The Sublime Roundabout

When I was working at a place in Michigan, there was one girl whose life was pretty complicated. She had recently begun a relationship with a man who was married (and not to her). She was distraught about everything that was going on. When trying to give her some advice (something sage like - quit it!) she said - It's not that simple, OK?!? Sometimes life is just too complicated. My life has never been THAT complicated (thankfully). It occurs to me that life is neither more or less complicated than we wish it to be. I am not naive. I know that bad things happen to good people. I know that there are things that one must go through in life that are not a direct result of one's decisions. But it seems to me that we have the opportunity to choose our pathway in life. These choices make our lives either increasingly complicated or increasingly simple. It's ironic - those choices which the world would have us believe limit our freedoms in fact seem to give us more freedom to choo...

... in which I question if it's OK to question. I have a maxim in my life that I have come to really appreciate. It is this: it is OK to struggle, but it is not OK to give up. As a corollary to that idea, I have come to appreciate the struggling that takes place in the hearts of many people. This serves as a purifying and strengthening action, making us better people overall. It is OK to question. It is OK to wonder. Further contemplation of this has led me to the idea that questioning can come from two different aspects. If one questions in faith, one believes that there is an answer. The requirement to gain the answer is a process in which patience and diligent seeking is required. It is exhausting, but it is fulfilling and leads to much richness of soul. The Lord Himself said that blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. In the Doctrine and Covenants, we learn that the things of God are light, and that light, once ...

I like the word salamander. I have never actually seen such an animal. But I like it. I don't know why. Now you know.

I have a Gmail account. I like it for many reasons - it's quick to upload, it has a great search feature, and it has a catchy address that's easy for folks to remember. I noticed today when responding to an email that there's a button at the bottom of the page that says "SAVE NOW". There's actually one at the bottom of this field I'm typing in right now. It is a command that supersedes the automatic draft saving function of the various websites and allows you to save your information now rather than on the regularly scheduled one-minute intervals. In Hebrew, SAVE NOW could be translated as Hosanna. This was the cry that was heard when Christ entered Jerusalem the last time prior to the atoning great and last sacrifice. This was also the cry that was heard when Christ appeared to the Nephites in the land Bountiful. It is also the cry we have been commanded to share with the world. Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! Save now.

I love spring. I know that many people say that, but in my case it's true. I love it. I love the fresh smell of new grass. I love the warm soft breezes that blow in off the Gulf, laden with sweet smells of the sea. I love the birds singing to their mates. And I love the life that bursts forth from everywhere. What a great time to be alive! Since moving to Texas, I have become familiar with this guy: This a mockingbird. He's about as big as a sparrow or other small bird - smaller than a robin or a quail or a dove. They are not really much for looking at, except when they fly and execute turns or other aerial acrobatics you'll see a flash of white from their wings that gives a certain dramatic pop to their antics. But what makes these guys amazing is that they sing at least 10 times louder than what their bodies would seem to support. Most active in the morning and evening, you can hear them singing their varied and proud songs. Yet their songs are not their own - they're...