Press Forward Bike Excursion

I led a group of 17 scouts and leaders on a bike expedition through our neighborhood and surrounding area. I am not a biker and knew that I would be at the end of the group. The plan was to make a large loop, mostly on a bike path, and meet up for shaved ice at the end of the ride. I have never made the ride before, but assumed the route would be obvious - a suspicion that was confirmed by other leaders. As we met as a group and discussed the route, one of the leaders said to always stay on the main path and you will be ok. We set out - me at the back. 

Early on two riders bowed out - one after a crash going off a jump along the way, and another to a previous illness that caught up to him. The group was mostly together at that point, and everyone else set off to the hardest part of the ride. 

All but three scouts trickled into the shaved ice shack. What happened to them? None of the leaders or other boys had seen the depart from the path. Leaders rode out in different directions. I started calling parents to see if the boys might have gone home - which is an awkward conversation. “We lost your son. By chance did he go home?” 

The boys eventually found their way to the shack. I asked them how they got

Blake was the desired route.
Red marks the additional
distance some boys traveled.

lost. Each one indicated that they didn’t know they were lost, they had stayed on the trail the whole time. They had made their best judgement along the way and somehow made a loop in the path, and ended up following the trail back to where we had started. From there, they knew the way to the shack and rode there, assuming that is what all the other riders had done. 

I made several bad assumptions on this outing. I assumed that leaders at the front and leaders at the end were sufficient to make sure that everyone made it to the destination. The boys that took a wrong turn were in the middle of the pack - but separated enough from others that when they had to make a decision, they didn't know what to do - and guessed.

As I ponder about the outing, I have some life reflections. 

Rather than having a leader at the front and at the back - it would have been more effective to have someone at the decision points, encouraging the youth and pointing the way they should go. 

God is like that. The youth have a major milestone every two years with lots of people pointing the way. 

Additionally, God provides the Holy Spirit, which can teach us the truth of all things, and when needed, God can direct our paths. 

But mostly - I realize that there are lots of paths to the snow cone shack. Some of the boys took an extra long path - but eventually made it. In the end, everyone who was working their way to the shack received a snow cone. Christ is the path, but no two people travel the same course. Some paths are longer than others. Some paths have more obstacles. The goal and the promise is the same for everyone. If we stay on the path and keep moving forward, we will get to that destination. May I press forward in faith. 

Bear Scare Repentance

Scout camp became a little tense this year when, on the second night, a member of the staff came sprinting into camp. Through panting breaths he explained that a bear had been seen in camp, and that we were in some danger. He explained things the scout camp was going to do to protect us, and gave us a list of things we needed to do immediately. Our list included removing food and other smellables from our tent - just as we had been told many times. 

Many of the scouts were wide eyed and scared. "We're going to die!" one scout shouted as he paced around the group. Then they started diligently going through their tents and bags, removing all their food and other smellables, and storing them in our scout trailer. Rules and guidelines that previously had been suggestions by some old guys to make camp more miserable suddenly became essential to survival. Scouts that had been following the guideline since arriving at camp felt much more safe than those that had disregarded the counsel and had to remove food from their tent. 

Commandments are like that. For many people they start out being silly rules made up by old people. But at some point, usually after some type of bear scare, They change from theoretical to practical. They become essential to peace and safety. 

The Lord has said,  “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). He has taught us how to prepare for life and future bear scares. "I have warned you, and forewarn you" (D&C 39:4). The scriptures are full of both warnings of the danger, and actions to take to overcome the danger. 

As I look forward to the lives of these young scouts, I hope the gospel, the commandments, and the Atonement of Christ will continue to become real to them. Sooner or later all of us will meet the Savior. For some, the experience will be full of peace and love. Others will want "the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne." (Rev. 6:15) That day will be a bear scare for real.