The Rocks, The Roots, and The Road

"At least it's straight" David mumbled as he slowly trudged his way along down the road.

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.

The Lighthouse

The Captain had sworn he'd never be stuck in this situation again.

He had taken his small ship out to fish earlier that morning. He had been having good luck too, and by noon, his barrels and nets were full. While his attention was on his work however, he failed to notice the gathering black clouds, and how far he had drifted from the shore.

Now the black clouds had become a raging Storm. Its fierce winds and crashing waves rock the ship to and fro, threatening to sink it. At first the Captain assumed he could withstand, that he could weather the Storm. But after a few hours, his strength is failing him, his ship is taking a beating, and the Storm is only growing stronger.

At last he decides to head for the Harbor. He looks and looks, but in every direction there is just darkness. The low hanging clouds block any light from above, and the crashing waves obscure the view of the horizon.

But then, between two rolling waves, he thinks he sees something on the horizon. A pair of gleaming lights. They appears for just a second, then they're gone. The Captain hesitates, then turns the ship toward the direction of the lights. Had he really seen it? How could he know he was going in the right direction?

During the next grueling hour of navigating the wind-tossed sea, he sees that gleaming light again. His confidence begins to grow. It must be the Lower Lights that mark the Harbor. As he gets closer and closer, the low hanging clouds clear out for him to see, at last, the shining beam of the Lighthouse. Of course it's light had been shining throughout the storm, but because of the great distance The captain had but between himself and the Lighthouse, he simply couldn't see it.

He makes it through into the Harbor at last, and ties his battered ship to the dock. As he steps onto solid ground, he falls to his knees in gratitude for both the Lighthouse and the Lower Lights which guided him to safety.

Many of us have been in the same situation as the Captain. We leave the safety of the Harbor of the gospel in order to seek after worldly treasures. We often don't intend to go afar off, but as we get wrapped up in our quest we may not notice the distance we put between ourselves and God. God's love toward us is ever shining, just like the Lighthouse, but because of the Storms of life and the situation we put ourselves in, we often fail to see it.

Often times it takes another to show us the way back. Our friends, family, or others that desire our safety can direct us home. Like the Lower Lights that mark the entrance to the Harbor, their love for us may not shine as bright as God's, but as we seek after their love and their example, it can bring us back in view of God's love.

Alpha

Welcome to the Analogyzer!

The purpose of this blog is to illustrate principles and teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the art of Analogy. The stories you will find here will be symbolic.  The interpretation for each story will be given afterward, but some stories may have different meanings for different people. Please comment on what the story means to you!

The Savior himself often taught in parables. While these stories may not be as life-changing as His, they may just help us to learn from each other.

Now please stay tuned while the Analogyzer warms up...