The Safe Path

     Listening to the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this weekend, I felt like there was a "current" of admonition to persevere, to remember that the Lord's Plan of Happiness does not mean a life of ease, it means knowing that blessings await us when we "reach the 'end', if we have stayed strong in our faith."
     What a great weekend!!
     It also made me think about some of the many spiritual and social challenges our young people (and some of us old people) face everyday.  Particularly relevant were the talks by Elder Cook and Elder Anderson, talking about things that create spiritual bondage, and how the decisions we make from day to day, hour to hour can affect our eternal possibilities.
     My mind was drawn back to an experience I had while serving as a missionary in the Zurich,Switzerland mission.
     That beautiful Spring morning, the Elders of our district had decided (with permission from our Mission President), to go into the mountains of the Swiss Alps and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.  We intended to hike a short distance up to a small lake, nestled back against a breathtaking backdrop of granite cliff and deep forest.  The name of the small lake has long ago been forgotten by me, but the experience of that day has stayed with me.
     The weather was brisk, but pleasant, being in the spring.  Although there were patches of snow on the ground, particularly in shadow, the air was pleasantly warm, allowing light pants, t-shirts, and, for other hikers, shorts as clothing options.
     I do not recall the hike being long, but the trail was steep and well traveled.  Many, natives and tourists alike, seem to have shared our plans, as the trail was fairly busy that morning.  Many joined together in sharing the positive reports they had heard regarding this little lake and its surrounding beauty.
     The lake did not disappoint.  In spite of the warm air, the lake was still frozen solid enough that many chose to stroll out across its surface.  The surrounding cliffs and ravines created a thing of great beauty, but one feature caught my attention rather quickly.  Off to one side, from a ravine that ended at the cliffside about 90-100 feet above the downhill edge of the lake, a trickle of water turned to mist in the sunlight.  A native gentleman whom we had met during the climb, explained that this turned into a significantly larger waterfall as the spring thaw progressed, and that the small (very small) stream bed we had noticed on our climb was only what water "escaped" from the main flow due to wind.  The rest he said, disappeared into a deep hole in the mountainside, at the base of the cliff, only to emerge near the valley floor, many hundreds of feet below us.
     As a budding amateur photographer, I was intrigued by this image, and started up the snowy "hill" that surrounded the bottom of  the falls.  Actually, it was just a mound of snow, that had been "protected" from the thaw by a coating of ice.  The climb was maybe 40 feet.
     At the top of this perfectly shaped, snowy "bowl", I snapped a few pictures of the "pit". ( I will have to hunt down my mission slides, and add these pictures, but I wanted to type while the thoughts were fresh. This image is not actually mine, but gives you an idea).  Not satisfied with my angle, I made a decision that has both haunted me, and taught me, from that moment forward.

     I took 3 steps down into the bowl!  I was happier with the angle, feeling like it made the possible pictures more intense and dramatic.  I took my cautious steps back up to the rim, and began my descent down the outside.  I had not taken 3 steps when my foot slipped on the icy surface, and I slid the rest of the way down the ridge, until I came to a stop at the edge of the trail, approximately 30-40 feet below.
     Instantly, the knowledge of my foolishness hit me!  And the relief and gratitude to my Heavenly Father for watching out for one of His missionaries, even when he made a foolish choice.
   Since then, this experience has come to mind whenever I am tempted to try something that may be "just a step or two" away from the right path, or "one time is no big deal".  Shortly after returning home, a nonmember friend invited me to his wedding celebrations, including his bachelor party.  I was not worried about the temptation of alcohol, but I must be honest, I had not even considered the "traditional entertainment".   As my friend mentioned what his cousin had planned for "entertainment" my mind instantaneously flashed two thoughts:  The image of that small Swiss lake, and "one time is no big deal, right?"
     I was spared the need to be concerned further, however, because my good friend Ron, having known me since we were small, understood my beliefs, and in almost the same breath that started this moment of concern, offered to leave his own bachelor party to take me home.
     I realized then, and have felt many times since, that the memory of that small lake serves to remind me that the safe path is one I have been taught from my youth, and that the few small steps we take away from safety have the potential to plunge us into a pit so deep, that rescue seems impossible.
     In a world increasingly revealing spiritual "pits" such as drug addictions, pornography, violence and even apathy, I am so grateful to goodly parents, dedicated teachers and leaders, and most especially my Heavenly Father, who have taught me that there is a divine rescue plan already in place.  But I am also grateful that He reminds me, and has often done so throughout my life, that if I stay on safe ground, I will never know the depths of despair trapped in the pit , hoping desperately for rescue.