2. Footprints in the Sand

This post is an explanation, both of the title of the Blog and of the URL, sandyfootprints.

First, the title.
"The only way out is through." This is a quote I heard somewhere, I don't remember where. I searched for it on the Internet, and came up with about 15 different people who said it, including J.K. Rowling, Robert Frost, and an obscure poet named Akka Mahadevi. To me, it doesn't matter who said it, it's still an inspiring quote. When I heard it, it was used in reference to life and our trials. So often in today's world we search for ways to avoid the difficult things. We have TV remotes so we don't have to leave the couch, pizza and popcorn buttons on the microwave so we don't have to hit three extra buttons, Internet quick links and favorites bars so we don't have to type in a URL, the list is endless. Unfortunately, we also take this philosophy into our Spiritual lives. One complaint I've heard about the Gospel is that it's so hard to keep our standards. Televangelists don't make money unless they sprout ideas like "Proclaim Jesus your Savior, and you'll be saved, no matter what" and even the Catholic Church did something where you could buy repentance instead of actually doing the work. (These were indulgences, and are no longer in use. They were used during the Middle Ages) The point is, even in our Spiritual life, we want to take shortcuts. I've wanted to sometimes; I've wanted to just read the scriptures instead of studying them, or I want just go to an hour of church instead of three. That's why I like this quote: it says there are no shortcuts when it comes to trials. The only way to get out of trials is to go through them. If you dodge them, they come back later, oftentimes worse. This quote gives me the courage to face my trials head-on and remember that there is an end, I just have to endure.

Next: the URL.
My favorite poem is "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. I first heard it during a Church talk a few years ago, and it's struck me. That was at a time in my life when I was struggling to feel my Savior's love for me, so this poem really hit as a reminder that God is always there. Here is the poem:

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved
http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/index.php?page=Poem/Poem.php

This poem gave voice to my feelings of loneliness and abandonment. It then told me I was being stupid. I had forgotten who I was, a Daughter of God, and just as my mortal father is always there for me, so is my Heavenly Father always there for me. This poem helped me realize that it wasn't my Father in Heaven who had forsaken me, but I who had left His side, through my own choices. It helped me start recognizing His hand in my life and helped me feel His love again.

This quote and poem are from a time in my life when I felt lost, alone, forsaken, and like I would never see the end of the tunnel I was in. They helped me through the tunnel, and now I use them all throughout my life, including on a blog for a freshman writing class.