Event of Interest

http://pewforum.org/events/?EventID=148

Strength

"A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why "bad" people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in." -    --  C.S. Lewis
 

I would take a bit of a twist on this quote...by adding that people who do not know how strong temptation is also do not have the experience of receiving the peace and comfort that come from God's love and power.  Temptation may be strong at times, but the power of love trumps all.  And facing that temptation helps us feel the strengthening hand of the Lord in our lives.

Butt.In.Gear

My elliptical arrived today.  I had to trade the treadmill out for it because of my plantar fascitis.  I love the elliptical, BUT I am SO out of shape.  I did ten minutes and had to take a break.  So....I am going to do ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes at night for the rest of the week and keep adding time each week....eventually I will get to wear I can do an hour a day--my goal.

 

It is embarassing to realize how out of shape I have become....I guess I haven't really exercised regularly for about a year...and it is showing.

 

Well....I am starting now and I will update you as I make progress.

 

I want to be my best and that means getting rid of the excess baggage I have carried around too long :-)

Back to the Basics

Last night as I was reading my scriptures, I came across a passage in the Ensign from Brother Henry B. Eyring.  He stated, "in the mission field, you were given words by the Holy Ghost when you surrendered your heart to the Lord's service.  From that faith [FULL] service to the Master, you not only had the witness of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, but you also saw evidence in your own life that the Atonement is real."  Now, I haven't served a mission per se, but that quote spoke to me and reminded me that over the past several years, I have had similar sweet and strong experiences.  Experiences that taught me--ever so gently--that the Lord was mindful of me and desires my happiness.  As I surrendered my stubborn will to His, I saw beautiful changes happen in my life.  I also realized that for the last three or four months, I haven't been doing the "basics" that are so important to my peace and progress.  These basics are praying, studying my scriptures, and daily exercise (the big three).  When I am doing those three things on a consistent basis, my life is more grounded and I am able to feel the Spirit in greater abundance.  I am also able to have the assurance that I am making good choices for me and my family and I am able to handle the challenges on my plate more successfully.  The last six months have been full of change and transition and I have not done as much as I could to allow the Lord to help me along the way.  I have not been faith FULL. 

 

So....it is back to the basics for me :-)  Time to refill the "oil in my lamp" not only spiritually but also physically...I have some goals for the next six months which I have been "putting off" and I will let you know how they begin to be realized and "operationalized" as I start engaging once again in the big three that keep me moving forward in a more effective manner.

 

 

Wicked Thoughts

Thursday night was one of those nights...a kind of night in which you want every moment to last as long as possible.  Sitting in a comfortable plush chair in a beautiful theater in downtown Chicago with a great view of the stage is a great beginning to any evening.  But when the music begins and the story unfolds, time seems to stand still and it is easy to be transported.  Tears come to my eyes thinking about the amazing voices and stirring music that filled my ears for almost three hours.  However, the real gift of the evening has been thinking about the real message of Wicked.  To me, that message was...who do you want to be?  Do you want to be real or do you want to hide behind a curtain?  Do you want to fight for what truly matters or do you want to believe the spin?  Of course, this interpretation could be a function of where I am right now in my life and the questions I have been asking myself, but having a change of scenery and getting off the hamster wheel of my busy life--even for just 24 hours--made me realize how it was time to regroup, ask the hard questions, and forge on to the next part of my life's journey.

 

Thankfully, I have started this next leg of the journey with an emotionally-fulfilling experience.  I was able to spend the day with two of my sons today.  We truly were "in the moment" and I truly enjoyed each and every moment with them.  Even when this meant dealing with an emotionally volatile situation which I had to facilitate between one of my sons and my father (their grandfather).  I feel good because I was there for both of them (although my son took priority in the situation) and my sons can see that I will stand up for them, they can trust me, and that we can work through this difficult learning experiences of life together.

 

Being real is hard work but the rewards are too sweet too pass up.