Hand on the Rod

 

 

There is a scripture that has always fascinated me.  It is found in the Book of Mormon, and speaks about how Satan tries so quietly to win us, to trick us, so that all us will be as miserable as he is. 

 

The scripture is found in 2 Nephi 26:22 – and says …..For he is the founder of all things; yeah, the founder of murder and works of darkness;  yea; and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever. 

 

I am not sure why this one has rolled around in my mind lately, as I have come across it again in my reading.  But it seems to roll around – and is coupled with another scripture found in 1 Nephi 11:25  - … that the iron rod, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life…. or the love of God. 

 

As I have pondered these two scriptures, an idea began to form – it is not written in any type of proper form – just as it hit my brain, then my hand, then my pen as it became a real stream of thought. 

 

Hand On the Rod

 

Hand on the rod

we are told

from the time we are small

 

Hand on the rod

we are told

as we enter the waters of baptism

 

Hand on the rod

we promise

as we grow and begin to understand

 

But sometimes with

our hand on the rod

our eyes begin to wander

 

And they see

a large and spacious building

excitement, friends, entertainment beckoning. 

 

Sometimes, as our eyes strain to see

with one hand

on the rod

our mind begins to wonder

 

How can I let go

of the rod

if only for a minute

 

Sometimes, we long to go and see

to experience, yet we know

we should keep

one hand on the rod. 

 

But How

 

How to show obedience and keep

one hand on the rod

and still wander

just to see

 

Then from a pocket comes a silken strand

a flaxen cord

and with it

a glimmer of an idea

 

Perhaps – maybe – if only

 

we fashion that silky cord to the rod

give a little pull

to test the strength

and smile

 

Because it is

 almost as good

as having

one hand on the rod

 

With the newfound tether

we can step away

and take a peek

ever knowing

we still have a hold

on the rod

 

Excitement, friends, experiences

just to watch

just to see

 

A peek into the world

still tied by the flaxen cord

to the rod. 

 

Further and further

still secure in the knowledge

that perhaps, even if your hand

is not

on the rod

 

that flaxen cord is stronger than  it appears

It should keep you safe, as you

walk further

from the rod

 

What happens when

the unexpected happens

the winds pick up

and the dust blows

life suddenly gets stormy

sending all in its path

swirling

 

and in sudden silence

we find that the flaxen cord

which we thought

had come from our own pocket

 

Is instead a flaxen cord

attached to a shackle

on the neck

that with the wind, with the storm

 

Has become a web, a binding

of strong cord

attached not to the iron rod

but instead, is held

by the father of darkness

 

that he may call you his.