The Sublime Roundabout

But I digress. The name of this blog is "random" which just about sums up my life. Besides, if everything were the same all the time, how boring would that be...? My wife told me about a Korean proverb I had never heard before but really appreciate: In hell, there are people who are trying to eat with chopsticks. They pick up the delicious food, but cannot bring the food to their mouths because the chopsticks are three feet long. It is still possible to get the food, but they are never satisfied because it is impossible to feed themselves. Conversely in heaven, there are people trying to eat with the same chopsticks. The difference is that in heaven everyone is satisfied because people feed each other with chopsticks ideally suited to this purpose. People do better when they put the needs of others first. Then everyone gets looked after but no one is selfish.

So, I have realized that many of the people who will be reading this blog are people who either don't know me or who are not familiar with my life. I have had many wonderful experiences in my life, all of which have played in to making me who I am. I am the synthesis of my heredity and my experiences. While I cannot do anything about my heredity, my experiences can best be understood as a review of my life. I am interested to hear what you have to think. Again, these experiences are mine, some of which are terribly personal. But I write them in the same way that Jeremiah writes - the word was shut up in his bones like a burning fire, and I cannot refrain. So, let's begin at the beginning. I was born on October 29, 1974. That was 45 years from the Black Tuesday that started the Great Depression. Some days are just meant to be dark and auspicious. While I don't remember the events of that day and subsequent days, my parents have reminded me on several occasions. It was someth...

Am I alone in thinking that Romeo and Juliet is about the stupidest thing ever written? I mean, I get it that it's Shakespeare and everything, but as a love story, it's got to be one of the worst... Because what is love, really? Love is not dying for someone. Love is living for someone. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends . Christ laid down His life for us. He also took it up again for us. And He continues to live for us. He is our Example of love.

Sandpaper is a marvelous thing. You take bits of rocks and glue them to paper or some other somewhat flexible material. Then you rub the rough surface, removing bits of whatever it is you are sanding. The object becomes smoother and conforms to the shape desired. It is in this way that a random piece of maple becomes a Stradivarius violin. Two things: 1) the sandpaper also is changed through the process; and 2) the process is just that - a process. Reshaping wood takes a long time, patience, perseverance , and determination. It also requires willingness on the part of the worker to change the wood. I am somewhat of a wood lover. I became such after having spent some time in a shop that sold exotic woods, wood that was sold by the pound rather than the dimension. Cocobolo , bocote , pink ivory - these were all woods I came to know. Each has it's own unique smell while it is being worked. Maple smells not surprisingly like syrup. Bocote smells like pickles. And Russian Olive just s...

...getting asked how many wives I have ...hearing, "Oh, really? That's not something you hear everyday..." ...having people assume things about you that are not necessarily true (NO, I am not a republican, gun owner, father of twenty-seven children, ignoramus, freak, weirdo, whatever - I am just a guy trying to make it) ...getting asked if I ski (no, that's why I moved to TEXAS!) ...having to engage people in religious conversations (not that I mind, but I wonder if Baptists and Methodists ever feel like they have to compare notes...) ...being a part of a ward, quorum, presidency, bishopric, council, etc. (I am only a member of a quorum and ward, but I will probably end up in a group) - this is one of the coolest parts of being LDS : you are ALWAYS a part of some organization that wants and welcomes you ...being able to explain what the Book of Mormon is (it's Another Testament of Jesus Christ, duh!) ...wanting to belong but always being aware of your "othern...

The more I live (and admittedly, I realize that that's not very much) the more I understand that our families are what really matters in life. Where else are we unconditionally loved and appreciated? Where else do we learn service, love, and patience? There can be little doubt that God instituted families as the place for people to belong. From birth to death, it is our families who are there for us (diapers on both ends). From the earliest recorded times, people have relied on families to be the basic social units of society. There are different roles to be played in a family. Some of these are gender specific, but most are not. Children deserve to be born into families with a loving mother and father. Our homes can then be places where lessons are taught about how each should treat one another, the basic lessons of obedience, respect, and love. We call God our Father in Heaven. Doesn't it fit that there is a Mother also? Father is a gender specific title, with associated resp...

So, someone from England has found (and commented on) my blog. How cool is that! Thanks, Adam. I know that Christ lives. I think I agree with almost everything you said, except about the non-existence of the spirit. I believe that there is an eternal portion of us - in fact, it is the eternal portion that is truly "us" and that we have always and will always exist. I am glad that you have found that these things are important to you also. I am trying to avoid the extensive use of scriptures in my blog. It's a personal decision. I know that the Bible is the word of God, and I read it every day with my family. We get up each morning at 6 AM to read it together, finding that we all have a better day after we do so. But I find that too much reliance on scripture (with neglect for one's personal relationship to God and spirituality) can lead to confusion. I cannot forget the Nicene creed, nor any of the other creeds or schisms that have resulted because of extremism. I als...

OK, here's something that has confused me for some time, and I wish someone could explain it to me. First, death is understood as the separation of that eternal part of us (our spirit) from the mortal part of us (our physical bodies). I think that's universally accepted and acceptable. Christ was the first to be resurrected. After He died on the cross (in which His spirit and His body were separated - He really did die), His body was in the sepulchre for three days, during which time he was somewhere that was NOT in the presence of His Father (which is why He said to Mary "Touch me not," right?). So then, after having been dead for a period of time, He resurrected. His body and spirit were reunited. He visited his disciples. His Apostles ate with Him, and Thomas who doubted initially was later shown beyond question that He had risen. After another period of time, He ascended into Heaven again. So what's the point of resurrection? From what I understand, most...

One of the questions that have puzzled people forever regards the existence of a person prior to birth. Why is this important? Knowing who we are and where we are from is vital to our understanding our relationship with God, as well as our potential for the future. Of utmost importance is to understand that we are children of our Heavenly Father. As a child of God, we begin to realize that we have a divine inheritance and potential. God loves us. He is actively interested in our lives. He wants us to succeed. He also has a plan for us. Central to that plan is the role of a Savior. Jesus Christ lived among us as our Brother prior to our coming to this world. He agreed to become our Savior and to take upon Himself our burdens. Because of His intercession, we are all able to repent, become worthy of His spirit in this life, and access His grace to ultimately return and live with our Father again. More on the plan later... We were given the opportunity to accept this plan (referred to a...

So, I am creating this blog in response to the call of Elder Ballard in the Ensign to use the Internet to share ideas and stories with people. I like to write, and I sit at a computer all day long. I also have come to know certain truths in my life through experiences that I would like to share. I love to discuss things with people, though I don't know how many people will ever look at this blog. If you have any questions about me or what I think, I will be happy to discuss it with you. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is something that touches everything I am and do. My fondest hopes for myself and my family center around Christ and I know that we can be together forever. I am imperfect, and I am still learning about myself and the world around me. The more I learn the more I seem to be ignorant of. But there are some things that I have come to know as true. I do not disparage anyone else's experience, needs, or beliefs. There is much t...