Tantalizing Traps
After nearly two weeks of recent sub-zero
temperatures my wife and I decided that this past weekend we would take
advantage of the slightly warmer weather and sunshine, bust out of our
hibernation and take our dogs out along the river for a snowshoeing adventure. I’ve written some about my dogs and their personalities
in a previous POST,
and this remains true when we are out snowshoeing as well as when I take them
for a run.
Everything started out great and we
were all having a wonderful time enjoying the fresh air, “partially warm”
sunshine, and the beautiful scenery along the river where we had decided to
spend the afternoon. After the Holidays
and all of the excess sweets and goodies which had been consumed, the activity
and exertion of trudging through the path of deep snow was just what my body
needed.
With the snow covering the path and
making it somewhat more difficult to discern, along with the fact that I felt
out of shape and needed to catch my breath, we paused periodically to take in
the view and make sure we were on the heading the right direction. The path meandered along the river on one
side, with trees and fallen logs strewn along the other.
Dogs sometimes have a problem, that
when their nose starts working, their brain shuts off. I remember as I saw them run down to the partially
frozen over and still flowing river, that I commented to my wife that I hoped
they didn’t fall through the fragile ice, which was full of the game tracks left
behind by some lighter birds or smaller animals which had scurried about its
surface sometime before. I wasn’t only
worried about the dogs slipping in and getting cold or swept downstream, but
also about the possibility that if they did, I might have to leave the safety
of the trail and plunge in to get them out, which would pretty much ruin an
otherwise wonderful day.
Focusing along the enticing sights and
magnificence of the river on one side, I had failed pay attention so much to
the trees and fallen logs along the other side of the trail. As I stopped to take out my phone for a few
pictures, as a pair of Bald Eagles soared over our heads, the air was suddenly
pierced by the agonizing and terrified howls of pain of our dog Abby, who had
run off into the trees outside the path.
I could hear her thrashing about
behind some fallen logs, and immediately became concerned she had become
entangled in a fight with some slumbering badger or other wild creature which
was obviously getting the better of her, as her cries were that of helplessness
and terror. My wife was ahead of me and
ran ahead screaming in fright, as I was trying to grab my walking poles as a
means of defense if I had to fight off some wild creature.
By the time I looked up, my wife was
also rolling around on the ground behind the logs and screaming for help, I my
heart pounded in fright as I ran to try to protect them!
As I came upon the scene, I realized
that our dog, in her bounding search for excitement off the edges of the path,
had stepped in a wild game trap, which had been placed by some trapper. This steel trap was secured to one of the
fallen logs by a thick steel chain.
My
wife was trying to hold her still, and in the confusion and pain, and not
understanding that she was trying to help, our dog had bitten her on the
hand. As I instructed my wife to hold
our dog as still as possible, I was able to brush away the loose snow and find
the release levers for the trap, and with some effort, push them down to
release the spring and allow our dogs foot to finally come free.
Slightly
bloodied, sore and subdued, our dog hunkered down alongside us on the path,
licking her wounds as my wife comforted her, assessed her own bruised and
bitten hand, and our hearts all tried to regain a normal rhythm. In nervousness I began to look around,
suddenly alert and apprehensive, and quickly discovered that at least two more
traps were set nearby, cleverly and expertly hidden along both sides of the
path beneath a slight covering of snow, but with the menacing steel teeth of
their jaws visible in their concealed position.
Worried
that our dogs might accidentally step into the closest one to where we were
standing I used a stick to trigger the trap, and despite knowing what would
happen, still jumped as the metal jaws snapped tight and held fast to the stick
so securely that I could not pull it free.
My wife then wisely advised me, that rather that searching about and
trying to remove the threat of any other unseen traps and risking getting
caught unawares in one ourselves, that it would be best to stay on the path we
already knew was safe, and retrace our steps back towards home.
In
the end, our dog was luckily alright, with only a bruised and slightly bloodied
paw, which she is now walking around on without any limp. And my wife, who was luckily wearing a glove,
had only some bruising and soreness from being accidentally bitten in the
confusion of the moment.
I
couldn’t’ help but come away from the adventure with a sense of pondering about
the lessons that could be learned from the experience.
(Now
I want to make sure, and have it clearly understood, that I am in no way
condemning the trapper who laid those snares along the river way. I support anyone’s legal right to hunt, fish
or trap as they please – but am just using the true story to prove a point.)
Much
like is described in the Book of Mormon, Lehi’s vision describes a safe path
which leads to a “Tree of Life”, which is beset by distractions, a river on one
side, mists of darkness which lead to pitfalls and snares of wickedness. The only way to safely arrive at the desired
destination is to hold fast to a rod of iron which runs along the pathway.
Such
is true for both our snowshoe hike and our daily walk through life. There is a safe path which is designated for
us to travel through life. It is
contained in the Commandments, Holy Scriptures teachings of the prophets, and
the guidance of the Holy Ghost, all of which are there to help us see more
clearly the path which leads safely through the traps and snares of the
adversary.
Often
times, because we are mortal, and easily distracted by the enticements of life
and what is constantly before us outside the safety of the path, we wander in “exploration”
and find, after it is too late, that we or someone we love is caught in a trap
from which we cannot free ourselves. We
have all likely personally experienced or at least know someone who has
suffered from the effects of drug addiction, pornography, alcoholism, smoking, or
a countless list of other destructive behaviors.
If
we have loved ones going through such difficulties, or are experiencing them
ourselves, we must realize that there are those around us who love us, and like
my wife will reach out with steadying and supportive arms to try and keep us
from harm. Without knowing, those
ensnared may react defensively, not realizing they are trying to help. But those who love us will always be there.
But
despite all of that, there is one thing that is absolutely necessary to truly
become free from the trappings of life – someone who knows how to truly
understand the situation, and has the ability and power to release the trap and
fully set us free. And for that, there
is literally only ONE being who can do that for us – our Savior Jesus Christ.
He
will not violate our agency, and will let us experience life, but he has set a
straight and narrow path before us that is safe and free from danger, as long
as we stay on the trail. He knows that
there are traps about us, which are dressed up and may look more exciting than the
consistency of the path, and that is why He came and atoned for our sins and
mistakes, so that he knows how to release the traps in which we become
helplessly entangled, if we will but call out to Him sincerely for His divine
help and assistance.
I
should also make it clear, that just stopping sinful behavior doesn’t free us
from the trapping of sin. My dog could have sat still in the same place
indefinitely, without any further wandering into unsafe areas, but she still
would have been caught by the trap until I set her free. The same is true for us and our sins. We cannot simply stop the behavior and expect
to be free. We must turn to the Lord who
recognized where the trappings of our lives lie, and fully release us from them
to be free once again.
This
world is so very troubled and confused, with morals and ethics which are as
unstable as shifting sand. Thank God for
his stable and sure footed pathway, which can lead us safely through, and for
our divine Deliverer, who is able to set us free and return us to solid and
safe ground once again when we have gone astray!
