The Gate

You'd think with all the thousands of miles I've driven and the thousands of pictures I've taken along the way, I'd have a picture of a gate somewhere in there. But I don't.  Well, I didn't...until today.  

My gospel doctrine lesson tomorrow is on Ephesians, and unity, and there was a scripture I really loved... 

"For through Him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father." - Ephesians 2:18   

I loved it because it sounded like that other scripture I really love from the Sermon on the Mount...

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Matthew 7:14

Can't you sometimes just envision all of us as aimlessly wandering sheep? Some of us focused on food, some focused on the other sheep, some pushing and shoving to try to get somewhere.  One or two influential sheep might have a plan, but if left to our own insufficient sheep devices, none of us would really have a clue where we're supposed to be going.  

And then the Savior comes along and shepherds us into ONE focus, ONE purpose, ONE happy, joyful path to the ONE gate that will get us to the place we didn't even realize we were looking for.  

And with the Savior, we desire not only to get to the gate, but also to help our other sheep friends get there, too...safely, happily, and without any pushing and shoving.  

I love that.  Unity is a good thing to strive for.

So Megan and I went on a hunt today for a picture of a gate to use in my lesson.  I envisioned a short wooden gate with a little latch, wide enough for a couple of sheep to fit through, and opening up to a dirt path behind it.  But after an hour or so of looking, I decided I couldn't be quite that specific.  We found a cemetery and I settled on this cute wrought iron gate that sort of leads to a dirt path...and also a few headstones.  It wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I think the class will get the idea.  

Preparing this lesson was great.  Having a gate picture to add to my ever growing photo library is also great.  But the best part of this day was getting completely and totally side tracked by a "gate hunt" and spending an entire afternoon with Megan.  Megan is teaching tomorrow, too...in YW.  I love that girl.  I love the way she thinks.  And I love that one little gospel doctrine lesson could bring us together in an unexpected, but unified way.