Daily Jewel

by    Pastor J.T. Carnell,  McAlester,  OK

“When You See a Fork in the Road…Don’t Take it” 

“Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.” – Proverbs 7:25

            I’ve mentioned this man’s name before and his unique way of expressing himself, but few can ignore the contributions that Yogi Berra has provided to our society and language. 

            Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager.  He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career (1946–1965) for the New York Yankees. Berra was one of only four players to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League three times and one of only six managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series.  He was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

            As prolific as his baseball career was, today he is probably better recognized for his misuse of the English language (which is quite a feat unto itself).  Whether or not he actually coined these phrases intentionally or they just came out…few can question the impact they have had.  Here are just a few:

As a general comment on baseball: "90% of the game is half mental.”
On why he no longer went to Ruggeri's, a St. Louis restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.”
"It ain't over till it's over." In July 1973, when Berra's Mets trailed the Chicago Cubs by 9½ games in the National League East.  The Mets rallied to win the division title on the final day of the season.
On being the guest of honor at an awards banquet: "Thank you for making this day necessary."
It's déjà vu all over again".  This quote originated when he witnessed Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris repeatedly hit back-to-back home runs in the Yankees' seasons in the early 1960s.
"You can observe a lot by watching."
"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours."

What is perhaps my favorite is this one:  When giving directions to former Major Leaguer and best friend, Joe Garagiola to his New Jersey home, which is accessible by two routes: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

I recently had an experience similar to this.  I was coming back from a visit to Tulsa and on my way back decided to visit a family that lived in the country.  I took an exit off of the highway that I was unfamiliar with and came literally to a “fork in the road!”  One way went left the other to the right.  I had no idea which one to take so…”I took it.”  (I went to the right)  Thirty miles later I found my destination but only later did I discover that I had taken the wrong road.  Had I taken gone to the left I would have cut my journey in half. 

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” – Matthew 7:13

            Centuries before Jesus uttered these words Solomon provided the same advice.  He knew there are dangers all along the road we call the Journey of Life!  There will be numerous opportunities to take paths and detours that will not lead us to our destination—or should I say the destination that we need to find!

            The path to life has no “forks in the road!”  It is straight—it is direct and if you need to stop and rest from time to time He has made allowances for that as well! 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

            So, if you are looking for a response for realizing if you get off-track from time to time, use one of Yogi’s quotes:  On why the New York Yankees  lost the 1960 series to the Pittsburgh Pirates: "We made too many wrong mistakes"