There are two main definitions of “trip”. Trip can mean to catch one's foot on something and stumble or fall. And a trip can also mean going on a journey or excursion to someplace and then returning. In either definition, a trip is temporary. We stumble and then we keep walking. We go on a journey and then we come back. If we have done anything that would cause us to experience a guilt trip, we must remember the fact that trips are not permanent. If we have committed some minor act of rebellion or sin of omission, then we may experience a small guilt trip as we stumble and perhaps fall. But we cannot collapse to the ground and tell ourselves that we will never walk again, that we were never cut out for walking in the first place, and this most recent trip is proof that we must crawl on our belly for the rest of our lives. Most of us on occasion will trip while walking but then we just straighten ourselves out and keep walking again. This kind of guilt trip does not need to last long. Sometimes our mistakes are much more serious and will require an entire journey of repentance and restitution before we can return back home. But even in this case, the guilt trip has an end. Satan wants us to believe that we must extend our trips into guilt-land indefinitely. But we do not need to become naturalized citizens of the land of misery and endless woe. Once we have completed our repentance itinerary, it is time for us to end our guilt trip and return to our Savior's side and accept His forgiveness and His healing power. I know that we will all trip as we walk the gospel path, and sometimes we will trip and fall so hard that we have to take a trip to the House of healing, but I also know that as long as we keep picking ourselves back up and returning to the Gospel Path, we will make it back home to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ once more.
