The Road less traveled is worth it

I had the privilege of sharing a concert with my daughter the other night.  Actually. she was trapped

in the car I was driving as we were returning from Birmingham late one evening.  Through modern technology I asked her to look up a song on an album that I listened to as a young teenager over 40 years ago.  She found a Youtube entry that had the whole album recorded.  I asked her if she would play all 36 minutes of the old vinyl by Larry  Norman called In Another Land.

I still had 90 percent of the songs memorized as I sang along.  The mid 1970’s were at the peak of the Jesus movement- a time when many people were saved.  The songs on this album reflected the major themes of that generation – the return of Jesus Christ as imminent, wars, radical life transformation found in a relationship with Jesus, and God loving us even when we don’t deserve it.

About mid-way through, she started sharing some of her thoughts about life and church.  I was able to put the concert on hold.  Besides my voice needed a rest as I had already been trying to sing higher than my range.  She shared how God had been speaking to her and how that was influencing her life decisions.  It was one of those rare moments when a parent knows to be incredibly quiet.  Your child is giving you a rare opportunity to participate in their private world.  Such is the power of song that communicates again and again that God loves us and has a plan for us. 

After a few minutes, I asked if we could continue the concert.  I know that she was obliging her old dad as she was listening to songs for the first time.  As the second to the last song was about to play, I spoke out loud.  “This next song reflects the course of my life.”  I am not sure why I said it, but I knew that it came from one of those “life changing decision moments” as I listened to this album in my bedroom as a teen.

You can take your diamonds and lock them in your room

And you will lose everything you save

You can take your flowers and lay them at his tomb

But I know He rose up from the grave

Two roads diverged in the middle of my life

I heard a wise man say

And I chose the one less traveled by

And that has made the difference every night and every day

So I say One way, one way to Jesus

Hold up high your hand

Follow free and forgiven, Children of the lamb.

I am in the fifth decade of my life.  Probably more steps in my past than will be in my future.  But it was clear during that song, that I have followed that path.  And along the way, Jesus helped me understand and experience what it means to be free and forgiven not to just endure the journey.  The amazing thing is that even though I made some stupid and hurtful decisions along the way, Jesus still uses me to share his love to others.  I love to sing to the one who has made me free.

At this point in our drive,  I slowed the car down so that we had time to finish the entire album. Surreal to say the least,  I felt as though I had taken my daughter to a concert in my bedroom nearly 45 years ago.  I told her that I listened to that album many times.  She responded, “I could tell.  You still had 90 percent of the songs memorized.”

So, thank you Katy.  I pray that you will also have a lifetime filled with following Jesus that leads you to walk free and forgiven.  The road less traveled is worth it.