It just comes natural for us, I guess. We sportsmen are born with something in us that makes us want to step further into creation than the rest of the world. We are drawn by something deep in our hearts to these remote places on our outdoor excursions. Instead of staying on the well worn path where the rest of the world observes “God’s creation” we prefer to step in a little further to see what it may offer. It may be a little steeper or harder climb, the trail may be a little rockier, and the thickets may contain a few more briars. But, the end result is something that can’t be put into words. At the end of the day, we got to the top of the mountain to see the best view. We got a little further up stream and got into the native trout. We were able to take a drink from the glacier lake. We got to the place where the big buck was hiding out. Fancy words or pictures wouldn’t do these places justice.
We sportsmen love to find ourselves in these “off the beaten path” places. I just got back from one of these type places where I was able to harvest my first ever Tundra Swan. I had never been to Hyde County, NC before, but I knew I was in for a treat when I read the welcome sign as we crossed the county line headed to our hunting destination. The sign read, “Welcome to Hyde County, The road less traveled.” That sign said so much with so few words. It told me that there were few that ventured here. I read between the lines and it said to me, “welcome all who are adventurous and wild at heart.” This got me excited! I was entering a place that is described by many as a sportsman’s paradise. I found it interesting that there was a well worn turnaround spot just in front of the Hyde County Welcome sign. I am convinced that this spot is for those not-so-adventurous-types who always stay on the marked trail and big roads along life’s highway. That was not the case for me and my buddies, Tommy and Bill.
Our reward for taking the “ road less traveled” during our two day stay was getting the opportunity to see two Bald Eagles, a river otter, several nutria, a bobcat, herds of deer, thousands of ducks and me getting to harvest my first swan. Not to mention, a great time with good friends (both my buddies had already harvested swans earlier in the season and had just come along to help share the experience of helping me get mine – How cool is that – thanks fellas!)
As we crossed the county line headed home, I remembered the words on the bottom of the sign, “the road less traveled.” I thought about a poem that I had learned back in elementary school called the road not taken by Robert Frost. The poem talked about coming to a place where one had to make a choice on which direction to go. Take the heavily traveled road or follow the road less traveled. At the end of the poem, the author remarks on how his choice to walk along that less traveled road had changed his life forever. He doesn’t tell us how that choice changed his life only that it did. Something about that choice had obviously made a great difference in his life. We sportsmen understand that all too well. We know that because of getting off the road, out of the office, or out of the house and into the woods and into those wild places of God’s creation, our lives are different – changed for the better!
God’s word has some interesting stuff to say about paths and choices and changed lives. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 12: 13-14.
We each have a choice. We can take the wide road, which leads to destruction, or we can choose to take the narrow, less traveled road which leads to life. By choosing the broad road, we choose to live our life the way we want, accepting the world’s standards for right and wrong, putting our trust in the world. By walking the broad road, you buy into the belief that there is no heaven or no hell, or if there is such, you’d get into heaven by being a “good person.” The wide road is filled with people because it’s easy to walk, and the road is cluttered with things that make us feel good, at least temporarily. However, the narrow road is different. To get on the narrow road, one must first choose to put their hope and trust in Jesus Christ – believing that Jesus died for our sins because we couldn’t be “good enough” to get into heaven on our own. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The narrow road is not always easy, but there, on that road there is always real hope. The narrow road is an adventure filled with grace and excitement. The verse said that this narrow road led to life. Not a boring, ho hum life as many believe, but an abundant life. In fact, Jesus himself said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Which road do we take? Each one of us must decide. Unfortunately, too many get to the “road less traveled” sign where God tells us how much he loves us and asks us to follow him, and we turn around and take the big, broad road that leads to emptiness and despair. I pray that when you get to that Welcome sign that God has placed on the road of life for you, you’ll decide to take the “Road less traveled” and enjoy the adventure!
