… “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.
Happy New Year to Sundance, Menagerie, and adrem…and all those posting here who are my friends and compatriots.
The last part of this year has just been one thing after the other…nothing devasting but simply annoying and irritating,,like right now after being rear ended by a Charter Cable driver and having to deal with their third party vender myself cause I have an older car and no collision, I then go out to use my car after it has not been used since December 24 because of the weather and I work from home and my windshield is cracked and fortunately I still have comprehensive and Nationwide insurance who I highly recommend. I know this is petty compared to what our beloved POTUS has been dealing with but it is the small things that can drive a sane person crazy..just desire some boring days..haha..
Love you all for tolerating the “small stuff”…
littleflower481, there used to be a popular poster. The picture was a cat or a kitten. The cat was holding holding onto a horizontal bar with its front paws, and it was hanging down from the bar. The caption was, “Hang in there, baby.”
Well, that’s what we have to do sometimes. We do what we can. Then we hang in there, praying and trusting the Lord.
My best wishes to you.
In 2021, I pledge to myself to live my best life for me and my family
I’m the only who can make that pledge
I’m the only one who can fulfill that pledge
Top photo is right outside Denver heading west. Near the buffalo herd overlook on I70.
One of my very favorite scenes. Have driven that route many many times.
I know.
Yep. Great catch.
When friends and family come to Denver and say “Show me the mountains!” this is where I take them. When you come over the crest and get that 14,000 foot tall postcard, everyone is awestruck Even me, who has seen it now thousands of times.
I also recognized that scene the minute I saw it. I have driven it many times, too.
I have seen that view both ways and in the winter either way can be white knuckle driving.
It is beautiful – one of the many, many incredible views in my home state that I love. Although I do not appreciate that much of my state’s politics has slid to the left, no amount of pessimism can dim the beauty and splendor that God has given us here to enjoy.
God bless CTH, Sundance and his family, my friends the Treepers, and America the Beautiful! Here’s to a glorious New Year!
Yes
1968,after high school graduation wanted to see America. hitchhiked west from Wisconsin. when I saw this view I understood America the beautiful. It blew me away
The Supe Falls, A Grad Calls
Wonderful inspiring words Sundance. Tears. God Bless you for the tireless work & research you do. May 2021 prove to be in the words of our great President Trump “ the best is yet to come”. God bless all you Treepers – reading this site numerous times daily keeps me going. Steadfast to 2021.
Beautiful post SD! Happy New Year to you all!
An end of year thought to help us go forward:
“We are not responsible for the circumstances we are in, but we are responsible for the way we allow those circumstances to affect us; we can either allow them to get on top of us or we can allow them to transform us into what God wants us to be.”
Oswald Chambers
The road we will soon travel, was traveled by our forefathers and God willing our chain will be forged by his Spirit once again.
Thank you, Sundance, for giving us shelter at the treehouse and guiding us through the labyrinthian monster, the swamp. Happy New Year to you, Ad rem, Menagerie, Stella and my treeper brethren.
Blessings to you all.
Should nothing of our efforts stand
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders strive
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me, what is your life
A mist that vanishes with the dawn
All glory be to Christ
All glory be to Christ. Amen.
I also follow the Petersen’s on YouTube. A beautiful and amazingly talented family.
God Bless you, Sundance, for your tireless search for truth and presenting even the most pessimistic facts with a positive attitude. May Our Lord hear our prayers at this beginning of a new journey through very stormy waters. Having seen so much change in this country over 86 years, it is difficult to watch. As a young teenager I walked all over the north side of Chicago without a shred of fear. Today I listen to gunshots outside my home in a relatively sane area of mid-Michigan.I am so glad to be part of this Treehouse. I pray several times a day for all our leaders who love this country and are trying to stand against the left of the world. Thankfully, we know the Lord is still in charge and will see us through, even tho it may be unpleasant. I thank Him for the fellowship with all the Treepers and that He allowed me to live long enough to vote for and experience the first term of President Trump. May 2021 be the year that the “good guys” find the strength, courage and wisdom to stand tall for God and Country like President Trump has. No one else could have withstood such disrespectful incessant mockery, resistance, vitriol, and outright hatred.
My prayers are that the coming year will see the deserved fruits of your tireless work and positivity rewarded bigly.
For me it is 85 years and I prayed this prayer with you. Thank you.
Robert Frost is my favorite American poet. The poem has an interesting deeper layer in the sense that the narrator is basically saying either path was fine, but rationalizes that the path he chose ultimately led to where he is. It doesn’t say better or worse, only that it made a difference in where he ended up…which is true of all decisions we have to make.
Frost wrote the poem to tease a poet-friend of his (Edward Thomas) who had a habit of going on walks and always picking some new route and lamenting all the things they missed by not taking a more familiar route. Frost told Thomas: “No matter which road you take, you’ll always sigh and wish you’d taken another.” I’ve often interpreted this poem to mean that we humans like to rationalize our choices to put them in the best possible light.
My favorite Robert Frost, however, is this one. I always try to find a way to post it on a blog somewhere this time of year…it’s just a beautiful poem.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
My favorite as well!
Godspeed!
Thank you for not fingering the “talking himself out of suicide” slant that a lot of professors-by-mail hammer on.
To be honest, I’d never heard that interpretation before you wrote it.
I’m glad I was taught right and to think for myself!
It’s the last stanza.
They read a symbol like a child over-using a new rule.
Don’t let it cloud an amazing poem.
In my 30 years, I never taught that.
Also my favorite.
In my former days as a high school band director, I would often find myself exhausted at the end of the school day after my students had left. Yet, I would still have quite a bit of planning and work to do before I returned home to my family.
I would often pull up a recording of “Sleep”, which is a lush chorale arrangement by Eric Whitacre which he set to the lyrics of “Stopping By Woods…”.
The final lines of “And miles to go before I sleep” rang so true to me. Equal parts of sadness, duty, and determination.
Give it a listen!
Thank you, guru, for the beautiful music! If you worked like the band directors I had, you certainly earned your pay!
Happy New Year to you and all treepers!
Most band, choir, and orchestra teachers are highly underpaid super-teachers.
Lovely
I grew up in a small town in Northeast PA, and it always reminds me of my dad pulling us home from the park on a sled in the dark. Just a few dim streetlights, and trees with snow weighting down the branches. Every so often he’d stop to rest, and we’d all just sit there quietly and appreciate the silence of the snow falling.
My wife always says I grew up in a Norman Rockwell painting. The town had its problems, like any other, but she’s right on the whole.
I have always loved this. Thanks for posting…
Happy New Year to all!
Roots and Wings
Our roots are firmly planted in our precious American soil!
May our Father in Heaven rain down blessings upon patrriots
and his wrath upon those seeking destruction of our land.
May we all soar on the wings of our Eagle, President Trump in pursuit of Victory.
May God have mercy on us all.
Thank you Sundance and crew, Treepers and Patriots for your time , sacrifice, education,,
and unconditional love throughout 2020.
May 2021 be a year of renewal, reflection and restoration of our United States of America,
One Republic, under God. ????
Happy New Year!
Sundance says: 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.
I just love this statement. This year in 2020 though, my understanding of this statement has been shattered.
Why? For example, has anyone seen the Bubba Wallace, Root Insurance commercial airing now on TV?
Amazing introspection, I Love It!
Let me tell all about a phone call I just received. I come from a very small family, one sister and she has one daughter. Both parents passed on. I have no children but my niece is as close as if she were my own. She has completed med school and will be starting residency in spring 2021.
She has also been in a serious relationship with a med school classmate for a couple years and he is a special young man. He asked her to marry him tonight and she accepted. I was the first one called and their joy was so obvious that I’m still grinning ear to ear. Both are solid Christians and they got to know each other in church. God is good, no, God is great!
Thanks for sharing your happy news – I enjoyed reading this!
Congratulations to them and you!!
May God richly bless them!
Wonderful news, Uncle Fragemall! Congratulations to all, and Happy New Year!
Hey you quoted my fav poem. Happy new year.
Every day –yes, every day– this place has been a refuge.
Such an abundant variety of humanity….. of reality!
What a wealth of information!
Thank you, Sundance, Adrem, Menagerie, Stella and All behind the scenes ❣ ❣ ❣
Thank you, all fellow tree dwellers ❣
May our tomorrows be more than we –even hope, pray and wish for!
HAPPY New Year !!! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ✝
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
A toast to all of you wonderful Treepers. May the New Year bring us true love, fulfillment, and all the blessings of our wonderful Constitution!
Amen.
Happy New Year to you Puddy and all your kittens ❤️
Happy New Year to every branch of this tree; new and old. May God have mercy on us!
Damn you’re good! God bless you in 2021.
Happy New Year from Australia.
2021 is pretty good so far.
Come on in.
Beautiful Day in Hervey Bay.
Lol! Love treepers, even on distant shores!
I’ve helped a lot of people who were lost in the forest. After some thoughts on the Robert Frost sayings, I’m sure he’d be one of those found who didn’t have a compass.
I frequent the Treehouse and enjoy the commentary and Sundance’s acute political observations. I seldom comment or post. But thank you for this very well-written and thoughtful piece. It makes me hopeful of good things to come in the New Year.
Siri is not a good listener. I meant to say astute.
Sundance is chronically acutely astute!
Great post, Sundance! Thanks and A Happy New Year to everyone!
God bless everyone, God bless❤️❤️??
Focus on what’s important in 2021, family.
Happy New Year 2021 SD and fellow Treepers.
We The People – Don’t Tread on Me
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington
Happy New Year Treepers! May God bless you and keep you, may his face shine upon you and bring you peace.
I will be driving in that picture on my way home tomorrow from Denver airport. The Buffalo are typically to the right or left of I-70 there. I’ve seen that view so many times going home and always feels like I’m finally home when I’m out of that crap city and in the Mtns.
Happy New Year! May 2021 be one of blessings, good health and strength for all.
I want for this country and the world to start off 2021 more tumultuous and unpredictable for ALL who serve the deep state and the communist. This country and the world need a rebirth while destroying ALL who have attempted to enslave and punish and steal the future while they continue to kill in the name of evil.
Something is not right in America!!! SOS… SOS…..
Amen, the only resume that matters is the one presented before God.
Wonderful and poignant thoughts, Sundance.
God bless you and all of my Treeper friends in this new year. I pray that it begins quickly with great blessings from Above.
Happy New Year second family!
Hugs to everyone through the computer.
Amen Shaupeen to second family. I love my
first one, but I get sanity from this bunch.
Thank you for the inspiring words, Sundance.
God bless our beloved United States of America.
In thoughtful humbleness,
Thank You, Sundance. You made THAT difference in me.
I annotating for all Treepers, all
Patriots, the Trump family and America. Lord be with us in Th is new year and heal our hearts as we mourn the losses of 2020.
Thank you, Sundance. Frost, a quintessential American, is my all time favorite poet. Hoping you you and all fellow Treepers have a wonderful new year.
Auld Lang Syne – Mannheim Steamroller & Paul Ashley
Happy New Year! Thank you for the wonderful article!
God bless the USA!
Shoulder to the wind, face in the rain. Pushing forward, hoping we can be what many will look back on with pride.
Happy New Year to my fellow treehouse travelers…….
Stood alone on a mountain top
Starin’ out at the Great Divide
I could go east, I could go west
It was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin’
And my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singin’
-Bob Seger, “Roll Me Away”
Happy Chiness New Year everyone !!!
Happy New Year to Sundance and crew. The Rocky Mountains are the marrow of the world. In times of crisis look to the core.
THE GATE OF THE YEAR
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
– Minnie Louise Haskins
Thank you for the beautiful words Sundance. May your new year be all that you wish it to be.
My wish for a Happy New Year to all here. May the coming year be one of moving forward and being the best we can all be!
Wishing you, and all, a chain of happy links as the new year unfolds.
This site/ refuge is a special place. Thanks to Sundance, the wordsmith for all you do and say.
Thanks as well to Ad Rem, Menagerie and everyone who contributes.
My Father always said, ” your character is your destiny“, from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. That gives me hope for the future. America has millions of good, moral, ethical people.
Happy New Year to everyone!! All the best to America!!
I believe we shall continue seeing seismic changes in the American political landscape, led by your lion!
From A Canadian Deplorable.
No a one is a deplorable when sending prayers to America. Thank You for them. We need you prayers mightily. God bless you and keep you. You are a gem.stone. Everything you say and write matters at least to me. Happy New Year! I have cousins in Canada.
Retired IG,
Thank you for the kind words. God bless you as well. America is always in my prayers.
I too have family in America. Whatever the future brings, we have God on our side! The other side doesn’t understand this.
Galatians 6:7 For whatsoever a man soweth, shall he also reap.
Happy New Year! and All the Best!
Peace Luv and MAGA! 2021
It has been some year. Thank god I found this site and its members. I think we’ve all taken a road less traveled at some time. One led me here to a place of greater understanding, hope and peace. Thank you to Sundance and every commenter here. Happy New Year. Here’s to a better, brighter future no matter the turmoil that awaits us.
thank God
Retired Magistrate here: A New Year approaches where you can write your own story. I can be a story of hope and optimism or despair; it really is up to each one of us to decide what we want this year to be.
I realize many things are out of our control; however, how each one of us deals with things that come our way is not. Be grateful for what you have; especially your health. Good health is so precious along with people that you love. Cherish those you love and be a bright light in their lives.
GOD bless everyone here at the Treehouse, our country and President Trump.