Jack be nimble
On Monday night my friends and I enjoyed a fun adventure in a local corn maze. Our trek through the maze was lighthearted and although we became thoroughly lost we knew we would eventually get out. If we got tired of walking "the long way" we just cut through paths of flattened corn stalks that others had hewn down. I imagine it would be difficult to feel claustrophobic in such a natural environment. The walls weren't really walls at all, just insentient stalks standing as sentinels against their human visitors. Even though there was only one "right" direction, we knew we could make our own path. While the merit of our corn maze conquest may have been questionable, we emerged victorious and unscathed (albeit completely disoriented).
On Tuesday night I was pondering our journey. I was with close friends whom I trusted. None of us had all of the information we needed in order to successfully navigate the maze. We entered the maze expecting fun and a little adventure. We knew it was nothing serious and that we most likely wouldn’t be stranded overnight. While it was frustrating that the only lights in the area which acted as our point of reference completely blinded us, it wasn't really a big deal. With a few blinks we were able to regain our vision and distinguish between solid terrain and questionable ground. But what if the circumstances were different?
The world we live in thrives on shades of gray. Some hold that seeing the world “in black and white” is to see the world with a closed mind. In a maze where there is only one right way to go, paths subtly diverge without indicating that they will lead us in completely different directions. At the onset there is no telling how far off course we will be led. Oftentimes a dead end is the only indication that we’ve chosen the wrong path. We frequently have to backtrack and find our way back to the beginning, only to start again and navigate the dangerous gray area we feel so comfortable in. Great concentration is often required to spot and interpret markers along the path. They may be warning signs, helpful hints or even the occasional Cheshire Cat.
During a devotional address at Brigham Young University on November 9, 1978 Elder Robert D. Hales* emphasized the importance of knowing your destination:
In Lewis Carroll’s story Alice in Wonderland, Alice approaches the Cheshire Cat and asks, “Would you please tell me which way I ought to go from here?”
The Cheshire Cat replies, “That depends a great deal on where you want to go.”
Alice says, “I admit, I don’t much care where.”
The Cheshire Cat then says, “Then it doesn’t really matter much which way you go, does it?”
“Just so I get somewhere,” responds Alice.
Then the Cheshire Cat reveals an interesting truth: “Oh, you’re sure to get there if you keep walking long enough.”
How many of us are going through life telling ourselves, “If we keep going long enough, we’re going to get somewhere,” but are not defining exactly where that place is we want to be? “Somewhere” is not good enough. We must know where we want to go and be firmly committed to getting there. And we should get that knowledge and commitment early.
I committed to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ at an early age. This commitment has been tested time and time again. Recently we were blessed to hear from church leaders during General Conference.** Their teachings act as markers along the path that are plain and simple and reverberate in our hearts and minds. One talk has gained significant attention in the media. President Boyd K. Packer’s address, “Cleansing the Inner Vessel,”*** discussed issues that many people are more comfortable ignoring than facing. He took a stance on what was evil and what was good. While this act may alienate a great number of people who prefer to stay in the gray area, it is his responsibility as a prophet, seer and revelator to teach eternal truths.
Sometimes it is hard to hear the truth. When our heads have been filled with lies the world has happily placed there, the truth seems confusing and malicious. In order to understand what is right and what is wrong we have to be sufficiently humble and recognize we need help. There is real danger in ignoring the difference between right and wrong. Those who are brave enough to take a stand are often scorned and misinterpreted. The enemy of all good wants you to stay in the dark. If you are humble and desirous to do what’s right, our guides will set fire to Satan’s traps and free you from the world that would have you as its prisoner.
“‘Somewhere’ is not good enough.” If you’re feeling lost, you’re not alone. Navigating this treacherous terrain takes skill, experience and wisdom. The best solution is to follow a guide who can see beyond the walls of mere mortal existence. He will do anything it takes to bring you home, even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.
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*http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=6888092480e6c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
**http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1298,00.html
***http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-23,00.html
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