One of my favorite Yogi Berra’s quotes is: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” It is not because it is a wise saying, but rather because of the memories it raises. I remember my Uncle B.J. telling my Aunt Virginia that saying and then seeing a puzzled look on her face change to a mischievous look and with a matter of fact reply, “ Why would anyone stop in the middle of the road and pick up a fork? You don’t know whose mouth it has been in!” Then the giggling would start, and her daughter would say, “You would Mother.” Fond memories.
We experience “forks in the road” – which way to go? It is not something we have to stop and pick up, but rather a direction we should take. When Nehemiah was the governor of Jerusalem, the Israelites stood to listen as the Law of Moses was read and explained to them. The people were reminded of God’s leadership in showing them the way to go during their escape from Egypt. “By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.” NE 9:9
Our God always provides leadership to His children. Isaiah wrote to the People of Zion these words:
“…you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ISA 30:19-21
When we are on the right way His voice, Spirit, Words and/or Thoughts will show us which fork in the road to take. Jesus knew this and reminded His disciples with these words recorded in John 14:16, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Always following Jesus will remove the confusion in deciding which fork to take.
Following that path will always provide us with good memories, which will last as long as our memory will remember. Or as Yogi said, “ It’s déjà vu all over again.”
