The Road Less Traveled

When I was in my late teens and early twenties I was part of a subculture of mostly young men my own age who were referred to back then as a "metalheads."  

We all listened to hard rock or "heavy metal" music almost exclusively.  We all attended the same heavy metal concerts and generally, all wore the same kinds of jeans, shoes and black concert t-shirts when we did. 

We all thought we were such unique individuals.  

You see, we lived under the illusion that we were special even though we did everything we could to fit into a group with which we longed to be associated.  

Most of us live with these kinds of illusions every single day in a culture that is constantly creating them at a feverish pace.  

And so, far too many of us become part of a desperate and mad scramble to fit in with our chosen tribes by any means necessary.  

We do this, even if it means silencing our questions, blindly accepting the status quo, squashing our creativity and imagination or saying we believe in things that we know are untenable or unbelievable.    

In his seminal work New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton wrote: 

How do you expect to arrive at the end of your own journey if you take the road to another man's city?  How do you expect to reach your own perfection by leading somebody else's life?  

Are you living someone else's life?  Have you become seduced by the illusion that in order to be accepted and loved... to be respected and counted on... that you have to become someone that you are not?  

Maybe it's time to live the life that you were always meant to live--a life saturated with the joy of pursuing God's unique purpose and plan for you, and you alone.  

Maybe it's time to listen to the still small voice within you that is urging you to embrace your true identity as God's cherished child and to find your way on the road less traveled.  

Maybe it's time to break away from the pack and start stumbling after Jesus.  

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.