The road to anywhere?

President Thomas S. Monson relates a memory he has of driving to his home many years ago.
As he approaches the entrance to interstate 15, he notices that there are 3 hitchhikers, each of whom carried a homemade sign that announced his desired destination. One sign read “Los Angeles,” while a second carried the designation “Boise.” However, it was the third sign that not only caught his attention, but also caused him to reflect and ponder its message. The hitchhiker had lettered not Los Angeles, California, nor Boise, Idaho, on the cardboard sign he held aloft. Rather, his sign consisted of but one word and read simply “Anywhere.”

Here was a man who was content to travel in any direction, according to the whim of the driver who stopped to give him a free ride. What an enormous price to pay for such a ride! No plan. No objective. No goal. The road to anywhere is the road to nowhere, and the road to nowhere leads to dreams sacrificed, opportunities squandered, and a life unfulfilled.

I remember so well how my parents said
“Remember that the choices you make now will affect you later!”
“Don’t do anything you might be ashamed of later in your life”
“I love you and that is why I don’t want you to have to go down that road to learn that lesson”
“Wait! Your turn will come, you will have a daughter one day and you will know how it feels to watch her heart break into a million pieces, and then be there to pick them all up.”
Did I listen? – No
Did I learn? – Fortunately yes, I was one of the lucky ones, I have the most understanding, forgiving, gentle, relentlessJ parents – who’s love is ALL encompassing to say the very least – there aren’t too many who have had the privilege of growing up in a home like the one Bryn and Joan Bricknell ran.

The best part is that they were so right it was only after having my own children that I realized that you could love that much, and that all you want to do is make every decision for them – that way you know they won’t hurt or be hurt.

Like little boats our children sail into our lives, no keel for stability, no rudder to provide direction, and no source of power. It’s quite overwhelming for me to think that it is up to Cuen and I to ensure that their destination isn’t just anywhere.
I believe that each of us were given different, but divine attributes that if nurtured can guide us to make good and on occasion great decisions.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”
Heavenly Father has given us the power to think, to reason, and to achieve and it is up to us to set ourselves the right course to reach our destination and full potential.

You are probably thinking “where is this all coming from” – Well, I was listening to a song called “ The Way To Emmaus” and was thinking of the different situations different members of my family find themselves in – not only in terms of temporal perspective, but also one of spiritual.

Here are the lyrics:
The Way to Emmaus

In the distance I can see the storms grow
Darkness out ahead, clouds are moving in
Tempting winds, they blow
Answers here Answers there
Answers everywhere
Which way do I go? Then a Whisper
Softly comes
I will let you know
And our hearts burn within us like so many years ago
On the way to Emmaus His words of
Love and hope
And our hearts burn within us as we walk down this road
Take in the hand of the Prince of Peace to our Fathers home
In the still of my soul, the quiet of my heart
I bow my head, in Humility, yearning
Deep, reaching far
Pleading with Faith for direction
I want to do his will, then a whisper
Softly comes
I will let you know