Just Around...Just Over...Just Past...

Continuing on with our little hike.  I don't know how many times in our journey we heard someone say, "It is just around..." Or "You will see in just over...." and of course, "If you keep walking just past..."   At every resting point, some one would ask, "How much further?"  After what seemed like seemed like an eternity of walking and hearing the similar comments, you could hear the sounds of doubt in the follow up question, "Are you sure?"

How many of us have found ourselves asking the same questions as we pass through this mortal existence?  Do you ever start to wonder if it is all worth it?  At the end of what seems like endless days, do you start do doubt the worth of the journey?  I think we all have.

Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity of attending a temple sealing of couple who has passed through some pretty challenging times in life.  They are not young, nor are they really old, but I am sure they have had those moments in life when, because of the previous paths they had chosen, they wondered whether it was all worth it in the end.  Then, there was that moment of realization that they were standing in a temple sealing room, looking at each other from across an alter and the light went on.  "We are here!"

Yep, for many, they would say that, they had arrived.  They had reached that desired destination.  Then at the end of the ordinance, the officiator had them stand, side by side, hand in hand, in front of two large mirrors.  First, he had them look forward and asked, "How may people do you see in the reflections before you?"  Though the faces were all the same in each reflection, if you think about it, there were suddenly thousands and thousands of people ahead of them.  They were on the same path.  Many of them had knelt across similar alters in similar rooms.  But before them, the path continues.  Many have marked the trail before us.

He then had them turn around and look at all the people that had been or are behind them.  They too are on the same path.  They will continue to follow.  Moving around one bend and on to the next, climbing over one hill or ridge and then on to the next, setting their sights on then next milestone and then re-adjusting their view and moving on to the next.  Isn't that what life is all about?  We just keep moving forward, eternally, to the next frame of immortality.  Like looking into those mirrors, we can only see so far out, but we know that no matter what, there will be someone waiting there for us to help re-adjust or to join us on to the next point.

For some, the furthest we can see is just to the next bend.  For others, we see around the bend and over the ridge.  Then there are those who see the big picture and set their sights on the furthest possible point.  Which ever goal we set, the important thing is that we keep moving forward towards it.

On our hike, there were several of us mirroring these facets of life's journey.  But what I realized yesterday is that no matter which progression we were moving on, there was someone there with us or someone waiting for us.  Each time, we re-adjusted, set new sights, and began the journey to the next frame of the journey.

I hope that all of you are doing the same.  Don't give up.  Take time to enjoy the frame you are in, but don't become stagnate and stop moving forward.  Though you may not be able to see it now, the destination will be beyond your most vivid imaginations.  I promise.