So, you know those times where everything piles up, well, it's been one of those times. Combine that with I've been doing a ton of writing at work, and you get a huge delay in writing. Even now is a rush-write.
Life constantly changes, we all know this. It just keep striking me because this "next phase of my life" is taking quite some time to settle. If you had talked to me in August, every single aspect of life was quantitatively and qualitatively different than it is today.
Imagine if you will, an empty vessel of some kind. Now, pretend that as life's experiences come and go, they fill it up, a little bit at a time. Now, this vessel is an empty version of you--of each one of us. In my life, I've probably filled up my right leg metaphorically, with experiences. As I grow and experience life, I become a little more "full" if you will, I become a little bit more of who I truly am
These changes in my life right now feel so huge and intimidating at times. I just have to remember to take it one step at a time, it's just like starting college, high school, or even going down that tall, scary water slide for the first time and getting to the bottom and realizing truth :). Life keeps moving forward, things change, isn't that great? I read something the other day, about "all things have an end- they give the example of friends ;) cheesy, yes--but fair. Christ does not end, life does not end, eternity does not end (so do many other, non-applicable words, but you get my [and the original author's] point).
We need to remember our purpose. We need to remember that all these things shall work for our good. And, that is wonderful. It's hard to remember. It's hard to take that plunge and then keep waiting for reality to sink in, (you probably got stuck on the metaphorical water slide, but you'll get to the end, twist and turn, push a little harder). Keep filling your life with wonderful experiences, find joy, and try new and exciting things. It's not as scary or stressful as you think it is. It's just the first time you're doing something, but I promise, it will be safe, it will be fun, and you will "make it."
*I just got back from a water park with my dad and little sister, hence the water slide references...but I think they apply anyway.
**In other news, I've been learning how to make websites, and I've been really thinking about making one for me. It won't be anything terribly special, but if I move mine, I'll give you plenty of notice (mostly because it will take me ages to set it up)
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Steve's Doughnuts
I don't remember exactly how I found this story, I don't know who wrote it, or anything except what I have posted here. Even still, I would ask you to consider it. It is similar to this post, I feel it helps in a small way to understand another aspect of the Atonement. It may seem a little cheesy, but sometimes it is the cheesy stories that are the easiest to understand.
Steve opens the door into Brother Christensen's seminary class. He was always the last one to enter, and the first one to leave. One day, Brother Christensen asked Steve to stay after class.
"You think you're pretty tough, don't you Steve?" Brother Christensen asked.
"Yes" replied Steve.
"About how many push-ups can you do?"
"I do 200 push-ups every night."
"200, that is pretty good. Do you think you could do 300?"
"I don't know, I've never done 300 at one time."
"Do you think you could?"
"Well, I can try."
"Can you do 300, in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it."
"Well, I think I can...ya...I can do it."
"Good. I need you to do this on Friday."
Friday came, and Steve was standing at the front of the room before class. On the table was a box of the biggest, expensive, delicious donuts.
Brother Christensen turned to the first person on the first row, "Cynthia, do you want a doughnut?" "Yes" "Steve, would you do ten push ups so that Cynthia can have a doughnut ?" "Sure!" Steve quickly did the ten push ups and Cynthia got the doughnut . Brother Christensen headed down each row, repeating this process. He soon came to Scott, who asked to do his own push ups. Brother Christensen replied that Steve had to do the push ups. "Then I don't want one." Brother Christensen turned to Steve and asked "Steve will do you do 10 push ups so that Scott can have a doughnut he doesn't want?" Steve started doing the push ups, Scott got really mad, and soon he had a doughnut on his desk. Brother Christensen replied, "This is my class, just leave it on your desk if you don't want it."
Steve started to slow down, a little perspiration, the class started getting angrier by the third row. Most people were refusing the doughnut now. They turned away and wouldn't watch Steve do the push ups, yet each got a doughnut .
During class, additional students walked in. They sat on the side of the room, and some of the students realized this, and making quick count, 34 students, the students started to worry. He went on, near the end of the third row, Steve had a hard time, he asked Brother Christensen, "Does my nose have to touch the ground each time?" "They are your push ups, do them how you would like."
A few minutes later, Jason was about to come in. The class yelled and begged him not to come in. Steve replied, "No, let him come." Brother Christensen turned to him, "Do you realize what this means?" Steve replied, "Yes, let him come."
Ten very slow push ups later, a bewildered Jason was handed a doughnut . Brother Christensen finished the fourth row and started on those seated around the room. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push up in the struggle to lift himself against gravity. There was not a dry eye in the room.
The last two girls were both cheerleaders, Linda, the second to last, was asked if she wanted a doughnut . "No, thank you" she replied. Brother Christensen turned to Steve, "Would you do ten push ups so Linda can have the doughnut she doesn't want?" Ten push ups were done. Finally, he turned to Susan. "Susan, would you like a doughnut?" With tears flowing, Susan asked "Can I help him?" "No. He has to do this alone." "Then, I do not want one." "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Susan can have the doughnut she doesn't want?"
Slowly, he finished. He had accomplished all that was required, having done 350 push ups, his arms buckled, he fell to the floor.
"And so it was, that our Savior plead to the Father, 'Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.' After all that was required, He collapsed and died. And, like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Steve smiled on the ground where he lay in is own sweat and began to cry.
Remember the Savior, remember to apply His gift into your life, your heart, and your actions. I know it is not a perfect metaphor, but choose to learn from it anyway, turn to your Savior today.
Steve opens the door into Brother Christensen's seminary class. He was always the last one to enter, and the first one to leave. One day, Brother Christensen asked Steve to stay after class.
"You think you're pretty tough, don't you Steve?" Brother Christensen asked.
"Yes" replied Steve.
"About how many push-ups can you do?"
"I do 200 push-ups every night."
"200, that is pretty good. Do you think you could do 300?"
"I don't know, I've never done 300 at one time."
"Do you think you could?"
"Well, I can try."
"Can you do 300, in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it."
"Well, I think I can...ya...I can do it."
"Good. I need you to do this on Friday."
Friday came, and Steve was standing at the front of the room before class. On the table was a box of the biggest, expensive, delicious donuts.
Brother Christensen turned to the first person on the first row, "Cynthia, do you want a doughnut?" "Yes" "Steve, would you do ten push ups so that Cynthia can have a doughnut ?" "Sure!" Steve quickly did the ten push ups and Cynthia got the doughnut . Brother Christensen headed down each row, repeating this process. He soon came to Scott, who asked to do his own push ups. Brother Christensen replied that Steve had to do the push ups. "Then I don't want one." Brother Christensen turned to Steve and asked "Steve will do you do 10 push ups so that Scott can have a doughnut he doesn't want?" Steve started doing the push ups, Scott got really mad, and soon he had a doughnut on his desk. Brother Christensen replied, "This is my class, just leave it on your desk if you don't want it."
Steve started to slow down, a little perspiration, the class started getting angrier by the third row. Most people were refusing the doughnut now. They turned away and wouldn't watch Steve do the push ups, yet each got a doughnut .
During class, additional students walked in. They sat on the side of the room, and some of the students realized this, and making quick count, 34 students, the students started to worry. He went on, near the end of the third row, Steve had a hard time, he asked Brother Christensen, "Does my nose have to touch the ground each time?" "They are your push ups, do them how you would like."
A few minutes later, Jason was about to come in. The class yelled and begged him not to come in. Steve replied, "No, let him come." Brother Christensen turned to him, "Do you realize what this means?" Steve replied, "Yes, let him come."
Ten very slow push ups later, a bewildered Jason was handed a doughnut . Brother Christensen finished the fourth row and started on those seated around the room. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push up in the struggle to lift himself against gravity. There was not a dry eye in the room.
The last two girls were both cheerleaders, Linda, the second to last, was asked if she wanted a doughnut . "No, thank you" she replied. Brother Christensen turned to Steve, "Would you do ten push ups so Linda can have the doughnut she doesn't want?" Ten push ups were done. Finally, he turned to Susan. "Susan, would you like a doughnut?" With tears flowing, Susan asked "Can I help him?" "No. He has to do this alone." "Then, I do not want one." "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Susan can have the doughnut she doesn't want?"
Slowly, he finished. He had accomplished all that was required, having done 350 push ups, his arms buckled, he fell to the floor.
"And so it was, that our Savior plead to the Father, 'Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.' After all that was required, He collapsed and died. And, like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Steve smiled on the ground where he lay in is own sweat and began to cry.
Remember the Savior, remember to apply His gift into your life, your heart, and your actions. I know it is not a perfect metaphor, but choose to learn from it anyway, turn to your Savior today.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Are your moods correlated with the weather? Sometimes I think the weather is a better descriptor of my mood than a mood ring <--song on YouTube, unrelated to post. And For the record, I am not currently in a storm, but I have in the past noticed a strong correlation ;)
Why is the rain symbolic of sadness? Is it the similarity of rain drops and tear drops? Probably. Why are we depressed when we learn it is going to rain? Ok. Maybe you are not, but I hear it a lot, from different people, and feel the same way often.
I think it is really interesting, because not only do we need the change to rain to appreciate the sun light, we also desperately need the rain to be just what it is, rain. It cleanses and helps the world grow and recover.
We need rain and we need trials and sadness. Not just so we can appreciate the good times, but to help us become aware of ourselves, to help us remember what matters most and to realign ourselves with it.
So, yes. Maybe it is metaphorically and literally storming inside and outside of your heart. Let it. Let yourself feel the power of the storm and remember there is a God who not only is in complete control, but who loves you so much that He promises that the storm will end and you will be so much stronger because of it.
For the record, there is a ton of gorgeous pictures of rain. I have been reading up on copyright law, so I took them down. Sorry.
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