"i invite YOU in": YOUR STORY BEGINS....

Why do I speak out about my tragedy? Not to glamorize the recklessness, but to promote the perspective shift; To instigate integrity and demonstrate accountability. I close every assembly with this parable for the audience to consider:"There was a hiker lost in the wilderness, who happened upon another man, a pioneer, resting his back against a tree. The lost hiker, frantic and anxious, approached the pioneer to ask him if he could help him find his way out. The pioneer replied, "I cannot help you find your way out, that is ultimately up to you. But I can tell you of paths that you certainly should not take. I can tell you of ways that led me nowhere. I can tell you of mud bogs, snakes pits, and briar patches that you must steer clear from. But how to get out, well, that's up to you."The hiker was confused and a little agitated, but he pressed further. "I don't get it," he said, "then why are you just standing here and relaxing even though you are still lost like me."The pioneer smiled and then replied with a contented tone. He said, "It may appear to you that I'm lost, but let me tell you why I'm found. You see in life, people desire to do nothing but tell other people which way to go or what thing to do, which only confuses you even more with so many options to choose from. But I have learned that someone has to sacrifice their time and energy to tell others about their bad experiences, their wrong decisions, and the reckless ways not to go. So I have chosen to stand here with my back to this tree to tell those who pass by, which paths they must avoid at all costs."AND WHERE THIS PARABLE ENDS, YOUR STORY BEGINS......WHICH WAY WILL YOU CHOOSE TO GO FROM HERE?