the other day i was reading the July 2011 Ensign and i came across the article
by Elder Von G. Keetch titled, Start Moving
immediately i knew this was the talk for me.
he tells the story of a group of smoke jumpers. and if you're like me and didn't know what one was, he explains the obvious:
"brave men and women who fight forest fires by parachuting onto the ground above a fire and fighting it from the top down, while others fight it from below."
during a large forest fire a team of smoke jumpers tune in as the wise and experienced firefighter/dispatcher tells them that he could not give precise directions as of yet
and to contact him by radio once they parachuted onto the ridge above the fire, then he would give them instructions as to the course they should begin to take flight.
after doing so, the jumpers viewed the fire from above and could see
[half a dozen possible paths]
they could take to begin their work.
the leader called the dispatcher to request instructions and to which path to take.
but only static answered.
thinking the dispatcher was busy the smoke jumpers decided to wait 10 min then try again.
[they could see several paths]
down the mountain that would put them in good position but they were
[concerned they didn't have a direction from the dispatcher]
[worried that if they started moving down the path that looked best to them,
they might actually be moving counter to the course the dispatcher wanted them to take.]
so they decided to just wait.
wait until they heard back from the dispatcher.
30 min became and hour, an hour became 2.
they became frustrated. they just needed directions! then they would happily move along.
a weary crew chief from the group fighting the fire further down the mountain came up the trail and found the smoke jumpers.
"what are you doing lounging around on the ridge? we really needed your help. the fire almost got away from us because we didn't have help to contain it, and all this time you've just been relaxing up here in the ridge?"
the lead smoke jumper explained their predicament to the crew chief.
[they had been vigilant in trying to obtain those instructions.
but the dispatcher had ignored them.
never responding to their calls.
true, they could see several paths down to the fire.
BUT they were afraid they would take the [wrong] one.
so they decided to wait until they had the promised instructions.]
the crew chief held out his hand and took the small radio the smoke jumpers had been using. he then walked about 50 yards down one of the paths that led toward the fire.
he stopped and and tried the radio.
[the dispatcher's voice came through loud and clear.]
the crew chief them walked back to the top of the ridge and traveled about 50 yards farther down another path.
he stopped and called the dispatcher.
[again the dispatcher's voice came back immediately.]
the crew chief hiked back to the smoke jumpers and tossed the radio to the leader, saying,
"you were in a dead spot. all you had to do was
[start moving]
down one of the trails, and the dispatcher could have
easily given you course corrections and brought you
right into the spot where he needed you."
the past year i have been struggling with what direction to take for my life. whether it be teaching, continuing my education to obtain my masters, teaching english in south america, etc. i feel that they are all good plans/goals but i hadn't dared take a step to one specific path, in fear that i may have chosen
not the BEST one.
this same way of thinking gets my in every area of my day to day life, any big decision i make i want it to be the BEST one. and for those who have read Elder Oaks conference talk "Good, Better, Best" you can understand.
however,
the thing i haven't been doing is acting.
using my faith to overpower my fear.
trusting in the Lord.
i am committed to start moving
moving along a path
with faith and trust in the Lord
and i
know
things will all work out.
after all, they always do.
I love you! You are an amazing person and will do well with whatever path you take.
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