Before we say a final goodbye to Utah I should really mention a road I found myself on.One Sunday, while in Utah, the little bugs and I tossed our belongings into the Bugmobile. We buckled up and began the short drive to attend church with Grandma Mary.
I quickly became very aware I had made a wrong turn. An oh-so-very wrong turn.
Short drive turned into loooong.
The twinners were oblivious to our religious tardiness as I kept them well supplied with pink gum. The Princess was more aware.
She suggested I ask the all-mighty Maggie for directions. Maggie who is attached to my windshield and often pleasantly chimes things like, “Turn left here” or “You have arrived”.
I sighed, “Well Princess, Maggie can only help us find the way if we know where we’re going.”
(And here begins the life lesson. Yes my friends, one of those.)
Who knows what I was doing at the moment my right turn flew by my preoccupied eyes, unnoticed. You might suggest I was driving, but I would venture other things. Definately distracted was I.
I was lost in a town smaller than Disneyland. I could only meander my way in the right direction based on a faulty remembrance.
Left, right, left, right…eventually I’d end up there wouldn't I? But what would I miss by being late? What would my bugs miss?
What about my loved one wondering about my delayed arrival? For delayed I most certainly was.
Belatedly we arrived, because I was determined to do so without giving up. There sat grandma in her pew, with her pretty white hair and her soft clothes and her gentle voice which makes you feel you’ve gone back in time to a simpler world full of order and manners.
Grandma was very understanding. She’s made mistakes too. Just this day she’d forgotten to bring her reading glasses to church. What a grandma-ish thing to do.
Her scriptures became useless to her. “Here” She deposited them in my lap. “I can’t read a thing without my glasses. You can use them.”
So I did, and as I sat next to my grandma, I read how the people of Jared waited four years before the Lord had to remind them of their true goal.
Four years? They must have gotten distracted too.
I glanced down at the heavy book in my lap, only instead of the tiny prophetic print I now noticed the red, penciled notes scrawled prettily in the margins.
I waxed sentimental. Those ponderings and markings were made by one who travelled before me so I could begin my journey where I did.
I thought of the others who’ve gone before me and never strayed far from their goal so I could be where I am and who I am.
Then I thought how I am going before others who will follow. Happy and blessed are my little bugs because of the path I have been able to set them on.
Who knows, maybe someday I’ll be sitting in Sunday School next to my granddaughter and maybe I’ll “forget” my reading glasses. Heaven knows I’ll need them, so I’ll lend her my worn scriptures and there in the margarines near Ether 2:14 she’ll read, “Never forget your true goal” And maybe the reference to Moses 4:15.
She will think, “My Grandma has aged beautifully. She’s so very classy. What is more she was never distracted from her purpose in life.”
I will lean over and whisper with my spearmint breath, "Well dear, why leave a well-paved road if it leads where youre going?"
And she'll grin at the wisdom of her elder.