Look Up!

    Now I’m no fan of heights. I always get this funny feeling in my gut and the bottom of my feet, when standing at the edge of ledge or any high place. But I wouldn't call it a paralyzing fear that some people suffer from. I like to joke with people that my fear of heights comes from being 6'4". Because I see everything from a foot higher than most people do. All that to say I understand the need -out of fear - to look down. I wonder if there is a life lesson in not looking down.

   ​It seems to happen without fail, that when in a story we find a protagonist trapped on the side of or hanging from the edge of a cliff or building. or they may have to travers a great chasm by way of a narrow path. fear beings to creep in and the character feels the need to look down. Then a mentor who has overcome the challenge our hero now faces steps in. When the hero becomes paralyzed with fear of the height, what do you think the mentor will say to our hero to motivate them? Did you hear the words “don’t look down”? Sometimes they will even add on “just focus on me”. However, it is said the sentiment is usually the same. Don’t focus on the problems or how far you have come. Focus on what needs to be done and the destination of safety ahead. 

    In looking at photos of tight rope walkers I noticed smoothing interesting. None of them seemed to be looking at their feet. they focus seemed to be quite a way ahead of them. There was focused on where they were going very little of where they wore. And I'm sure not at all about where they had been. Sure, they still have to take the steps to move forward from where they are at. So great care needs to be placed on foot placement and balance. but what are they visually focused on?  It's the goal of where they are headed. Can you hear the lesson yet? 

    I think many stresses and anxieties are built on focusing too much on our current troubles. Maybe not so much on our trebles themselves but on how hard are troubles are. In a sense we keep looking down. we become overwhelmed with the height of the troubles. Instead of focusing on what needs to be done to overcome the trouble. Do we focus on where we have been or where we are going and what the next move needs to be. In those moment, when we feel truly stuck, I think we all need a mentored, weather earthy or divine. In my life I have had the blessing of both.   

    I hope it is of no surprises, to those who know me, that I am a religious person. In my life that mentor telling me to not look down is my savior. In Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 he said "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" in other words look at me don't look down. In Proverbs 3:5-6 It is said "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they path". To me he is who I look up to. he is who I focus on. In the moments when I stop looking to him and begin to look down at my circumstances is when fear, doubt, and anxiety creep into my life. In the New Testament we can recall the story of peter when he saw The Load walking on water.

“Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."

“And he said, Come” (Matthew 14:27–29).

Peter then walked on the water to Jesus.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid,” began to sink, and cried out, “Lord, save me."

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:30–31). 

When I focus on him, he interns helps me to focus on others. In helping others, it seems my troubles become much smaller and easier to travers. He reaches forth his hand to all that look to him for support even when their faith falters. His hand is there to lift them up when they look for him. He is ever waiting. 

    In our world today we are constantly looking down. weather it is at our phones on other people. we may even find ourselves looking down on our self. I say look up look! up to the beauty around you, the beauty in other people, the beauty in yourself. look up and enjoy the moments you may never have again. This is what living is, anything else is just surviving. We are not meant to just survive. God wants so much more for us. In the Book of Morman the prophet Alma speaking to his son Helaman just before he is to die. One of the last things he said to his son was "...see that ye, look to god and live..."(Amla 37:47) Look up and look out look to the goal that the Lord calls us to. "look to god and live"