Serve, Love, Hope

You thought there wouldn't be any more April posts, didn't you? Wrong! Tonight we had a great FHE lesson on President Eyring's talk from General Conference. Since I had gotten a text from a friend and fellow ward member who reported she had a cold similar to the one I had for the last two weeks, our little group accepted the challenge to serve and drove over to her place in Somerville to provide needed succor. One might think that all we did was pick up a few library books and bring by some OJ. But it was more than that. We bonded. We served. We forgot ourselves for an hour and brightened someone else's day. And in so doing, we gained perspective on our own troubles, answers to our own prayers, and felt of God's love for us and for the sister we helped. It was great fun.

Rainy Sunday Thoughts

I attended a funeral service yesterday for the father of one of my colleagues. In the last seven months, four of my colleagues have lost a parent. One has lost a spouse. One has lost a grandparent. (That makes up 20% of the company, by the way.) I have been to three funerals in support of these dear friends, guided a few memory-sharing sessions for the staff as we worked through the emotion of losing our beloved leader, and prayed - a lot - for those who grieve.

Each of my friends who struggles with loss copes in a different way. There are similarities, too. Faith and religion bring comfort, regardless of the denomination. Families bind together and succor one another. The dear friend I visited yesterday has seven siblings. As I walked into the greeting session before the service, it sounded like a party. (It reminded me of an LDS gathering - lots of love and noise!)

There are moments when I wonder whether one of the reasons why I am right here, right now, is because these beloved friends need to know what I know about life, death, and resurrection. I appreciate that I have been able to learn a bit about what they believe as I attend funeral services and talk with my friends. I wonder how I could (or whether I should) be sharing in ways beyond basic teach-by-example-ness. Then I reflect on the experiences I have had - just showing up as a silent supporter has meant so much to my colleagues. I usually don't know what to say, so I just say I'm praying for you. That, I hope, means something, too. The sacred experiences I have had in connection with the choice to attend these funerals have taught me about God, His love for me, and His love for my friends.

Today is one of those days when I wish I could see my life from my Heavenly Father's perspective - you know, the view where time is irrelevant - and understand what the significant parts of now really are, so I can appropriately focus on them. I am aware that end-from-the-beginning-itis leaves no room for faith. (No need to lecture me there.) For even while I wish it, I also know that the gentle nudgings of the Spirit will teach me the significant things and help me adjust my focus appropriately. I just need to listen.

It's Easter

It is Easter Sunday. (Just in case you didn't know.)

Celebration this week included three temple trips, all of which were a blessing; a trip downtown to hear Brahms' Requiem performed by the BSO and TFC, which was nothing short of absolutely amazing; and a music-filled Sacrament Meeting.

If it were a sunshine-filled afternoon, I would go walking in the cemetery and ponder what it would be like to be there on resurrection morning. I have always thought that would be an interesting sight to see "many graves ... be opened, and ... yield up many of their dead." (Helaman 14:25)

How grateful I am for the gift of resurrection and the opportunity for eternal life that comes because our loving Father saw fit to provide a Savior as part of His plan, and because His Only Begotten Son atoned for our sins and gave His life that we all might live!

Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed, 

In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption,

and this mortal must put on immortality. ...

then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,

Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory? ...

But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.