The road less traveled

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 7:13-14).

It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. In other words, the ends never justify the means. Your actions are just as important as your motives.

Take the ‘white lie’ for example. How often have you tried to spare someone’s feelings by telling them what they want to hear instead of speaking the uncomfortable truth? But a lie spoken in love or sympathy remains a lie, regardless. If that person finds out that you lied, she might be grateful; she might also become furious with you. And regardless of what she says, she will always wonder, deep down inside, if your word can be trusted. ‘White lies’ can destroy relationships.

Another example. Many people hold strong views on politics, religion, and our society. They are fearful of things going in the wrong direction and are always ready to argue their position. For the sake of the common good, they feel compelled to take a stand. But good intentions are derailed when the desire to win a debate leads to unfair generalizations, assumptions about motive, and constant fixating on worst case scenarios. The result of such bitter talk is fear, anger, and an inability to work together with others in pursuit of common goals.

Or consider this statement attributed to Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." In order to avoid giving offense, we often keep our mouths shut when something needs to be said. How do you respond when a friend tells you that he’s having an affair? Do you accept his behavior without comment, even though he is hurting himself as well as others? When the group at your break table starts telling mean-spirited jokes at the expense of others, do you keep your peace, even though prejudice shreds the dignity and respect that all people deserve?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The path to heaven is less obvious, the road less traveled. You cannot find it on your own. Let Jesus take you by the hand and lead you. He can teach you how to link good actions to good motives, and forgive you when you fail.