Numb

Does it ever feel like it would just be easier to not care anymore? I know I’ve felt like that. It would just be easier to cut those areas/people/events out of your life, and feel numb to pain. I mean, as we already know, it is impossible to feel joy without pain, but have you ever just wanted to be numb to it all? 

I think it is important to remember that it is a terrible thing never feel pain, no matter how truly hard and heart wrenching it is in the moment, it is not adequately describable. But, it is so vital to our eternal character, so where pain isn't fun, it isn't something I would recommend intentionally seeking out, pain has some great teaching moments. 

There is this rare disorder called “congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis” or CIPA, which has been on my mind as of late. Basically, it means that the different pain pathways don’t work in the people with this condition. And, sadly, that means that they usually wear out their bodies by the age of 8. Half of the people with this condition, shown here, die by the age of three. There are some great videos and articles out there, so if you’re interested just search those terms.

We want to be happy, and we want to be free from pain. We just usually choose the wrong path to get us there. We have the truth, we have the light and the way to get us to eternal and true happiness. It just happens to lead us first, through a life of pain, to teach us, to help us to grow and to become who we truly are. Now we just need to remember that though the pathway leads through pain, it is for a small moment. It hurts now but pain has an end. And, it also acts as a catalyst to get us where we need to go, shaping us into who we can be for eternity.

Keep Moving Forward

Keep Moving Forward!

Do you remember why that is important? Probably, but regardless. In our swirling, twirling, ever busy lives, it becomes easier and easier to get lost. There comes a time in life, that because of this or that struggle it feels too hard to keep going any further. Somehow, life keeps going, and so do we. Which reminds me of this song, song, reminding us to put one foot in front of the other, keep walking. Quitting is easy. But there are those who are patient with others’ imperfections and choose to resist the winds of temptation and keep moving forward to their goal. They know what temptation feels like to the fullest extent, and they stand firm. With a little practice, we can too. We can give up the vices and temptations, and stand a little higher. The winds will still blow but we can be strong.

I made it to the top of one mountain in my life. Yes, just one. Anyway. It was remarkable. The view was remarkable and as soon as I caught my breath, I forgot the pain. Well, no. I didn’t forget it. But it made it meaningful. Do you know what else? There were so many more mountains ready to be climbed. Temptations, trials, errors to be overcome. Life keeps going, and so do we.

Keep moving forward. The end is in sight. There is a way out of whatever mess you find yourself in. There is always hope. No, I don’t personally know the details, but we all know enough to move forward. We can trust in and find peace that only the Savior of the World truly brings.

Take a minute, one little minute each day, look how far you have come. Are you moving forward? Are you getting better? Or are you getting worse with age? In Isaiah 25:6 the righteous are compared to “wine on the lees.” This wine, depending on the quality of the grapes, will make the wine better or worse if it is left on the lees. Are you getting better as you grow older? If you are not, you are getting worse, more responsible for your actions but no improvement. Most likely, you are at least making little movements forward.

I grew up in a football home, and where I do not play {very well}, I think about it anyway. For instance: 1. If there were no opposition in a football game, no one would watch, and no one would play. Life’s a little like that.  2. The goal is to keep moving forward, through the defenses and struggles, and to keep moving forward. Luckily in life we have a little more control over receivers and the players on our team, but in the same aspect, if we are not careful, we will slip up, and we will be pushed back.

Start today, with the New Year, keep moving forward. Keep climbing, onward and upward. It is hard and sometimes scary. It requires leaps of faith in others and with yourself. I love the quote “try a little harder to be a little better” from President Gordon B. Hinckley, just try a little harder each day to improve in some way. Make it a little farther through the marathon of your life. Don’t go backwards. You have a crucial part to play. You are surrounded by those who love you, you have support in place. Now, keep moving forward, on to bigger and better mountains to climb, for adventure is waiting.

With this New Year, the Resolutions abound, and so does the expectation that they won’t last very long. Right? Well, then don’t label this a “New Year’s Resolution.” Just try a little harder to be a little better, and remember to Keep Moving Forward.