Awaken

Awaken 

There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon (Alma 5:7) that I have always loved.  Alma is teaching how he and his people were saved and delivered.  Alma said, " He (meaning God) changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them from a deep sleep and they awoke unto God." These were people who had experienced some very difficult things but when they heard a prophet teach them about Christ and forgiveness and repentance, they "woke up" from their old life and turned to a new one, one that included a change of heart.  They became new people from the inside out and it is that change that gave them the strength and courage to endure what they did.  

My Uncle has a beautiful home in Southern Utah.  The backyard sits up against a desert reserve for the desert tortoise.  In his living room, there is a huge window that offers a beautiful view of the desert and Snows Canyon.  At anytime of the day, the view is spectacular.  It feels as if you are in a postcard.  Sometimes I think about that view and  I realize, it is comfortable here, the a/c is on, there are no bugs, the couch is soft, water is within a few feet.  It seems I get the best of both worlds, I can enjoy the beauty of the desert without the inconvenience of nature.  But isn't that like being asleep?  In my life, I wonder if I have spent it being "asleep".  Don't get me wrong, I have a great life, I have the "nice view" (great family) and the "comfortable couch" (gospel) but sometimes I wonder what it is really like out there in the desert (meaning life experience not the world.)  It's hot.  There are bugs.  Water is scarce.  And a million other reasons that keep me safely inside looking out.  Then I read stories like Unbroken about Louis Zamperini.  He was a man who defied all odds and survived terrible circumstances being shipped wrecked and a POW during WWII.  He was also a very fast runner.  Did the mile in 4:08.  Growing up, he was a little wild but he had a good family and an older brother who watched out for him.  In other words, he had a "nice view" but he wasn't content sleeping behind the glass window so he set out for the "desert".  His journey into the desert took him many places, some of which he probably wished he didn't have to go but he did it and his life was made better for it.  After the war, he battled his own demons but later became an advocate and mentor for troubled teenage boys.  He "awoke unto God" and made his life and the lives of those troubled teens better, something he could not have done if he had stayed in "the living room with the nice view".  

It is pretty easy to get stuck and even fall asleep in the "living room with the nice view"  but the real living happens when we are in the desert.   I guess my question is can a person really "awaken unto God" without traveling in the desert?  After all, the "desert" has many things to offer along with the heat, the bugs, not much water there is also incredible views, amazing animals and plants, at night, the stars are beautifully bright, places to explore and the history of people long since gone.  If one is prepared, the desert can be an amazing place full of fun, adventure and learning but one must leave "the living room with a nice view" to see, no, experience it.

I wonder at this stage in my life, have a left my "living room with a view" to experience the "desert"?  Have I "awakened unto God"?  I think I have moments of awakening but I want to wake up and stay awake like the people of Alma, like Mr Zamperini. I guess that means I better strap on some good shoes (scriptures), plenty of water (prayer), open the door (faith) and head out on my journey (courage). That journey might include going back to school, learning new skills (my homemaking skills can use a little tune up! Ha), learn spanish, quilt, travel, write a book, run a sub 2 hour half (that one has been on my bucket list for a loooonnngggg time!) or a 10000 other things.  I think it is time to wander a bit in the desert...but I'll have my phone in case Cody needs to bring me water... HA!

God, is that from you?

   Recently, while visiting with some friends and family, we started exchanging missionary stories.  I told of an event that happened on my mission that raised my heart rate a bit.  Let's just say I was in a foreign country, speaking to 4 police officers and was without my passport.  Not exactly a comfortable situation.  It all turned out ok and, thankfully, I didn't have to spend any time in the pokey.  ;)  However, when I left my friends and family that day, I had the distinct impression that maybe I had misspoke.  It was perplexing and the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if I had offended the spirit.  I thought back to the conversation and asked myself: 

1) did I offend those with whom I spoke?  I didn't think so.  

2) was it truthful? yes. I know my memory isn't what it use to be but this experience rattled me enough to leave a lasting impression on me. 

3) was it relevant to the conversation?  Maybe reminiscing about mission experiences that happened 20+ years ago have lost their humor and or impact.  That could be true but I didn't think it was something that would make me feel like I did something wrong.  It was a weird sensation and I tried to understand it.  Later when I prayed,  I wondered out loud what was causing me so much distress.  It was when I applied the word distress to the feeling that I realized that maybe this wasn't from the spirit, that maybe this was one of those misty, confusing, fearful feelings that doesn't come from Father in Heaven but from the master of lies himself.  My, my he is sneaky one.  He knows exactly where the weak spots in my armor are and his aim is mighty accurate.  His weapon of choice was the arrow of doubt.  He makes it easy for a person to doubt memory, experiences and ability to express them.  

   I realized, quite suddenly as it turned out, that these feelings do not come from the spirit.  To be clear, I understand that when the spirit is offended because of something I have said or done, I know it!  Unfortunately for me, that is an all to often occurrence (sadly) but this time it just felt different.  As I was pondering about this whole experience, I had the thought that maybe I am still in kindergarten, spiritually speaking.  I'm still trying to learn my letters and the sounds they make, wishing I could put them together in sentences that make sense.  Furthermore, it feels like I have been in spiritual kindergarten for a heck of a long time.  I must have one thick skull!  My Teacher keeps hitting me over the head with that spiritual 2x4 and those knocks just don't seem to sink in.  Just when I think I get it, I realize how little I do not understand.  It can be a little daunting to think I may have to spend the next 10000+ years in spiritual kindergarten.  I just hope they have lots of chocolate pudding and recesses to help me through.  Ha!  One thing I do believe is that when Heavenly Father speaks to us, it is meant to calm us, help us, give us confidence and lift our burdens.  That is something I have been trying to hold on to so when that spiteful, confidence killer, lucifer comes around in my mind, I just tell him to get lost and leave me in peace.  The best part is, he has to listen to me and leave.  That must drive him batty!  Awesome

Wheat and Tares

In the scriptures, Jesus tells the parable about the wheat and the tares.  He spoke how they live and grow together, side by side, until the harvest comes when they are separated.  The wheat goes on to be useful and the tares are set aside, left to be trodden under foot or destroyed.  I hope on that day of harvest that I am among the Wheat.

Today, I went to the school to watch my daughters perform in the Dance Festival (which was absolutely delightful).  One of my dear friends was there with her sweet little boy who struggles a bit.  He has these eyes that could melt the polar ice caps, they are so warm and thoughtful.  He has a difficult time communicating but when one looks into those beautiful eyes, a person can see how intelligent and curious he is.  I sat with him for a couple of the songs during the program so his mom could record her other children.  Although I enjoyed interacting with him, it was work.  It made me think of his mom and how she so patiently tends to his needs ( and those of her 5 other children) with love, kindness and understanding.  She is Wheat.

When I was 6 months pregnant with baby number 5, Cody and I decided to visit his parents while they were on their mission in Nauvoo.  What a wonderful, although very cold (December in Illinois with an ice storm is dang dang cold!) trip we had with them.  One evening, we were sitting on the couch watching a church movie and my wonderful, loving mother in law rubbed my pregnant feet for two hours.  (I have to say when it comes to mothers in law, I hit the jackpot!)  I have known for a long time that she is Wheat.

When I lived in Washington, across the street from me lived a woman who was one of the most open and kind hearted people I've ever known.  She was always quick with a smile or a chat even though she was busy raising two kids and working.  She worked diligently in her yard, especially in the spring and summer.  I am not much of a gardener (so sorry dad!) but she was always so good to take my little girls under her wing and teach them a few things about planting and harvesting.  She is another person who is Wheat.

I see these three women who come from different backgrounds, age groups, religions and I realized the thread that weaves them together is their love of God and love for their neighbor.  In my opinion, what makes a person Wheat can be boiled down to these two commandments.  Believing in Jesus Christ and following his teachings makes seeds grow into wheat and because Jesus is a God of miracles, He can even turn tares into Wheat (with a little bit of work on the part of the tares)

So what makes a tare?  one who loses faith in Jesus Christ, one who rebels against the 1st and 2nd commandments, one who effectively pulls others away from Jesus Christ through words, actions, example, one who would rather be "in the world" than live by faith and follow Christ.  There are a 1001 reasons to walk the road that makes a person a tare.  The world likes tares. There are only 2 reasons to be Wheat: Love God and Love our Neighbor.  This road is not so easy.  It requires work, patience and kindness.  It requires us to follow the Savior even when we question what He is doing or where He is going.  The purpose isn't always to understand, it is to follow.  He promises us so much, so many many blessings, if we can exercise our faith and just keep following Him.

Tares are sad.  They find answers to their injured faith from the world and think being Wheat is wrong, bad, stupid, time consuming.  They walk on their path to taredom thinking they are free from the "bonds" of church attendance, tithing, service within a church community, morality, health codes or any number of things that dissolves the faith that was once in them.

The question is, where am I? Where are you?  Following Jesus Christ has less to do with what church a person belongs to.  Church is a vehicle by which we are reminded of blessings and covenants that the Lord gives to us.  Without these reminders, we would dwindle in unbelief.  The real message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what He taught while on the earth.  Do I live the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Am I doing all I can follow Him even when the road is long, dusty and hard?  Do I have faith that what He taught will help me return to Heavenly Father?  To be with my family?  That is what makes Wheat, well Wheat.  One day, He will come again and those who believed Him and followed Him will be with Him and the tares will be left aside to be trodden down and destroyed.  It will not be a good day to be a tare.

Oh man I hope I am Wheat