Tales from Tacoma: Carry me not up Hence

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Carry me not up Hence

As Moses was leading the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness, He had to rely upon the Lord for ALL of his decisions, how could he possibly do it without the Lord? While he was speaking with Him face to face in Exodus 33, the Lord and Moses establish a relationship of total trust.

13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

14 And [the Lord] said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15 And [Moses] said unto [the Lord,] If thy presence go not with me,carry us not up hence.

While I was studying this past week that last verse stuck out to me and continued to stick with me as I went throughout the week. I realized that the Lord is delivering me up back to Utah, out of my wilderness of Washington. I will be going back to the place I love, to my own land, just like the Israelites were going to their own land. I continued to dwell on this thought. Going home is scary, who knows what it will be like. Most of the time I have this very ideal image of it in my head, just how perfect as I think it is when I feel homesick. But at the same time I know it won't be perfect, I'm not going to go home and not face challenges. And it's a little scary.

I have learned very, very much on my mission the power of having the companionship of the Spirit. I cannot live without it.

I have found on my mission that the best place to turn when I am scared is to my Heavenly Father. So I turned to Him and He guided my pen.

Carry Me not up Hence

Many roads cross,

And thwart my path.

There could be millions,

If I did the math

But if thou go not with me,

Carry me not up hence.

Many great choices abound

This way or that way,

All things can be found.

I'll do as you say.

But if thou go not with me,

Carry me not up hence.

Battles confront me,

My courage to try.

"Just let me be,"

I say with a sigh.

But if thou go not with me,

Carry me not up hence.

I'm alone in this waste,

My trials to face.

I beg thee to come in great haste.

Help me to find my place,

But if thou go not with me,

Carry me not up hence.

The Lord MUST guide me or I will not go. I return home in 7 days; I will see my wonderful family, my friends, my dog, and my home in just 7 days. And I will not lie, I am so excited, nervous, scared, and happy all at the same time. But I know the Lord will go with me. Just as He said to Moses, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

There is no fear in Christ, only light, life and hope. I will see you all in 7 days! I might write something next Monday, but who knows!

All my love,

Sister Megan Monson

(Sister Monson will arrive Tuesday January 9th at 1:07pm at the Salt Lake International Airport, Delta Airlines. I think I'm counting now... but that might make the anticipation even harder to bare.)