I watched a video today that left me feeling astounded at the blessings I possess - blessings I fail to even consider most days. You can watch it here, if you like.
Never before have I thought about how my faith might be different if I lived in a country on another continent. If an opportunity to see the prophet in person came only once or twice in my lifetime. If the closest temple required a passport or a visa and extensive travel.
I marvel at how faithfully the youth of the Church serve in and live the gospel - particularly those who have not been as privileged as I have been. I, who grew up an hours' drive from a temple; who went to school in a place where one could be in the presence of a prophet of God not just once, but many times; who needed no translator to understand that prophet's words (although the Spirit of God typically translates them into life-changing messages); I am both grateful for and profoundly touched by the faith and devotion of the Saints in the Ukraine temple district. They make me want to be better.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
A Random Conglomeration of Thoughts, Separated Into Paragraphs
I kid you not: I filed my taxes on Monday. I get my refund on Wednesday. That's 9 days, people! Perhaps our government can be efficient about something. How's that for neat?
I went to a meeting tonight with Bishop Burton and Elder Costa. During Bishop Burton's talk, he spoke about how when he was a teenager, he met with David O. McKay, during which conversation President McKay told him about how when he was a teenager he had met with John Taylor, who had showed the young McKay the scars on his arm from the wounds he sustained during the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. I thought about how wonderful it is that I can hear a man testify that he knew a man who knew a man who spent time in the presence of the Prophet of the Restoration - a prophet who died over 120 years before I was born. That close a connection to the first prophet of this dispensation may not be had by future generations, and I am grateful to have heard that story tonight. As well I am glad for the personal knowledge we each can have of the reality of a living prophet of God on the earth.
About a week or so ago, I had an interesting conversation with a friend about the next generation of electronic entertainment. We have great technology at our fingertips now... the Wii, Kinect, etc, that let us exercise in the comfort of our own homes. This friend predicted that soon, gyms will go the way of all the earth, and people will be able to go to the "virtual gym" without leaving their home. The technology is almost good enough to sense motion in all dimensions - and when it gets there, watch out world! It will be an entirely new way of doing things.
And lastly, a comment on innovation. It is pretty much awesome. I love the creative process and the results of collaborating with people to obtain an innovative and new solution to an existing problem. Everyone should do it.
The End.
I went to a meeting tonight with Bishop Burton and Elder Costa. During Bishop Burton's talk, he spoke about how when he was a teenager, he met with David O. McKay, during which conversation President McKay told him about how when he was a teenager he had met with John Taylor, who had showed the young McKay the scars on his arm from the wounds he sustained during the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. I thought about how wonderful it is that I can hear a man testify that he knew a man who knew a man who spent time in the presence of the Prophet of the Restoration - a prophet who died over 120 years before I was born. That close a connection to the first prophet of this dispensation may not be had by future generations, and I am grateful to have heard that story tonight. As well I am glad for the personal knowledge we each can have of the reality of a living prophet of God on the earth.
About a week or so ago, I had an interesting conversation with a friend about the next generation of electronic entertainment. We have great technology at our fingertips now... the Wii, Kinect, etc, that let us exercise in the comfort of our own homes. This friend predicted that soon, gyms will go the way of all the earth, and people will be able to go to the "virtual gym" without leaving their home. The technology is almost good enough to sense motion in all dimensions - and when it gets there, watch out world! It will be an entirely new way of doing things.
And lastly, a comment on innovation. It is pretty much awesome. I love the creative process and the results of collaborating with people to obtain an innovative and new solution to an existing problem. Everyone should do it.
The End.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
I'm a Popsicle.
Today while I was out, the wind blew. And blew. And blew. It was one of those fierce winds, that whips past your face, pulls the tears from your eyes, and numbs your cheeks instantly. The kind that you have to push back against to stay standing up. Whistling past as fast as it could go, it blew all of yesterday's warmth away, out to sea, and brought winter back with it. Occasionally it would stop, and we would breathe a sigh of relief, and the moment's reprieve would feel a great blessing. Later, it felt even more invasive, finding its way inside my coat sleeves, under my scarf, and through my hair, tugging all my body heat away with it. At the end of our walk, I felt like a popsicle.
But sometimes, it's ok to be a popsicle, if it means a good adventure with a good friend and good food. Have you ever had a frittata? Mmm...
But sometimes, it's ok to be a popsicle, if it means a good adventure with a good friend and good food. Have you ever had a frittata? Mmm...
Friday, February 18, 2011
Happy Friday!
Well, what do you know. I still want Starburst jelly beans. (All the more reason to avoid going to Target this weekend.)
Homemade calzones are awesome. Especially when you don't have to make the dough.
The best default movie is Pride & Prejudice. Yes, the loooong A&E version.
It was warm enough today to melt some of the snow - now I can see the cars coming when I back out of my driveway! Miracles will never cease - so long as there is faith upon the earth. I have been exceedingly grateful the past few weeks for the lack of falling snow - and, this week, the warmer weather that is making it all go away. Bring on Spring!
Arizona grapefruit are still amazingly wonderful. And fresh-squeezed orange juice? Dee-lightful.
That is all.
Homemade calzones are awesome. Especially when you don't have to make the dough.
The best default movie is Pride & Prejudice. Yes, the loooong A&E version.
It was warm enough today to melt some of the snow - now I can see the cars coming when I back out of my driveway! Miracles will never cease - so long as there is faith upon the earth. I have been exceedingly grateful the past few weeks for the lack of falling snow - and, this week, the warmer weather that is making it all go away. Bring on Spring!
Arizona grapefruit are still amazingly wonderful. And fresh-squeezed orange juice? Dee-lightful.
That is all.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Valentine's Day Post
If it wasn't 10:15 pm, and I wasn't in my pajamas, and it wasn't 21 degrees outside, or if my car wasn't already safely parked, I would go to the nearest store and buy clearance valentine candy to eat.
But, a, b, c and d are all true, so I will have to hope that someone else will buy me clearance valentine candy instead. Because tonight I was really craving something made of pure, unhealthy sugar (like the sweetart conversation heart my friend gave me on Sunday, or some original starburst jelly beans, which are the best kind of jelly beans ever) fairly immediately after finishing dinner.
Or I could hope that tomorrow, I'll get a craving to work out instead of eat junk food. That would be awesome.
Happy (post) Valentine's Day.
But, a, b, c and d are all true, so I will have to hope that someone else will buy me clearance valentine candy instead. Because tonight I was really craving something made of pure, unhealthy sugar (like the sweetart conversation heart my friend gave me on Sunday, or some original starburst jelly beans, which are the best kind of jelly beans ever) fairly immediately after finishing dinner.
Or I could hope that tomorrow, I'll get a craving to work out instead of eat junk food. That would be awesome.
Happy (post) Valentine's Day.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thinking...
For three days in a row, now, I have tried to come up with something to write that might actually be interesting to you.
We'll see if I actually succeed. :-)
We had ponder-worthy lessons in church today. One meeting was all about charity. One meeting was all about miracles. The last meeting was all about work. It fit well together. I tried to let the Spirit guide my thoughts and teach me something in our meetings.
I found myself thinking about how greatly I admire people who are doing their best while humbly admitting they aren't perfect, that they don't understand everything, but that they're trying to do so.
I thought about how when Jesus performed miracles, He charged the recipients of said miracles not to tell anyone - not because it wouldn't be obvious that a blind man could now see, or a deaf man could now hear, or a dead child was now alive - but because the receipt of a miracle is a sacred experience, the details of which should be kept close to our hearts as our own personal treasure of knowledge that our God loves us enough to bless us so abundantly. That a miracle can be as small as hitting all the lights green on the way home, or a bird outside your window to wake you up, or as big and marvelous as the feeling of forgiveness from sin and cleansing from hurt and pain.
I had an interesting thought on the idea of work, too - I don't know what you picture in your mind when you think of the work of the creation, but my picture was sort of this: an all-powerful Being, sitting on a throne, speaks a word and maybe gestures his hand in some way, and poof! It is done. Today's discussion taught me that perhaps this picture is inaccurate. Think instead, of that same Being, moving here & there, using His physical capacities to create and organize, picking up this and putting it there, all the while teaching others how to do the same. The work of teaching is one of His greatest works, and any time we engage in sharing with others the Plan of Salvation (in any part), we are doing the work of God. And in so doing, we find a spirit and satisfaction beyond measure.
We'll see if I actually succeed. :-)
We had ponder-worthy lessons in church today. One meeting was all about charity. One meeting was all about miracles. The last meeting was all about work. It fit well together. I tried to let the Spirit guide my thoughts and teach me something in our meetings.
I found myself thinking about how greatly I admire people who are doing their best while humbly admitting they aren't perfect, that they don't understand everything, but that they're trying to do so.
I thought about how when Jesus performed miracles, He charged the recipients of said miracles not to tell anyone - not because it wouldn't be obvious that a blind man could now see, or a deaf man could now hear, or a dead child was now alive - but because the receipt of a miracle is a sacred experience, the details of which should be kept close to our hearts as our own personal treasure of knowledge that our God loves us enough to bless us so abundantly. That a miracle can be as small as hitting all the lights green on the way home, or a bird outside your window to wake you up, or as big and marvelous as the feeling of forgiveness from sin and cleansing from hurt and pain.
I had an interesting thought on the idea of work, too - I don't know what you picture in your mind when you think of the work of the creation, but my picture was sort of this: an all-powerful Being, sitting on a throne, speaks a word and maybe gestures his hand in some way, and poof! It is done. Today's discussion taught me that perhaps this picture is inaccurate. Think instead, of that same Being, moving here & there, using His physical capacities to create and organize, picking up this and putting it there, all the while teaching others how to do the same. The work of teaching is one of His greatest works, and any time we engage in sharing with others the Plan of Salvation (in any part), we are doing the work of God. And in so doing, we find a spirit and satisfaction beyond measure.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Weekend Lessons
Taking care of yourself improves your ability to take care of others.
It's OK not to call someone back if you are too tired to even think about how what they need might impact your own life. (And texting back with a promise of connecting after you've slept alleviates all the guilt stemming from utter failure to respond.)
Going out to serve even when you are tired brings its own blessings in great abundance.
Sacred moments weave their ways from eyes to mind to heart, touching and changing our lives forever.
Inviting friends to dinner means fewer days in a row you have to eat the same leftovers - and the company is wonderful, too!
A "warm" (for February) day that melted some of the ice and snow to the point that I am no longer worried about slipping and falling every three feet (or about my roof getting water damaged) is, to me, an indication that when I focus on others, the Lord blesses me with answers to my own concerns.
Home teachers who care enough to care for the single women around them are blessings from heaven.
It's OK not to call someone back if you are too tired to even think about how what they need might impact your own life. (And texting back with a promise of connecting after you've slept alleviates all the guilt stemming from utter failure to respond.)
Going out to serve even when you are tired brings its own blessings in great abundance.
Sacred moments weave their ways from eyes to mind to heart, touching and changing our lives forever.
Inviting friends to dinner means fewer days in a row you have to eat the same leftovers - and the company is wonderful, too!
A "warm" (for February) day that melted some of the ice and snow to the point that I am no longer worried about slipping and falling every three feet (or about my roof getting water damaged) is, to me, an indication that when I focus on others, the Lord blesses me with answers to my own concerns.
Home teachers who care enough to care for the single women around them are blessings from heaven.
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