"Strangers in the night"

     The sun fallen asunder, the kids on the bleachers are talking to each other, telling them what they're going to do after this event is over. The gunshot is heard every five minutes and six kids scurry along the lined, rubber road-- seeing who can get to the other side the fastest. While the bulk of the kids were sitting on the bleachers, enjoying the scenery of their friends running past another, there are a certain few kids, behind the concession stand not too far away-- all are excited, but one in particular, having come back from the Sonora valley not even 24 hours ago, has a special sort of excitement pumping in his veins. Through months of preparation, a bouquet was selected, a team was assembled, and a time was set to make the event into a spectacle. As the cold, colorful paint is slathered on the chests and backs of six individuals, it brings about chills of anticipation; raising goosebumps of anxiety. The time is come; the all of them from back there walk up the stretch of orange rubber, where they take their places. Legs warmed in place, a loud "set" is brought forth from a rotund man holding a gun, way up high. The gunshot leads a series of kids forward, foot by foot, trodding down the circular road. Minute after minute, the shiny blue stick is grasped by the hands of those preparing to run another lap.

There seems to be an "I" in teamwork.

      The last man in the group crosses the white line, eons ahead of the rest of the kids-- waiting patiently for the rest of those kids to cross. Once all have crossed, the shirts come off, revealing a giant "ELENI" formed upon the chests of five of the group. Catching the attention of all on the bleachers, the group then turns around, revealing a giant "PROM?" slathered on their backs. A rather anticipating silence overcomes the crowd and the one called such speaks up, orating a humble confirmation.

...and an "M" in me.

     As a high schooler two years ago, the whole thing with prom-posals takes a lot of time and effort to prepare and execute. When the person actually pops the question, though, the answer of the recipient means more than the whole time it took to prepare for it. However, once they have said yes, is it over? Not really. There's dinner you have to attend to-- with the other person. And a group, if you wish. It's a long process took picking out what to wear, what the other person is going to wear, what mode of transportation you're going to be in, what corsage/boutonnière you're going to pick, what flower combination you're going to pick, and how much you're going to spend, and so much more. To get to actual prom, it takes more than just asking the person to get to prom.

     Let's look at joining the church. Is your journey to spiritual enlightenment simply over after baptism? Will the path be easy toward the pearly gates which God hath prepared for us?  No. There are so many things you have to do to get to God. Sad to say, once you start believing, it's not as easy as that.  Faith will be tested.  Hypocrisy will be seen.  Opposition will exist.

     A common comparison that can be made is like entering a gate.  That gate is baptism.  Then, there's a trail past the gate that leads to all sorts of twists and turns of a road, stone, gravel, mulch, mud, angry dogs, people with pitchforks, detours, barbed wire, and all sorts things in your way.  It's when you get through all that, scarred, but alive, when the spiritual enlightenment can truly be made manifest.

     As Fred Rogers said in his book, "there is no normal life that is free of pain.  It is the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth."  We have to put forth our greatest efforts to be with God again. In the words of one of our church leaders, "salvation wasn't a cheap experience...salvation was never easy." So being a church member is.  It's relatively easy to be a member; all you need to do is believe in the restored truth and get baptised, but to press forward in the faith will be a trial that will be that impetus for our growth.

     As we look to the covenants we have (or want to make) with God, we have to always remember that it's not over after just a simple event. Press forward with faith and endure to the end. It's going to
be a rough, but definitely worthwhile ride.