In the movie, Always,
there’s a scene where a mechanic is working on a service vehicle used at a
small private air strip. Somehow while the motor is running it jumps into
gear and takes off without a driver. On the back of the service vehicle
is a sign, Follow Me, intended to guide pilots of small aircraft to the proper
location.
(Image, Bartolomé
Esteban Murillo – Adoration of the Magi – Google Art Project courtesy of
Wikipedia)
As often
happens in movies intended to entertain, a borderline qualified pilot happens
to be landing at this precise moment as he observes and follows the unmanned
service vehicle down the taxi way, across a private road, all the while
everyone around is yelling for him to stop. Eventually the truck crashes
into a house at the edge of the landing strip.
I suppose it
really is important to identify and validate prior to following just anyone, or
in this case, anything.
Such was and
is the case with the Great War in Heaven. Satan put forth his plan
whereby every soul would be guaranteed to return to Father; but man would not
have his Agency, the ability to choose. That plan was not accepted by
Father and a third of the host of Heaven who wanted to follow that plan were
cast out with Satan.
In the other
plan… the plan we all agreed to follow, mortality would be our proving ground,
a probationary period to test our resolve in obeying God’s laws. Knowing
our shortcomings Father would provide a Savior, even His Only Begotten
Son. And so the War in Heaven began…and continues to this very day.
For our safe
return to Father we must decide on a daily basis if we really do want to return
to Father or is it worth the effort. Nobody is going to force you back to
Heaven; but there are plenty of opportunities to stray from the path.
We’ve been
given lots of help; parents who love and guide us, the scriptures and living
prophets all with the purpose of showing us the way home to Father.
Still, we must decide.
Being a
convert to the Church I missed out on attending Primary in my youth; however,
the Lord didn’t want me to miss out entirely so along the way I’ve been
privileged to serve as an instructor while getting to learn all about Sharing
Time, Children’s Hymns and how to deal with a wide variety of challenges.
I remember
being impressed as Sharing Time began with a roomful of high energy children
bouncing off the walls. The Chorister didn’t seem phased at all as she
stood in front of them, having nodded at the sister playing the piano; asked if
one of the more energetic children would assist in singing, Do As I’m Doing.
Do as I’m
doing;
Follow,
follow me!
Do as I’m
doing;
Follow,
follow me!
If I do it
high or low,
If I do it
fast or slow,
Do as I’m
doing;
Follow,
follow me!
Do as I’m
doing;
Follow,
follow me…
Apparently
the children love this tune as they also have a chance to get the ‘wiggle
worms’ out of their system. After a couple of imaginative operations are
offered, a different child helping to carry out the exercise, the children are
asked to fold their arms for an opening prayer and the children have achieved a
much more teachable attitude. Someone from the Primary Presidency would
then present the spiritual lesson with far fewer interruptions.
Isn’t it
much the same with adults? Take for instance the setting for the birth of
our Savior. Wise Men followed the star, traveling far until it rested
over the stable where He’d been sleeping in a crib of hay. Shepherds
watching their flocks by night were greeted by angels advising them of the
fulfillment of ancient scripture.
Each of us
is prepared according to the Lord’s time, His knowing when our hearts have been
properly prepared to receive the message of the Gospel. For some they are
born into families where the Gospel is already a daily part of their
lives. Others, myself included, wait a little longer as experiences and
testing work to soften our hearts and open our minds.
The tune in
my head has been bouncing around all week, Do as I’m doing, Follow, Follow
Me…Do as I’m doing, Follow, Follow Me. Funny how things like that work to
our advantage if we but listen to the Spirit as it guides us to the path
leading to what’s best for us.
Lucy and I
had been married about 7 years when we decided it was time to toss our world
upside down and have children. I knew at that moment that I needed to
know more about spiritual life, much more than I’d gathered over the years.
I hadn’t
been much on attending the Presbyterian church, at least not after I’d asked
some important questions to the Youth Minister and was told, “You really don’t
need to know that”. Well, I did need to know which was why I’d
asked so I came to the conclusion that the reason my request was turned away
was simple…this Youth Minister didn’t know the answers and it was his way of
telling me to get lost.
I was about
14 at the time and had no use for formal religion until we decided to start our
family.
It was time
to read the Bible, only this time with the intent of actually finding out what
was in it. The New Testament was my starting point. I had a partner
who attended the Lutheran
Church at the time.
He thought it was great that I’d decided to read the Bible, offering me a copy,
can’t remember exactly; but it sure wasn’t the King James Version.
I got to the
part where God made a Deal with Abraham…yea, it came off like a popular
television show… Monty Hall pointing to Curtain Number 3… “…and for you God has
a Brand New Pontiac Grand Prix with Air Conditioning, Electric Windows and
Italian Leather Bucket Seats.”
I thanked
him for his genuine concern and shelved that version of the Bible in favor of
the King James Version. It took a little more effort to read the archaic
use of language; but somehow the intent of those words made it into my soul as
I continued searching for the pathway back to our Father in Heaven.
I actually
took inventory, so to speak, an inventory of those I worked with on a daily
basis. Who seemed to be happier; not because they had more money or a
better car as we all were police officers making about the same pay. No,
what I was looking for I’ve learned to call, Countenance, the subtle glow which
presents itself when an individual is living his/her life in accordance with
Gospel principles.
It’s as if
that person had a sign on them saying, Follow Me, I know the way home.
Interestingly,
those individuals I’d identified as ‘persons of interest’, they all happened to
be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
If I were
prone to assigning things as coincidence, random alignment of details to fit a
theory then perhaps it wouldn’t have made such an impression on me; but I don’t
believe there is such a thing as coincidence…no, everything happens for a
reason including the folks we meet in passing. It’s up to us to take
notice and act on what we have been given.
In short, I
knew my insurance agent was a member of the Church so I asked him to send
‘those boys on bicycles’ over so they could tell me more. The rest is
history and we joined the Church.
The Lord
sent his servants to assist us in finding the path, the Plan of
Salvation. Another Hymn has been rattling around in my thoughts, one you
are familiar with, Come Follow Me.
“Come,
follow me,” the Savior said.
Then let us
in his footsteps tread,
For thus
alone can we be one
With God’s
own loved, begotten Son…
I’m grateful
for the many opportunities the Lord has seen fit to bless me with all these
years; an angel for a wife who puts up with my short comings and loves me in
spite of them, the Gospel in my life which has permitted me to follow the Iron
Rod which leads us back to our Father in Heaven. The Temple Blessings
which provide the necessary ordinances for eternal marriage and families, ordinances
which include all those who have gone before us and tie them together with
those who have yet to arrive.
Glad I
followed the right path, could just have easily tore through that house on the
edge of the run way had I not been paying attention. In the Name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
This article has been cross posted to The Self Educated American, a
publication whose banner reads, “Standing Fast By the Judeo-Christian Heritage,
Limited Government and the U.S.
Constitution”.
