IMAGINE AND BELIEVE

Imagine you are lost in a great forest.  You've been walking for a long time and are growing very weary.  You're cold, hungry, and scared.

Imagine your best friend has been walking along with you.  He has been keeping you company and helping you to not be so scared.  He has been assuring you all along that he knows the way.

Imagine that you come to the edge of a treacherous cliff.  Your friend calmly climbs over the side and maneuvers his way to the ground beneath.  He is an experienced rock climber and has used hand and foot holds that you don't know how to find.

Imagine your friend urges you to swallow your fears and make your way down.  He reaches out his arms and tells you that he'll catch you if you should fall.  He tells you that you're almost home.  All you have to do is follow him.  But you're very frightened and cannot bring yourself to believe that your friend could really catch you if you fell.

Imagine that your friend assures you that he knows without a doubt that this is the only way home.  But no matter how much your friend pleads with you to believe him, you can't help but think that there might be a better way.

From up where you are, you can see in the distance a peaceful meadow.  You want to try to go that way.  Sure, there are some peaceful meadows in that direction, your friend agrees.  But he warns you that you will also encounter very dangerous pitfalls and deadly creatures if you go that way.

Although your friend again warns you that this is the only way home, the meadow seems so inviting to you.  You want to rest a while and then see for yourself if you can find another way.  You feel confident that you are clever enought to spot any pitfalls and avoid any deadly creatures.

Your friend will not come with you and pleads with you once more to just try to follow him and he will help lead you safely home.  But you simply cannot believe that you will reach the bottom of the cliff.  You cannot trust your friend in this.

Imagine that you turn and choose the meadow and the unknown way.  You do this even though it means turning your back on your best friend and being separated from him from that time on.  You do this even though it means hurting your best friend by not believing in him.

Imagine that you do find some rest in the meadow and then continue on your journey.  While you're walking, you meet other people who keep you company for a time.  But these other people also appear to be lost so they aren't able to help you or make you feel safe.

Imagine that after a long time of continued wandering, you begin to realize that you now feel even further from home.  You now feel very lonely, very tired, and very scared.  You long for the companionship and confidence of your best friend.

Now imagine that no matter how long you've been wandering around lost, your best friend has still been standing at the bottom of that cliff waiting for you.  After all, he knew that you were going the wrong way.

Imagine that all you have to do is turn around and go back. 

By Pam Keaton