over the Earth and fields, and was much less generous over the man made road way.
All that God creates, calls upon itself, and is filled with abundance and reproduction. The Earth and the moisture in the Earth calls to the heavens and the heavens respond with rain. So it is when we give thanks with a heart filled with gratitude.
The man made road is incapable of giving up it’s moisture because it has none. The rain only pools on the surface, evaporates or runs off into the fields. To me, this speaks of my fleshly efforts to get from “point A to point B” and how fruitless it is if I do not seek the Kingdom of Heaven first.
God dwells in the praises of His people and in those praises abundance flows and calls to itself. Whenever you feel pressed and worried, raging and competing, take the road less traveled and take time to pause and reflect. Even better, go out into the field and stand on the Earth and all that God has generously given and give back to Him what is due Him – thankfulness and praise. Then receive His response to your heart cry – in the abundance of rain and life giving water that He pours out generously and lovingly.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.