Scuba Diving

About a year ago my older brother and I were enrolled in a scuba diving class. We went every week as we had lessons and practiced in the pool. The time finally came to finish our certification in Washington with an open water dive in the Puget Sound. I got to miss a day of school as we made the five hour drive up north. When we arrived we immediately got dressed into our wet suits and suited up to enter into the ocean. The first couple dives we would descend and demonstrate our skills that we had been practicing in the pool. After the first couple certifications, it was time for our first real dive. My brother and I prepared for our dive- he grabbed his spear (to be able to get us some dinner!) and we made our way across the busy highway to the ocean. We had looked at a map, and my older brother had a route picked out for us. He decided to take point on this dive. We had planned to visit several sunken boats and an old pipe structure. There were rope lead lines that would lead to most of these destinations. We descended into the water and as we swam I would periodically touch my brothers leg, or his fin to make sure that he was still around me. There were millions of small little jelly fish, and occasionally there would be very large scary orange jellyfish that would heart like **** when stung. (Not that I would know, that was just what I was told.).

We made our way through the ocean wondering at the beauty of the underwater world. The deeper we went, the worse that the visibility got. (Meaning the water was very murky). I could hardly see my hand. What was worse, is that I could hardly see my brother. I just kept periodically grabbing and touching his leg or fin. I had one hand on the rope that guided us, and one hand on my brother. As we were nearing one of our first destinations, I could barely see anything. We finally arrived at the boat. I looked down as the rope stopped with the boat. We were destined to continue with a rope that was on the other side of the small fishing boat. Though, the next time I looked up, I couldn't see my brother. I reached my hand out and I couldn't feel him anywhere. I began to panic.

My training kicked in. I would count to thirty seconds and then surface, hoping that he would do the same. My blood pressure rose and I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my brother under the water by himself because I had lost track of him. What would happen if he died? What would happen if I were that reason. Regardless, I started to count. I also started to pray. I counted 15... 16.... 17... 18.... 19....... and then he came back around. He was there. My brother had not disappeared. I hadn't felt the need to surface and leave him alone in the water. The person who was guiding this dive had come back for me when I lost track of him. He found me. 

So why am I telling you this? Again, my crazy analytical mind set out to find meaning from this experience. I mean, granted we finished the dive and he speared a couple of fish, but what is the "real" meaning here?

Our life has a plan. Before we are born God has set out a design that our life is designed to follow. Just as our dive had a plan. We had mapped out what we had planned to do. And just as my older brother took point, Jesus Christ is the one who should be guiding ours. Just as in the dive, we have ropes guiding us. Like the iron rod. Those guides in my opinion are the word of God, (Book of Mormon, Bible, Modern day teachings, etc.). When we use those guides we will arrive at our destination. Though we have those ropes we still need Jesus Christ- otherwise we would be wandering blindly. The point is the one who guides us, the same as is Jesus Christ. He knows where He is leading us, and we need him to be that guide. 

Sometimes as we are going, it gets murky. Sometimes so murky that we can hardly find our guide. At these times are the most important times to stick to what we believe. At these times it the MOST important to stick to the plan and to hold onto the rope. IF we do not, it could be fatal. Maybe not literally, but a spiritual death can happen if we lose track of our guide. The longer that we go without our guide the more difficult and panicky it will be to find him again. What is so nice about losing Jesus, is that if we want to find Him, He will come to us. He will always be there when we lose him. It is then up to us to find him. 

God loves us. He wants us to return to Him and to be in his Glory. Just as he has shown me these principles through a simple experience as a scuba diving trip, He will take the time to teach us. 

Keep the Commandments and live His word and he will ALWAYS be there to catch us when we fall.