Rocks

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away...

There was a nice, quiet meadow blossoming with wild flowers. At the far edge in the east was a tall, forresty mountain. At the far edge to the west lay a deserty wash that ended in a cliff.

There were rocks nearby in the wash. There were also rocks at the tip top of the mountain. The rocks in the wash were easy harvest but they were small and brittle. The rocks at the top of the mountain were bigger and stronger. They were the best rocks anyone would ever want, but they were a hard hike away, up the mountain. The path leading up was narrow. It was much harder to harvest those precious rocks.

There lived a young man and a young woman in the middle of the meadow. They liked each other a lot. They laughed. They played. They never wanted to be separated, one from the other. They were so happy.

One day they decided to go harvest some rocks.

They had been taught well. They knew that the only place to get their rocks was from the top of the mountain. Without looking back they hiked. Their legs were burning but they continued on, hand in hand. It was breathtaking. It was beautiful. They made it to the top and the perfect rock was sitting there waiting for them. They covenanted then and there, on the top of that mountain, that they would only get rocks here. They took turns carrying the rock back down the mountain. The rock was heavy, but together, they could carry it easily. They slept peacefully that night at home, side by side, wrapped in comfort and safety under their bear skin blanket.

They were happy. They were in love.

They hiked up the mountain often. They loved the smell. They loved the breeze. They loved the way they felt when they were on top.

Occasionally they would stroll near the wash. It was so much closer to home. It was flat and easy to walk there. But it stunk. It was dusty and hard to breath. They would always turn right around and head back toward the mountain.

One day the man was up late at night. He couldn't sleep. He went on a walk out side. He chose to walk near the wash. It stunk, but he stopped and looked around. He saw a rock. It was only a small rock. He found another. They were light. Then he remembered the sleeping girl. He wanted to get back to her. He threw the rocks down and was swiftly back in bed.

The man knew the best rocks were on the mountain, but he couldn't stop thinking about the easy rock harvest in the wash. He thought to himself, "Why didn't I just keep those desert wash rocks?" Soon, he sneaked back over to the wash and took them. He was ashamed. He didn't want the woman to know that he was such a sucker for the easy desert rocks. So he hid them.
He would look at them occasionally, but he could never show them to the woman. Soon his conscience got the best of him and he threw the rocks back to the wash. Later he told the woman about his stupid, selfish escapade to the wash. He told her about the rocks. She was sad. She reminded him that the best rocks, the only real rocks, were at the top of the mountain. He understood. He was remorseful. He pleaded for her forgiveness. He prayed. He repented. His only desire was to once again stand on top of that mountain with his lovely wife and renew those covenants he had made with her, there.

Soon, after much prayer and fasting, they began their journey to the top of the mountain. Hand in hand they climbed. They were in no hurry. They were together. They were happy. They had sufficient for their needs. They were progressing toward the rocks. Knowing that they were on the right path kept them going. It was a long hard journey on that narrow path upward. But is was very worth the effort.

They made it to the mountain top. They loved the smell. They loved the breeze. They loved the way they felt when they were on top.

They were happy. They were in love.