David had been walking down this road for as long as he could remember. It wasn't a smooth road. More like a dirt pathway made by the journey of the thousands of fellow travelers that walked with him. It wasn't very wide, and on either side was a thorny wasteland. The road was strewn with occasional rocks and exposed roots, which sometimes caught the feet even the most careful traveler.
It was interesting to watch the other travelers on the road and see how they dealt with these obstacles. Sometimes he would see someone trip, fall to the ground, and pick themselves up like nothing happened. Others would stub their toe on a rock and yell and curse and angrily hobble away. Some people, after falling prey to a stray root, would laugh as they brushed themselves off, then would jog to make up their lost time. Everyone would fall once in a while, and David was no exception.
After a particularly embarrassing tumble, David decided to stay down. He yelled at the root that had been his downfall. He yelled and screamed, swore and cursed. He was just MAD. Eventually, when his throat was sore, he sat on a nearby rock and just glared at that root. People passing by would occasionally offer to help him up, but to no avail. He just sat and glared.
Eventually, a man came and sat down beside him. He asked a few simple questions, to which David didn't respond. The man traced his determined glare to the root, and after a few seconds of silence said, "It's not the root's fault, you know." David turned his glare from the root to the man. "What are you talking about?!" David replied, "If it weren't for these blasted roots and rocks, I wouldn't keep tripping, and I'd be there by now!"
The man thought about his response carefully. "And where exactly are you going?" he said. "To the end. The end of the road." David mumbled back. The man smiled a bit. "Is that why you're walking? To get somewhere? Let me tell you something kiddo. I've been walking this road for a long time. A lot longer than you. And it's not about the destination. It's about the journey. Where are your friends?"
"Friends?" David asked, "What do you mean?" The man shook his head and stood up. "Listen, this road isn't meant to be traveled alone. There are people all around you, and most of them are doing the same thing you are: trying to make it to the end. So I'll make you an offer: I'll walk with you, talk with you, and keep you company. I'll be your friend. But you have to get up, and you have to keep walking. When you fall, I'll pull you back up, but I expect you to do the same. Do we have a deal?" The man extended his hand down to David. He took it and got off that rock (with some help) and shook.
"Deal."
Life is a journey. It's long. It has obstacles. But that's not what life is about. It's not about getting to the end, it's about enduring to the end. It's about helping each other out. It's about comforting those that need comfort. It's about not giving up. As long as we keep trying, and as long as we keep pressing onward, God will send help. Always.
*Credit for this story goes to Elder Huckvale, who told it to me many moons ago.
