Which Road is the Right One?

The right road is the one that gets you where you really want to go. If you hope to visit someone in Florida, U.S. Route #1 North is the wrong road. If you would like to see Ocean City, don't take I66 West. This principle seems extremely obvious, yet there are countless numbers of people who choose wrong roads in life Wrong roads in life often seem easy and pleasant or, maybe exciting. The scenery is gorgeous. A resort is just around the corner. Never mind that the road goes away from health and happiness. We'll worry about that later.

During the past several years that I've been involved in jail ministry, I've met many men and women who have opted for wrong roads in their lives. Some of them have had a drug or alcohol involvement. They have chosen to abuse alcohol or drugs, hoping that they could handle it. They expected that they could return from their tour down the wrong road before suffering too much. Others spent more money than they had and then "borrowed" it, hoping to return it in time.

Another group of people who take the wrong road are the young women, urged on by their boyfriends, who visit the abortion mill on Saturday morning while pro-lifers say the rosary out front. These women have traded their integrity for the "love" of a man who has no commitment to the child conceived as a result of their union. They have taken a road that goes way, way down.

Wrong roads are abundant today. We have hundreds and hundreds of mindless TV programs, videos, and computer activities to draw us away from what we should be doing. Sweets and snacks are everywhere, even at the gas station, but it takes more effort to get healthy food. Overloading with so many activities that interior peace is impossible is another wrong road that is quite popular now. With cell phones and e-mail it's easier than ever to engage in hours and hours of discussing the fascinating faults of everyone we've ever known.

Wherever we go, we draw our children with us. It often happens, though, that when we see our children going in a wrong direction we quickly correct our own. When I was raising my own children I remember saying a few choice words. When I heard the children talking that way, I never did it again. The Church is very wise to give us Advent and Lent to help correct our wrong directions. We all need it.

What do you think? What are your experiences? Do you have questions about this article? Please contact me at newskill7@msn.com. Happy teaching.

Mary Sue Laing, M.Ed.
Resource Teacher, St. Ambrose School

by Mary Sue Laing, M. Ed., New Skill, Inc. Academic Tutor