Impenetrable, Unstoppable, Lovable: Super-Dad.

Dad and Sisters

As I had started before in following Elder LeeMaster with the themed posts, I had recently come up with a new idea for a theme.  The previous theme (which I have not been very good at keeping up on) was with inspirations from Sacrament meetings.  The theme I am starting today is on heroes in my life, a Heroes Day.

Superman is great: he flies, he has laser vision, he is virtually impenetrable, unstoppable, and just an all-around good guy.  He would be a great help to get someone out of a jam.  As far as I can see he really only has two flaws, his weakness to kryptonite, and just the fact that he isn’t real.  Given those two facts, especially the kryptonite, Superman just doesn’t really make a good hero for me.  But someone who has really helped and someone who has been there is my Dad.  I haven’t seen him fly, but I do remember him jumping on the trampoline with us when we were little, and that certainly made me feel I could fly.  I don’t think I have seen any laser vision, but he certainly does manage to burn breakfast almost every single time he makes it, regardless.  But is he a good guy?  What about impenetrable, unstoppable, and lovable? 

Which Is The Way We Ought To Go?

I have found many times that the most successful ventures we have in life are those we take the time to plan and prepare for.  We can plan for homework; we can plan for our days.  Planning is a principle for us to find success in our lives.  It is when we neglect to plan that the hopes and aspirations we have are not able to come to fruition.  Planning is nearly impossible if we do not have a goal or objective we are planning for.  I feel many times planning helps us to realize the goals we have and helps us focus on achieving them.

I am reminded of Alice from Alice and Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:

"Cheshire-Puss," she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider.
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where---" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"---So long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

As the Cheshire cat says, when we don’t care where we are going “it doesn’t matter which way we go.”  Does each of us know where we are going in our lives?  Do we know what our purpose is and are we planning on going there?

What Do You Give The Man Who Has Everything?

It is probably and a most definite possibility that today is one of the best days ever.  As you are most undoubtedly well aware, today is my birthday.  As a person reaches the age that I have (a full twenty two years of age) it causes one to reflect and ponder about their life.  What have I done with the time given to me?  What have been the triumphs, or success I have had?  (A person my age knows it is best to focus on positive things, and look forward with hope and faith).

I realize that it can be difficult to know what to get a person of renown like myself for their birthday.  When a person has all the world has to offer, what more could they want?  A few people have ventured to ask me what the best gifts are to get a person of my stature.  I realize many more of you may be too intimidated by my prestige to ask.  Out of the generosity and kindness and humility of my heart, today, I have conceded to provide a few suggestions of the birthday gifts to get a person such as myself.

Focus . . . Focus . . . On What?

I had an amazing Sunday today!  With the recent snow we got, rather than driving the distance to the deaf ward.  We stayed nearby, and we went to the Seventh Ward which is right next to where we work.    We found out when we got there that it was actually the Ward Conference for the congregation.  (This is just a time when the stake leaders come and talk for part of sacrament, and then in the Sunday school and other auxiliaries).  The focus of the meetings today was what things do we seek for in our lives?   I have found there are many different things we can seek after.  Some are small, like maybe just a better picture with the snow.  The things we seek for in our lives and the things we spend our time on is what controls what we will become in the future. 

We have Jesus Christ to show us the way, He is the perfect example we can follow.  We also have our friends, our families, and those around us to give us support as we help them—just as Elder Albright was able to help me come up with a better picture of the snow (see below). In Sunday school today, we were given a little evaluation we can look at in our own lives.  I was surprised to find that many times what I want to focus on, and what I am focusing on are always not the same things.  When was the last time you were able to look at your own life?  Are you aware of what things you are working on in your life?  Are you spending your time on things which help you, or on things which you don’t really need or don’t really help you?  Take a minute to look at the self-evaluation below and think of ways you can improve in your life.

Exploring Museums, and Finding Hidden Treasures

I am blessed to serve with some of the greatest missionaries there are!  As a part of our mission, we all serve online taking chats.  All of us are here because a regular walking mission would have been more difficult.  That being the case, with the time off we have, it can sometimes be difficult to find things which we can all do.  This last preparation day we had, Elder Moxley had come up with the idea for us to go to the museum here in Provo.  I have lived here in Utah for about two years, a little time here as a missionary, and before while I went to school.  I actually really enjoy going to museums, but I never knew they had one in that entire time I was here.  I had even driven past it many times, and not known what it was.  I feel it was a great blessing and a bit like finding a treasure here I did not know about before.

I think there are many hidden treasures in our lives, and it is certainly a blessing and a gift for us to find them.  While the museum has been more of a physical treasure, it made me ponder about some spiritual treasures that are in my life.

A Bloodless Valentine

Today I am feeling great!  This morning I had my usual appointment down in Salt Lake with the ECP for the GvH from the Cancer.  I think today was the first time out of the last four appointments that I did not get a big spot of blood on my sleeve.  I talk a little about the appointments here, and here.  The gist of it is I am hooked up to a machine with an I.V. in my arm, and I am unable to move it for a few hours while the treatment runs.  After the treatment, the nurse wraps it up tight, and I am given instructions to not take it off for a few hours.  But it itches, it irritates, the hairs on my arm get stuck in it and ripped out—overall, mostly unpleasant.  I try my best to wait the allotted time, but it is so uncomfortable!  I lift the bandage . . . no immediate bleeding.  I rejoice, remove the wrap, throw it away, and one minute later I notice a dark red streak on my sleeve.*  But today was awesome!  I was blood free after removing the wrap.  

It made me think a little about how vital patience is in our lives.  The adage is true that says the best things in life are worth waiting for.  We have patience as it helps us to overcome the faults and weaknesses we have.  We are willing to accept God’s will and His timing.  We have faith and hope to wait for the Lords promised blessings.

For Valentine’s Day, how wonderful is the example of Jacob from Genesis chapter 29.  Jacob meets and falls in love with Rachel.  He promises her father, Laban, that He will work for her seven years.  The passage reads “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.”  Jacob is instead given the older sister, Leah for a wife.  But with the love and patience Jacob had, he served another seven years and was able to have Rachel as a wife.  How many of us would work 14 years for the spouse we have?  Let us cherish those we love, and have patience with them.  Let us see the good qualities, and try to lift them up in all we do.

*F.Y.I. Hydrogen peroxide works really well to get the blood out, wash with cold water in the sink, and then send through the laundry ;)

Finding Some Light Because of Cancer

I love the video at the bottom! :)

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, they whole body shall be full of light” – (Matthew 6: 23).  Have you ever noticed how some people just seem to have a real glow about them?  Some people, all we have to do is make eye contact with them and suddenly our day is just a little better.  These people seem to expel sunshine from their face, something truly angelic.  I notice for myself, as I meet these people in my own life, I am drawn to them, and I have a desire to be close to them.  I do not believe this is happenstance, but rather a part of something which they have truly a part of them.  The source of this inspiring light is Jesus Christ.  He is the light we need to let shine for all men.  I know as we focus on serving and following Him, the periods and pieces of darkness in our lives can made clean and whole through the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ.

Striving to make the light of Christ a part of us takes a daily effort on our part.  It is a continual effort of putting off the natural man, and turning, and then yielding our hearts to Jesus Christ.  Just as cancer can erode us physically, sin also can damage us spiritually.  Just as recovering from cancer is more involved than a simple pill, repentance also is much more than a simple confession in our lives.

The Plan of Salvation on Prezi

I recently finished a new prezi presentation on the Plan of Salvation, or plan of happiness which God has for us.  I do know God loves us, and I know we do have a purpose here on earth.  Take some time to read through it, and learn, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after this life.

Plan of Salvation on Prezi

We're Off To See The Wizard, Because . . . ?

Reading novels and watching movies is something which has always brought a lot of joy to me in my life.  I love getting into a story, to learn and grow with the characters.  Many times, I think it seems their lives are so much more exciting than the life I have.  But then, now I think of it, my life has not been condensed into a few hundred pages or few hours.  The stories of each of our own lives really are something far more intricate and detailed than any book could completely tell.  But, what is the quest we have all embarked on?  Do all of us realize what our purpose here on earth is?  We aren’t slaying dragons, we aren’t saving the earth with our super powers, and we aren’t trying to find a wizard to send us home.  What is it we are doing?  What has God designed for us to accomplish, and how can we do it?

Many of the stories and adventures we read give us an example and have many parallels to our own lives and the things we need to do, although, I am not sure how many of these have been intended.  In particular, the classic story of The Wizard of Oz gives us a great example of some parallels in our own life.

In the beginning of the story, Dorothy is taken to the Land of Oz.  Although not entirely sure how she was able to get there, she knew where she needed to be.  Dorothy’s experience in the Land of Oz was not a permanent situation, much like us, we are all trying to find our way home.  Dorothy had the path paved for her; there was the yellow brick road which pointed the direction for her to go.  It wasn’t easy for Dorothy to follow the path, there was an evil witch chasing her providing obstacles along the way.  She met a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion, each who had a quest and need of their own.  They were all able to support and help each other in their journey.  They learned many things, including the reality of the “Wizard,” to support each other in the struggles they had, and how to overcome their own fears and doubts.  But, even after all Dorothy did and learned, she was still unable to make it all the way home.  She found herself powerless to continue where she wanted but was able to find the power outside of her through the ruby slippers.