CENTRALIA STAKE RELIEF SOCIETY BLOG
October, 2014
All of us need to be very careful about the paths we choose
and the directions in which we set our lives.
What seem to be only small deviations in direction or small detours from
the straight and narrow path can result in huge differences in position down
the road of life.
We are taught as children by our parents and leaders, or by
missionaries as adults. We accept and
believe the Word of God, and enter the waters of baptism. We clutch the Iron Rod. We may journey for miles and years with it in
a firm hand-hold.
However, daily and worldly challenges and demands touch our
lives and possibly cause us to unleash the white knuckle grip, yet still
holding to the rod. A variety of hurts,
doubts, weaknesses, or temptations may cause a release of the grasping hand,
but we still touch the rod with our fingertips and continue on our way.
We give way to other incidents or enticements and then
eventually turn loose of the rod. It is
okay—we rationalize—I am still walking near enough to reach out
and take hold again if I wish.
More worldly tugs and pulls may cause us to drift a bit
further from the Iron Rod; but—again—we feel some security in that we still
have it in sight. We continue on a path
that we see as running parallel to the rod.
I still see it over there. I am
moving in the same direction as it runs.
Without much realization, we keep moving small degrees away
until we no longer have it in sight. We
are lost. The Iron Rod has not been
relocated! WE strayed from it.
But, thankfully, through our Older Brother, Jesus Christ, we
have repentance that allows us to halt, ask for forgiveness and guidance,
reverse our direction, and return to where we can once again grab hold of the rod—the original Global
Positioning System which never breaks down, never needs replacement parts, and
never gives us false direction.
Hold to the rod!
Sister Val Walsh
Centralia Stake Relief
Society Secretary
