Skip to main content

Complicated

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 choose.

Further, the commandments of God enable us to be happy, to be successful, and to gain a perspective on what it is we really want in life. It gives us hope for a better world while making this world better. It is what puts life in eternity and eternity in our current life.

I don't think we talk enough about these things. We are often very focused on the riches of eternity and how our reward in heaven may be secured. And this is truly the case. But it also seems to me that we have the opportunity to improve our current situation here and now, finding an incredible amount of joy, peace, and fulfillment in our current lives. King Benjamin encourages us to think of the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God, because they are blessed in all things temporal and spiritual. God loves us and wants us to be happy now, not just in some nebulous future...

And I am. I have been truly blessed by a great God who has (for some unknown and unmerited reason) chosen to give me great peace and joy. And I am grateful to Him, to my family, and to those who love and support me in this. My life is truly marvelous.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...
7 comments
Read more

Engaged

Three Dog Night got it wrong.  One is not the loneliest number. They were more accurate when they said Two can be as bad as one.  I really wonder how people can survive Without being fully engaged. How they live through each day Without the intimacy I so very much crave... Maybe I am unusual in my desire  To have this intimacy, To want to feel that soul So close to my own Sharing light and warmth, Sharing love and passion, Sharing life. Alas! Alas! Alas! For when I do seek to share It is often only to be rebuffed Denied Or used up, Sucked dry, And left an empty husk.  I want SO MUCH to share And all I have is the cold, digital world Of typing out a blog.
12 comments
Read more

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 ...
18 comments
Read more