Hiking the Grand Canyon is not for the faint of heart. Its seven miles down on the South Kaibab trail, and over 9 miles back up on the Bright Angel trail, descending and ascending 5000 feet along the way. Whew!
Many visitors don’t realize the strenuousness of the hike before taking off for the bottom so the Park Service has posted warning signs near the top to make people stop and think before committing to a hike they may later regret.
I couldn’t help but stop and take a picture of this sign: “Down is optional. Up is mandatory.” I knew what it meant in terms of hiking the Grand Canyon. It’s easy to go down, but there’s only one way back out. To hike out! And hiking out is mandatory. One needs to realize this truth before launching down the steep inclines.
But I couldn’t help but look at it metaphysically too.
The phrase, “Down is optional,” reminded me of depressing mental states the mortal mind often chooses to hike. States of thought such as ingratitude, self-centeredness, despair, discouragement, despondency, believing evil is real and powerful, and their kin, are all mental hikes into the darkness of believing one is a helpless mortal and is imprisoned by material circumstances. But the next phrase, “Up is mandatory,” is so refreshing. It meant to me that getting back up to an inspired state of thought is not an option. It is what you will eventually do if you go down. It’s going to happen.
So, if considering what to think today, whether up with God or down with mortal mind, we can choose to stay up. We don’t have to go down.
True, in the Grand Canyon there are majestic views to see when one is willing and able to hike into its deep reaches. But when it comes to places mortal mind often wants to take us, down is not required. We can choose to stay on top with Truth. It’s the better option.
Is there a more beautiful place in the universe?
Great Point Evan. Sometimes it seems so hard to pull oneself back up mentally! Staying alert to better understand God and ourselves as spiritual is much preferred.
Easier to go down and up is a lot of work. Good reminder!!
What a great analogy. Like the reverse of what ‘goes up must come down’. Thank you, Evan
Have an uplifting day everyone.
What an inspirational lift to start the day. Up with God is so much more rewarding than down with mortal mind.
Thanks Evan
Love this, Evan!
Thank you Evan! This is just what I needed.
This reminds me of Jacobs Ladder. Each rung is a step up for progress toward spiritual understanding. Like in this weeks lesson; “Probation after death,” brings out. If not a single degree of understanding before death takes mortals, progress hasn’t happened.
I love what Mrs. Eddy says on pg 545 “mortals should so improve material belief
by thought tending spiritually upward” Thanks, Evan, for reminding me!
Love this Evan ! I always likened self pity to allowing ourselves to “fall” down into a chasm or whirlpool … The way down seems so self indulgently easy but once you hit bottom you HAVE to come back up so better to rethink whether the self pity is worth it first before committing to the hard work of climbing out of the hole!