BLOGGING?

There are some days when I wonder why I continue to produce this little blog of mine.  While my daughter seems to get hundreds of readers per post, I am surprised if I have more than ten visits.

Then I remind myself that I am not here for the masses!!

My original (and current) reason for posting on a regular basis is to share with my family some of the things that go on in my head.  You know, sort of a supplement to the journals that they will find hidden away in a box when I am dead and gone.

So if the only people who read the ‘dramatic’ renditions of life as I see it are my children and grandchildren – well, I suppose I have served my purpose here.

Thankfully, no one has demanded that I should stop.  I would ignore them if they did but it might hurt the one feeling I still have.

I will be back. 

Count on it and expect it. 

But worry not, no one else will know.

BACTERIA

I have been AWOL for more than a week.

There’s a good excuse. 

At least I think it is good.

My body has rebelled against me again.  Instead of fighting off the bacteria and germs inflicted upon it, my mortal frame has accepted and assimilated the denizens of evil that are in the air.  The result was sickness – sickness so dastardly and despicable that I had no recourse but to stop whatever work or play I had anticipated and lay in bed.

It has been miserable and unfair (at least to me).

I made a visit to the local healer and his concoctions seem to be working.

DEATH TO ALL BACTERIA (at least the evil, sick-making kind).

ALSO—

Never again will I speak the words “I haven’t been sick for more than a year” when there might be nasty bacterial menaces in the region. 

Lesson learned.

WHY DAD?

My friend is a great dad.

He loves his kids and is careful to give them the attention, affection, and respect they deserve.

It isn’t always easy for him but he is patient (an acquired/acquiring skill for many of us) and is willing to adjust as needed.

When asked how he learned to be such a good dad he was reluctant to answer.  Not because he didn’t want to share – he is convinced the principles he follows work – he simply didn’t want to offend anyone who might have chosen another way.

With some cajoling he eventually divulged the genesis of his inspiration (weird way of saying I convinced him to tell me even though he didn’t want to).

Seems his dad was one of THOSE dads.  You know.  The kind who, when asked ‘why?’ by their kids replied, BECAUSE I SAID SO!!

My friend never liked the results of the answer so he determined to follow another path in dealing with his own kids.  But it took some pondering and a lot of trial and error before he discovered his secret method.

I’m going to share it with you.  

So it won’t be secret anymore.  

Well, at least not from the 7 people who read this blog.

It all starts with a simple declaration.

1.  I will always love you.

No matter what you do, no matter how old you get and despite any efforts to the contrary you may decide to make in your life, I WILL love you.

When children are young, it is easier to convince them.  They have nothing to compare with so they believe.  But as they grow and become aware of the rest of the universe, it is critical that they are constantly reminded that they are loved – completely and deeply – by their parents.

Love is the great binding agent for families.

Next!

2. Because I love you, I want you to be happy.

Few people become parents in order to torture their offspring (I know some teens think otherwise but statistics can be made up to prove otherwise).  The vast majority of parents have the innate desire to love their children.  Reinforcing that principle with the ‘young-uns’ in the house will provide great dividends in helping them be more receptive to direction – tell them that you love them.

A little knowledge really helps.

3. In order to be happy, we must know the decisions/choices that will bring happiness.

A public survey conducted by random children found that eleven out of ten parents spend their days plotting to make decisions designed to impose misery on their children (see my note on statistics above).

Mom and dad ‘afflict’ their children’s lives to teach them the choices that will invite pleasant results.  Training young children to stay out of the street is not to protect cars or reduce insurance costs – it is to save a beloved son or daughter from a life-threatening badchoice (new word I just made up).

Again, as young people grow in ability and age they are inclined to think ‘teachings’ are restrictions to make them miserable.  They fail to recognize that the greater number of rules and guidelines are intended to eliminate misery and increase happiness.  When mom and dad explain the purpose for rules/guidelines, it doesn’t eliminate contention but it does build on a level of trust which leads to greater love.

4. To make good choices, you have to know the result each choice brings.

This is also called “The Law of Consequences.”  The job of a parent is to open the eyes of their children to the full impact of choices that will confront them.   My friend is careful to explain the complete package when his children are considering different options – the good and the bad.  Then they aren’t surprised (at least not as much) when less than desirable events occur.

Unfortunately, teaching, training, coaching, or whatever you want to call it is only permanent if there is a transition from the brain to the heart.  It is one thing to know something, and a totally different thing to KNOW it.

No matter how well prepared parents are, there will always be circumstances that require special attention.  Decisions have to be made that are not appreciated or completely understood.  That is when step 5 can be implemented.

5. Sometimes you just have to trust me.  Remember, I love you and will never do anything to cause you pain or misery.

I know, this sounds a lot like “Because I said so.”

It isn’t!!

Trust is an integral part of love.

“I said so” is often selfish and devoid of love.  Little has been built to hold it up.  Trust has a framework that allows for difficult experiences.

I have considered these steps and found that I believe there is truth in them.

Let me add one personal addendum to the list.

When a situation gets hard and I am ready to give up, I am often halted by a phrase that pops into my mind.  It always puts me back on the track.  I know the source and I recognize the voice. It says:

Is that how I treat you?

And the answer is always NO.

Love first, and always.

PERSPECTIVE

One of my goals, as I approached adulthood (still working on that), was to become a millionaire.

The first plan was to learn how to manage a business and grow it so my family could live off the profits.

My experiences in college shed light that let that dream pass away (not really a slow death either).  Oh, there was still a desire to have money but the work necessary seemed counter-productive to other goals.

Then children came along and, despite the haughty pride that said it would be easy to ‘raise up’ seed, I found additional great ideas that had to be excised from my to-do list.  Some took longer than others, but kids have a way of showing us the light.

It’s not that the things I wanted to do were bad – but when compared with the long-term needs of my ‘real’ goals, they just didn't make sense.

I suppose that’s what we call perspective. 

The most important parts of life have a way of becoming higher, clearer, and sweeter priorities.

Perspective – the ability to look at things from more than the ‘now’ – to see more than is immediately apparent.

I will try to keep IT as I begin the next phase of my life.

ANGER

This is a topic with which I have some experience.  Just ask my older children.  Not that I was a total tyrant, but there were some instances when my anger got the best of me and I acted stupidly (check out our cars or the pipes under the house -- they have suffered wrench bashings when they didn't cooperate as I desired).

 I hope I never looked
like this. Don't tell me
if I did.

It was easy to rationalize that “even God gets mad” to make myself feel better. 

He does.

But His anger is much more reasonable and is eternally founded in a love for His creations/children. Mine, not always so much.

Stories of God’s anger crop up in the scriptures fairly often.

The loved the rainbow!!

There was that whole business with Noah and the rest of humanity. Didn't turn out very well for the world.  But was it vengeance or not understanding the whole Plan?

Then Sodom and Gomorrah got a little dose of Godly anger.  Animals in the area found a great source of salt but the people… well, they just got licked.

Looking at these stories from a worldly point of view, it appear that God’s anger is sated by retribution on the wicked. 

That’s only true if we don’t know who He is.

Retribution, revenge, payback, and such are not part of what makes Him God.

So……… what causes God’s anger?

The anger of God is not always for the things we do – He knows that He put imperfect mortals here on earth to live.  Sin was expected and accounted for in the Plan of Salvation.  God’s anger comes most often in response to the things we DO NOT do.

Example:

And the anger of the Lord is kindled… and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord… shall be cut off from among the people; (D&C 1:13-14)

He is disappointed when we don’t listen to Him – whether He speaks to us individually or as a people (Kinda like when mom keeps calling to dinner and then locks the door ‘cause you don’t respond).

Another, deeper example:

Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son. (Alma 33:16)

God, our Heavenly Father, expresses anger when we are offered the way to overcome the world, the temptations of the adversary, and the sins that result from our actions and choices –

and we continue to refuse Him.

Nothing more important than this Gift.

The Atonement of Christ is the greatest gift of God to mortal men and women. 

Redemption is there, waiting for our acceptance. 

.

  When we fail to accept the gift offered – well, I can’t imagine that makes our Father happy.

If it were me, I would probably be a little miffed also

(I might even throw a wrench or two just for good measure).

THE JOB

Another long Friday has come to an end. 

I’m tired, my feet hurt, my back is killing me from standing and teaching all day and I wish I could take a nap.  Monday’s lesson is ready but I haven’t even started on what to teach after that.  Guess I will have to read and ponder some more so the things I need to share can be percolating in my mind.

It’s a never-ending cycle.

I know what you’re thinking!!  “Sounds like a ‘tough’ gig you got going there buckaroo. Quit your whining and remember what it was like to really work!”  Maybe you are right but I still hurt.

Such is the life of a Seminary teacher.

From one lesson to the next – a constant process of learning, preparing, sharing, and then starting again.

And I love it!!!

What’s not to love?  The students are the best the school has to offer.  What I teach means more to me than any other subject I have studied in my life.  The more I prepare, the happier I become as I put into practice what I teach (that’s the cool thing about the doctrines of Christ).  And I get to see wonderful young people put off the challenges our world throws at them as they try to grow up to be good people (which they already are but don’t really know it yet).  I am extremely blessed to work where I do.

My only wish would be that everyone could love going to work as much as I do.

OK, I also wish they would put some fish in the canal out back so I could catch a few on my lunch hour. :-)

BEING COMPELLED

A prophet once said:

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble… (Alma 32:16)

One characteristic that has escaped this soul in the decades that have passed by is humility.  Many folks might feel the same.  What can be done?  Is it a lost cause, or can there be relief from the accouterments that come with a lack of humbleation (yeah, I know there is no such word – spell check is screaming red lines at me right now)?

The scriptures offer a solution – unpleasant though it may be – to the curse of pride.  For those who are afraid the change might be too hard, this is the time to stop reading. 

Those still with me – thanks and remember, I warned you.

Let’s start with the psalmist who shares this counsel:

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in his thoughts. (Psalms 10:4) 

Sounds like a simple answer to overcome pride.  Seek after God and keep Him in your thoughts.  Some ways to accomplish might include:

1.   Pray regularly (morning and night).

2.  Look for God and Christ in the scriptures every day.

3.  Attend worship services and make it a point to listen to talks and sermons.

4.  Invite the Holy Ghost to teach you in all of the above.

Yeah, yeah,  we know this stuff.  So what else do you have to offer??

OK, here’s another selection that comes from Proverbs and shares this tidbit of advice:

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  (Proverbs 6:16-19)

I don’t believe anyone reading this blog is guilty of shedding innocent blood (and if you are, I don’t want to know – just go to the Police and take care of the problem). 

All the others!!!   Well, certainly they have cropped up a time or two in life.  And sometimes they were fun or satisfying (in a devilish sort of way) but in the end each proves to have a scarring effect on the soul. 

Probably best to leave those alone also.

Now, one last verse to tie all this together (I hope).  Again, I will return to the prophet that began this missive. 

  

And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.  (Alma 32:13)

Hey, look at that.  In one simple verse the key to humility is given for all to see.  Pride is destroyed when repentance becomes a desired, daily, and non-optional part of life.  Then humility can latch onto the soul and preserve the sacred individual nature that desires eternal salvation. 

Who knew there was so much good advice in the scriptures? 

Oh!!  Wait!!  All of us should know.   

Alright, I will quit preaching and leave you alone.

For now!!  

But I will be back.  (Evil grin)

And, now for the last word.

Pride is the universal sin.  Repentance is the great destroyer of pride as it helps focus life on Christ and His Atonement.  The question is whether pride leaves by choice or by compelling circumstances.

And isn't that the cool thing about agency – we get to choose.

TOLERANCE

TOLERANCE – willingness to accept, feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own.

It’s a medium sized word with huge implications.

Interpretations vary from person to person.

Or from experience to experience.

It’s always easier to expect tolerance for your own personal belief/habit/feeling than it is to be tolerant of someone else.

Tolerance is different than acceptance (in my mind).  I can tolerate some of the things that go on in the world around me but I refuse to accept them as appropriate or right.

There ARE things that cannot and should not be tolerated.

God and Christ have a pretty good list of what is tolerable in Their view.

I think they have had lots of experience in these things and are pretty smart. I will try to stick to what They accept as worthy of tolerance.

So please don’t be mad at me if I love you but can’t tolerate some of the behavior you claim is your right to practice with impunity.  Unfortunately, your actions DO have bearing on what happens in the world where we all live and I cannot allow myself or any 

that I love to sit idly by.

I WILL do all I can to protect the 

sanctity of the family.

I WILL attempt to spread the

doctrine of Christ 

amongst all those I know 

(and if you can’t accept that, it’s OK.  I will still love you).

I WILL stand for the rights and 

freedoms enumerated in the 

Constitution of the United States of America.

I WILL love all men, but I cannot tolerate (accept) anything that will affect the eternal salvation of those I love or those who are trying to follow Christ.

I WILL call out sin for what it is.

I am a recovering and often relapsing sinner so I think I have some experience in recognizing what it is.

I want to follow the Savior with enough fervor to be worthy of His great sacrifice for me and all mankind.

I hope you will too.

LIGHTHOUSE

Almost every school year I am asked by students why I have so many lighthouses in my classroom.

Looking around I can count 8 different objects that are lighthouse themed.  Several are ceramic reproductions, two are pictures, one is a clock and one of my favorites is a wooden version with a working light in the top.  Most are gifts from family (who know my penchant for these edifices) so they have great value beyond their physical presence.

I think the attraction began when I was young but it really took flight as I grew older and began to understand what a lighthouse represented.

Mariners all over the globe rely on the rays cast out by these majestic towers to guide them back to the ones they love.  Without the help provided, many a crew would be lost and torn to pieces on the rocky shores of this world.

Yet, it is more than that. 

Almost without exception, lighthouses are built in places where few would choose to live.  The sea around is rough and merciless – often impeding access by those who need to maintain the delicate systems.  Still, the keeper serves and cleans and repairs his equipment so it can shine brightly to those in need.

The job of the lighthouse keeper is thankless and lonely.  Many fail to realize he is there until they need him.  But if slack in his duties, the absence is quickly apparent.

And the light shines on and on, all through the darkness of night, guiding the weary traveler to his home and the love of his family.

It is easy to apply the principles of the lighthouse and its keeper to our own lives.  An obvious connection is that we have the Great Lighthouse who is constantly on guard to lead us back to our sacred heavenly home.  He is so much to us and we can know that He is ever vigilant in cleaning, repairing and guiding us through the storms of mortality.

For me, it is even more than that. 

I want to be a lighthouse!!!

My desire is to do more than exist as one of God’s children.  There is light that can be shared with others that will protect them from the rocks and currents that can destroy lives.  So I take the little light I have and hold it up as high as possible. 

Maybe someone will see it – someone who is struggling.

And maybe I can do what He does in some small way.

I think this hymn catches the message quite well.

(click on the link below to listen.)

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From his lighthouse evermore.

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

[chorus]

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send the gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled;

Loud the angry billows roar.

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In darkness may be lost.

(Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy, LDS Hymns, 335)

FLECKS

Scripture study is part of my job.  In order to teach, I have to be familiar with the source.

Personal study is just as important.  To know in my heart, there has to be personal sacrifice trying to find answers.

But, doggone it, sometime it just isn't easy.  The time required has to be taken from something else AND focus must be given if anything of worth is to happen.

Sometimes I feel like the dogs in “UP” who are easily distracted by the cry of ‘squirrel’ (or anything else).

Maybe I have found a partial solution to my weakness.  It came as I was watching this video.  The message was about service but I translated it to scripture study and it works out just fine.  It really helps me avoid discouragement when I don’t see any “nuggets” as I read.  

Now I can look for little “flecks” and gather them all together until they form a great wealth of knowledge.

Thanks to Elder Ballard and the old prospector who said, “The patient accumulation of these small flecks has made me a wealthy man.”

I think it can happen to me.