… “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
2020 has been a tumultuous year for all of us. As the eve winds down we are given to considering everything that has taken place. We are challenged; perhaps our center is askew; perhaps our faith holds a new perspective, or perhaps our exhaustion weighs heavy as we rush turning to the next chapter…. hoping, praying for a better tomorrow.
It seems a lifetime ago; a time of carelessness taken for granted; and yet, I remember it as if it were yesterday. Driving North to see family and randomly saying “let’s just turn left in Ohio & head west.” It seemed randomly nuts at the time; however, a decade later as I held her hand & gave permission to say goodbye, I was blessed to have made that decision.
Regardless of what tomorrow brings, we have choices. A new year’s perspective:
I have long felt that life is like a series of links in a chain. You might be driving down the road and you hear a song on the radio, or see a picture, and you feel a memory….
Something triggers that reminds you of a different time and place than where you are right now.
You reflect.
The memories you consider remind you of a totally different time in your life. Perhaps you lived in a different place.
Perhaps you were surrounded by different people. Perhaps a different job or completely different friends. You recognize those memories were constructed like frozen moments in time. They became individual links in the chain in your life.
We never actually realize, in the immediate moment, when one link closes and another link begins. But when we look back, we can clearly see distinct points where things changed, the link closed, and a new link began.
You see, the links are only visible in reflection.
As we reflect we find parts of the chain in our life where each link closes and connects with the other. A beginning, and an end. At the point where the links are joined we carry parts of the previous link forward to the next.
For many people those connections are bonded by family, or very strong life long relationships. Connections which continue beyond our geographic moments, jobs or temporary acquaintances.
But for everyone, the primary bonding agent brought forward from one link to the next is ourselves, our center, our values and core principles. Our beliefs.
The strength of the steel which comprises the links of our life is determined by forging in the fire of adversity, weakness, challenge, pain, loss, and painful growth. The steel is then cooled with the tears of triumph, hurdles overcome and resolve.
The forging makes the steel stronger and able to withstand the pressures that accompany the additional length. Slowly the chain becomes wiser as it lengthens. Able to reach further, form more significant benefits and become more useful.
Hope replaces fear. Love replaces loneliness. Success replaces adversity. These are successful links began and finished while contributing to the whole.
At times we may manipulate the links with avoidance. We hide from -or choose to avoid- an issue in our effort to begin a new link before the old one was naturally, and spiritually, prepared to be closed.
Eventually, as life continues and the chain lengthens, the weak link can fracture and we are forced to revisit/repair what we originally chose to avoid.
You see, in life we cannot control the universal laws that guide us. So if we manipulate circumstances to avoid confronting our own weakness, we cannot fully strengthen our life of links. Eventually, the weakness of our past will impact our future.
So what principles do we carry from link to link? What core values and beliefs stay with us throughout the journey of our lives? The answers to these questions are what makes us human spiritual beings.
We possess freewill able to make choices about what we do, and how we define our individual humanity; but can we then define ’right’ and ‘wrong’ according to our individual principles? Or are there principles that exceed our influence and definition?
Are there natural laws of right and wrong, good and bad, that cannot be subjected to the determination of man? These are the bigger questions, perhaps the more important questions; and yet, perhaps the ones we reflect upon the least.
Consider the example of the ‘Law of the farm’ vs. the ‘Law of the School’. Natural principles vs. those made by man.
A student can skip class, take few notes, pay only half attention, then stay up all night cramming for a test and manage a decent grade. It depends on the students goal: grades or learning.
The student can choose to manipulate the education, by avoiding the learning and capturing the grade. This is possible in the ‘Law of the School’.
However, a farmer cannot take short cuts. A farmer cannot avoid tending to the soil, preparing the seed, fertilizing and nurturing the crop, and still gain benefit of an abundant harvest.
The farmer must necessarily do all of the appropriate work in order to benefit from it. Such is the ‘Law of the Farm’, the natural law.
When one considers the weakness remaining within a poorly constructed and manipulated link, perhaps established by selfish choices and driven by avoidance and fear, one can be faithfully assured those who have dealt dishonestly with us will have to visit the issues of their association again.
Conversely, no amount of manipulation or avoidance on our own behalf is going to improve the frailty of any link without first resolving the lack of character which created the weakness.
So we have choices in our lives. Decisions we each make regarding how we interact and participate in the lives and links of others; as well as how we choose to construct the links that compromise our own lives.
Do we base our sense of purpose around natural principles? Principles based on natural laws of right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies. Do we forge strong links based on following our heart, our values?
If we can interact with others absent of a prideful self-driven agenda, or manipulative intent, we can then apply such principles and strength to our endeavors.
If we protect the integrity of the soil upon which we build the foundation of our lives, we can live without regret.
If we fertilize and cherish our crop, and the crop of our neighbor, with honesty and sincere appreciation for the souls we meet along our chosen path, we will live a life of abundance.
If we tend carefully to the consideration of everyone, yet holding true to our values and principles, we can strengthen ourselves amid the face of adversity and disenchantment.
If we do not hide from, nor ignore our individual and collective faults, we can build the chain of our life with strength, humility, and purpose.
I wish for each of you a long chain of bold, strong, beautiful links, polished with the reflective brilliance of Love, and the very happiest of blessings for a brand New Year.
Abiding love to all.
Steadfast,
~ Sundance
…Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Turn and face the strain.
Happy New Year to you, dear friend.
Solace for these troubled times.
Who knows what 2021 brings? This is the place I plan on being at.
Happy Healthy Blessed New Year 2021 to the most Amazing place on the web!
Many thanks to Sundance and the truths you lay bare for all to see,
We Treepers feel blessed daily!
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this incredible history.
May each and every one of you be filled with LOVE, JOY, HAPPINESS, HEALTH, AND PEACE as we
welcome in the New Year
and CELEBRATE PRESIDENT TRUMPS ‘THE BEST IS YET TO COME’
second term!
AMEN! and GODSPEED!
Amen. In a sea of confusion, good to have you, SD as our safe, dry land of rational thought.
Thanks for everything and Happy New Year!
It’s going to be an interesting couple of weeks. Remember everyone. There’s a lot of story left to be written after January 6th.
We must remember to always live a good life, no matter the swirling snow of deceit that surrounds us.
Absolutely!! Good New Year to you Sundance!!
Links, chains strength..steadfast!
Wood you make this New Year Resolution?
Just Be Your Shelf.
Thank you for everything, Sundance. Best wishes to you and all admins here for a wonderful New Year.
I’m loving how smooth this site is. It’s like butter.
Yet….only 1/2 the calories!
Happy New Year, Ad Rem- Many thanks for all that you do, keeping us on the straight and narrow.
Seneca: … and some less straight and narrow.
Happy New Year to all! This Tree certainly has been a refuge for many years now. I remember first tiptoe’ing into here (or CTH 1.0) in the midst of the Trayvon Martin event and haven’t ever left (insert ‘Hotel California’ lyrics here). Pretty fascinating community.
Many thanks, and likewise good friend. ?
Thank you for this, Sundance. Happy New Year to you and yours, the steadfast CTH behind the scenes folks, and to all Treepers. I’m grateful to be a link in this powerful chain we call The Last Refuge. Our mettle is going to be tested but my money is still on President Donald John Trump.
Thank you, Sundance – God Bless you and all the Crew and Treepers!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all my fellow treepers, especially my dear wife Jacalene. We have been separated since the US/Canadian border was closed last March as she resides in Ontario and I in Michigan. I love you honey, may the Lord let us be together again soon.
That is tough. Hoping that 2021 bring you together quickly.
Amen ! Please Heavenly Father by your Power and in Jesus name may Mark and Jacalene be in each other’s arms Now and For Always.
OMG, I did not think that possible. How does that happen? Egad!
Happy New Year to all Treepers. So glad we can start the New Year in the New Treehouse.
I probably shouldn’t say this, but trying to be a Christian is a lot harder than I expected, that’s probably just me but I feel like emotional taffy.
It’s not just you Richard. Being a Christian is hard and challenging. It sure as heck ain’t easy.
God definitely challenges you.
thank you
You’re welcome.
Sometimes emotion taffy is exactly what God wants you to be, Richard.
Your heart is soft, your soul is sweet and you are wrapped in protective paper. When the day comes for the Lord to harden you for His work, I pray the process is easier on your spirit.
Happy New Year, brother Richard!
I slipped up on making my comment personal, embarrassing but my point should have been that things are changing and it must be a challenging for people who want to just get back to a normal life. That boat has sailed.
My apologies.
Personal sharing is what others need sometimes.
Thank you.
I agree that that boat has sailed. Though there is a possibility that deep state traitors will be arrested and tried for treason and a take down of the global elite who are fomenting collapse of the nation states to bring about their NWO, and the world will be liberated and peace blossoms across the world, I’m not putting my eggs in that basket.
The Bible clearly states in the last days there will be a global system imposed upon the whole world. And those with eyes to see can see that is being set up right in front of our face.
Jesus told his disciples and us, “when you see these things BEGIN to take place, look up for your redemption draweth nigh.” I would proffer, that day is upon us. No Jesus, no peace, know Jesus, know peace. I urge all to consider their eternal destination.
Praying all treepers know the Prince of Peace and may the Lord bless us all with it as we encounter the New Year. God’s got this!
We like good, personable, honest people, Richard! Happy New Year!
Thanks for saying
what comes to mind from time to time: and more often at other times.
No apology necessary for anything you said. Being a Christian is hard; I am thankful that God allows us to sometimes act as His hands and feet towards others on this hard rock.
Happy and bless New Year!
I’ll soon be 70 and I walked the aisle to salvation at a Southern Baptist revival meeting alter call when I was 10 years old. God has proved Himself to be real and merciful time and again, but I’m going against His wishes because I am pretty well past turning the other cheek.
Sometimes one just has to do what is right and know that God understands.
If doing what’s right means going against God’s wishes, then it isn’t right. That may be difficult to hear in times such as these, but the Lord expects us to trust & obey Him through all circumstances. Please don’t take this as a judgment, & it’s really more directed at the brother to whom you replied, but willfully disobeying God is never the answer.
Be of good cheer and fix your eyes upon Jesus, who has been given ALL power and authority
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
I agree Richard W. see my comment at 9:11PM. A few chain links have been broken in 2020 indeed.
Amen Sundance. Amen.
Thank you for The Treehouse!
I grew up in New England, Robert Frost was alive and he read a poem at JFK’s inauguration.
In high school, we had to choose any poem of our choosing, memorize it and present it to the class. I chose “The Road Not Taken” and to this day it is still my favorite poem. It always seemed to be the pathway of my life turns.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
THANK YOU!
I WISH I COULD’VE READ THAT 40 YRS AGO.
GOD BLESS YOU SUNDANCE!
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I got something in my eyes.
Mike van: I’m guessing you, like me, probably DID read or hear that poem 40 or more years ago.
But, funny thing about poems. Sometimes they only (or particularly) resonate at a certain point in the hearer’s/listener’s life experience.
Beautiful essay, Thank You Sundance. Happy New Year to you and your love ones!
Amazing thoughts. Happy New Year to you Sundance and fellow treepers
Thanks Sundance. Happy New Year.
God bless and protect all in this coming new year. Lean on the Lord in times of dispair and uncertainty, and pray everyday for those who are enemies that they turn from their wicked ways, take up their cross, and follow him!
Amen.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
I entered 2020 with a great sense of excitement about the year.
I am what is called a “Leap Year Baby,” someone born on the 29th of February, and as such someone who very much likes celebrating not only my own birthday, but everyone else’s birthday, too.
2020 brought about another long awaited birthday, but this year it was very special — I would be celebrating my 16th birthday a second time! And why would celebrating my 16th birthday a second time be special? Because my “first” 16th birthday was shared many moons ago with my then 16 year old boyfriend, and my “second” 16th birthday would be shared with him again — as my husband of almost 50 years.
This year has been full of twists and turns, ups and downs, promises and betrayals, but in the end I look back upon 2020 as a wonderful year. Not because God has given me two “Sweet 16” birthdays, but because He has been there with me every day of my life, and 2020 has not taken that away.
May the Lord bless and keep you all. Raven
Blessings to both you and your husband Raven. I love how your express yourself, and how you never back down from opening your heart up to others in our Treehouse as well. May the New Year bring you all the love and joy you so richly deserve.
Ad rem my last 2 posts got awaiting for approval notice. My online name line got messed up when my typing jumped and added extra information to my name.
Anytime your username or email changes, our filtering system will see you as a new commenter…..thus, sending you to moderation. Just pick the credentials you wish to stick with, endure the moderation, and we’ll try to spring you in good time.
Thank you, dear Ad Rem, for your kind words, and tears of thankfulness knowing what a kind soul you are.
Happy and blessed 2021 to you and your family!
Beautiful Raven! And may the Lord continue blessing you and yours. Thanks for sharing that testimony.
Dear Raven, I too am a Leap Year Baby! We share a truly unique birth date! Happy 2021 to you and to all Leapers and Treepers!
Leapers and Treepers! Wow, I love that!
Happy extended Birthday to you, TheMouseRanUpTheClock! And Happy New Year, too!
Happy New Year’s Treepers
Have a Blessed 2021
Happy New year! I am excited to see all God has for us!
I’m still gonna yell
jumanji at midnight tonight
Please yell it three times. Happy new year god bless us all. May he hold us in his arms of grace.
See y’all next year.
Thank you for all you do, Sundance! It would be so much more difficult to get through all this without you.
And thank you to all Treepers for sharing their thoughts – strength in numbers even if just virtual.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Amen to that,Scarlett…and GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!!
We love you Sundance. I will forever be grateful for all you do. God bless you!
Nothin good to look forward to in the “new year” depends on what comes…either freedom or communism and people who have sat on the sidelines waiting far too long for someone else to just sacrefice and give it to them. Freedom is not free people and this “new year” there will be no sidelines. Decision time is now.
Happy New Year!
Onward Christian soldiers! BE BOLD!
And STEADFAST!
So nice to be linked here together with so many patriotic American Treepers!
Happy New Year to Sundance and everyone!
This place is an island of sanity in a sea of chaos. Thank you Sundance. Happy New Year to all.
I could have not said it better. Truly this has been My Last Refuge, I think I would have gone mad without finding “the others” (like minded people).
Thank you Sundance, thank you for this island of like minded friends. Happy New Year to all!
20/20 gave us a clear understanding of how corrupt the .gov and the world is.
Now everyone can see where and what each of us can and will do to remove corruption.
By order of the governor, 2020 has been extended for 30 more days. /s
A million gleaming chain links of love back at you SD and your loved ones ! Thank you again for my little branch here, very much appreciated.
Yeah, things change. Life is unpredictable
It seems like only yesterday when our economy was booming, unemployment was at historical levels and the future looked bright…
Wait a minute, it was yesterday. It was less than a year ago, and look how things changed in an instant
Our situation went from point A (prosperity and freedom) to point F (destruction and chaos) in a blink of an eye, all because a powerful corrupt and criminal force took the initiative to make it so. But that action produced something else, an awakening that’s been decades in the making
So just as fast as it went from point A to point F, who’s to say we can’t get back to point A just as fast again?
All it took to get to point F was a small cabal of corrupt “media” and politicians creating a false narrative. Imagine how fast a massive number, say, 100 million, of American citizens could turn it around if they put their minds to it
Yeah, we’ve been hoodwinked, apathetic and intimidated for many decades, but all it takes is turning on the light bulb in the minds of the majority
Let’s hope and pray enough Americans are finally realizing what’s at stake and demand the usurpation ends
A new year brings hope, and with any luck, a new dawn of American strength that recovers our spirit and our resolve, and puts our destiny where it belongs, in the hands of we the people
Happy New Year Sundance and crew, and all Treepers worldwide
Happy New Year Sundance, Menagerie, AdRem and all my fellow compatriots here at The Last Refuge.
Happy new year to all you and thank you for all your hard work Sundance!
This post goes in my required reading folder for my kids.
You cannot live the future,
And you cannot live the past.
And when you try to live the present,
You realize that it won’t last.
Every day is such a gift to you,
The key is seeing it that way.
So keep in mind all that you plan and do,
And the person you portray.
Now, while you cannot live the future,
And you cannot live the past,
And while you live the present daily,
You see it going by so fast…
So do not trust in present fortunes,
Nor on the past, or future plans.
But trust in God your Father,
Who holds all time within His hands.
This day is one step from eternity.
Live your life accordingly.
Show the ones you daily see
His Spirit guides and sets you free.
Found in the bin…. 🙁
Thanks for the rescue mission! You’re the lifeguard…
A Blessed Happy New Year to The Treehouse and all new branches. Foundations and beliefs. Onward Christian Soldiers.
Sundance who ever you are have great insight and sense of the Power of Nature. Your only chain sense that might be hidden from you still is not usually discussed. That sense shows up in your life of Chain construction in Deja-vu events where you encounter events and places that you have never seen or been to as if you have been there. When you look into these happenings and talk to people in the present event you discover these people you are talking to have connections to people in your life that have passed away. The more you persist in probing the more connections you find you have with people that you thought were complete strangers they are suddenly connected to your life like branches in your chain. My explanation of these events is that the people in the world that we live in that we interact with are part of a circle that goes not only from our present state of existence but is controlled and manipulated by our loving family and friends that have passed away. Those dead people in my life just keep on shaping the life I and my family live. Example: The President Trump Jan 6th event that I am going to attend has been in the making with your input and those that have passed as each time in the past four years that Truth, Justice liberty and Love have been trashed: (which are core natural values taught to me by those who have died); I always hesitated in my thought to try to act to bring change by saying in every post I have written here ” President Trump who is fighting for these values has nor asked for us to come. Well as soon as he asked every dream, person I spoke to and feeling I had reflected beliefs of my passed relatives when they said you waited until he asked –well now is the time. I booked my room in 24 hours after he asked because this is what is expected by links in my circle of relatives and friends as being a must do to help the cause and strengthen the Chain in your sense or the magic circles I have found. I am in my mid 70s but my mother in law(Passed) thru ESP and Deja-vu taught me and made me aware of the power of the circles 30 years ago. Lesson taught at that time was the more you love, give good will, and Spend the more there will be coming back to you to enrich your life and existence. By the way my mother in law loved Cruising and I can guarantee that if I go on a cruise I will encounter other people in my circle. Next time you cruise if Jean speaks to you –listen!
Happy New Year to all our beloved friends here!!!
Happy New Year and thank you for your words of wisdom! They speak to me.
Happy New Year and thank you and all here for sharing your wisdom, strength and hope. Your words have made my life so much richer.
Happy New Year to you Sundance all of admin and all you Treepers! May God bless you all and God bless our VSGPDJT! Here’s to 2021… It will be wild I am sure!
Happy New Year! Thank you for everything you do for us!
Happy New Year and God bless American! A special thank you to Sundance and all the crew that help him.
Amen to that!
Looks like Pence will not come through for us on the 6th;
https://www.theepochtimes.com/pence-asks-judge-to-reject-push-to-expand-his-powers-to-decide-electoral-college-votes_3640007.html
Lordy be Jesus !!!! Noooooo
Respectfully, ANYONE who makes such a prediction, OR makes such an assumption about what Pence will do, is being foolish.
I love ghomert, being he is THE ONLY ONE IN CONGRESS, to publically call out McConnell, but this memorandum on Pence asserting authority, was always a long shot.
Its only 6 days away, lets see what happens.
Really, thus comment and admittedly my responce are off topic, as Sundances article is about community.
Happy New Year, to all Treepers!
I look forward to 2021 with ANTICIPATION and Excitement, and continue to thank God for having the Grace, to allow me the fortune to witness such times as these!
A beautiful message to close out one year as we look towards the new one. Thank you Sundance