For some reason, a life experience from nearly 20 years ago keeps coming to the forefront of my mind. It keeps trying to unveil a gospel principle to me in the form of a silly, yet true, story. I will record my thoughts here for future generations.
Many years ago, although it seems like not so many years ago, I went on a night hike with my new husband and my new family. We hadn't been married for too long, and it was a fun, care-free time full of late nights and hangouts. There were countless hours of "girl football", and countless picnics. None of us had kids yet, we were still in college, and we were really good friends. One night, we got the idea to go hiking. Hiking Mt. Timp at night time seemed like a great adventure.
We started making preparations. We needed some flashlights, snacks, and water, and really, that was all. We were young, what could possibly go wrong? However, I started to become nervous that we would meet a bear or a moose in the dark. I kept repeating these anxieties, and my new husband did what any good husband would do--he told me to call my dad. So, at a gas station, as we loaded up on snacks, I called my dad in Arizona. He told me, and I quote, "you've got a better chance at winning the lottery than you do at running into a moose or a bear on that mountain". Then, he added, "but... if you do run into a moose at this time of year, you're pretty much dead, because they've got bad attitudes." Considering the fact that I have never played the lottery before, and would never play the lottery, I was pretty safe. I did pressure Jon Mark into buying a 99 cent pocket knife at the register before heading out--just in case.
So, there we were on that mountain. We hadn't hiked for more than a couple of hours before my sister in-law, and I, began to get very anxious. When she realized she didn't have her inhaler, we decided that that was as good of an excuse as any to get off the mountain. We convinced the men that we ought to head back down. That's when our flashlights started to give out. To conserve batteries, we turned them off and began our descent in complete darkness. It was getting spookier by the minute. I don't know how long we had walked in the dark, but because of the narrowness of the trail, we walked in a straight line, Michelle and I, sandwiched between the men. I was second in line, which is only an important detail if you happen to remember what my dad said, "if you do run into a moose, you're probably dead because they've got bad attitudes." For not long after that thought ran through my head, my brother in-law stopped in front of me and began to protectively push me back. Then, he turned the flashlight on and directly in front of us was a large bull moose. It was so close that I could have reached out my hand and touched him. He was staring straight at us and he was blocking the trail. I panicked. Hoping he didn't know I was there, I pressed myself up against the mountain and began to bury myself in leaves. I was content to hide for as long as needed. I looked at Jon Mark and with a flick of his wrist, he opened that .99 pocket knife and he was ready to go head to head with the moose if need be. We sat there in a staring contest with the moose for who knows how long. It was a long time. After prayer, and tears on my end, we decided to shine the flashlight in the eyes of that moose (hoping he wouldn't be able to see around it) and we snuck right past him. We made it safely down the mountain, and at 1am I called my dad and woke him up to chew him out.
This is where the metaphor comes in. Life is an adventure. Like the trek up Mt. Timpanogoes, life can be both exhilarating and exhausting, mundane and exciting. Our lives can be moving along at a steady pace with everything lining up just fine, and then just like that moose, adversity and hardship come out of nowhere and jump out in front of us, forcing us to face it head on.
A few questions come to mind... How prepared are we when the trials do come? Who are you in this metaphor? Is your light dimming? Or have you consistently done all of the little things to make your light shine brightly? Have we been consistent with temple attendance, scripture study, and prayer. Do we pay our tithing and seek to minister to those around us? Do we use the tools available to us to strengthen our testimonies and fortify our faith, or do we hide and cower crippled by fear? If we do stand ready to fight our spiritual battles, do we stand ready with a .99 cent pocket knife, or do we face our hardships with the full armor of God, walking alongside Christ and yoking ourselves to Him?
Ephesians 6:11-18
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Thankfully in this story, our situation was blessed and we made it safely off the mountain in spite of our lack of preparation. But, Heavenly Father wants more for us in our trek through life. He wants us to be prepared and with our full armor of righteousness fastened securely around us. He wants us to learn and grow through it all, and then lift those around us. He wants our eyes wide open as we faithfully participate in the work of salvation.
