Skip to main content

Finding out...


My parents have always been heroes of mine. Not heroes in the "really good person" sense, but REAL super heroes, like Superman and Wonderwoman. Or Green Lantern and She-ra. Or Mork and Mindy. Take your pick.
Try to imagine my surprise and disillusionment when I discovered that my parents were people. Complete shock and amazement. They were people who are subject to all of the frailties of human existence, including sickness, depression, bad moods, cuts, scrapes, bruises, bad days, problems with others, mental derangement, rabies, bullets, and temptations. About the only thing my parents are truly invulnerable to, ironically, Krypton (and other noble gasses...:-) ).
So my parents have had to slog through this mess just like I am.
When I was fairly immature, I resented my parents for this. How dare they be fallible? How could they even think of not being absolutely perfect in every way, not having all the answers, of being mean-spirited at times. It seemed unforgivable.
But then I began to contemplate my own life, with my own frailties, foibles, mistakes, sins, transgressions, etc. I realized how much I struggle. If my parents truly are human beings like me, they have struggled with these things for just as long as me (if not longer). Who am I to judge them?
I also began to realize that my parents are, in fact, quite extraordinary people. Yes, still just people. But not ordinary. The things they have given me are much more valuable than the ability to fly or turn invisible or see through walls. They taught me to work, to learn, to love and respect, to appreciate and to laugh. They taught me what it means to live for someone. They taught me to think about others before I think of myself.
My parents have done things I would never do. And it's because my parents taught me that I have the courage and fortitude not to do them. They want me to be better than them - a feeling I never appreciated until I have had children. Now I understand what it means to hope that someone will be better than you, that they have a better life, better schooling, better opportunities, and that they take advantage of them.
At the end of the day, we are all just people trying to make it the best we can. Being a parent is tough - there's no guidebook, no instruction manual. All we can do is the best we can and pray that the Lord will make it good enough.
Besides, isn't the atonement all about making up for our imperfections? And if I believe in the atonement for myself, why is it of any less effect for my parents, my brothers and sisters, my wife, or anyone else? It is the sick who need the physician, not the whole. Are we not all prodigal?
So my parents are great and heroic after all....
I KNEW IT!!!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...