Skip to main content

A letter

The arrangement of the books in the New Testament is interesting. Not chronological, not compiled by doctrine, nor following any other logical sequential order. Except that it goes from longest to shortest. Which is OK, but I've always wondered what made the cut and what didn't. Why do we have some letters but not others? Who made the decision about what made it into the Bible and what didn't? Surely there were more letters that were not included...

Timothy is the only one who gets letters written directly to him. He was the Bishop of Ephesus and apparently a relatively young man. But he had found favor with the Lord, and Paul refers to him as his son...

The letters written to Timothy are at once intensely personal and also very doctrinally illuminating. This is particularly true when it comes to the warnings directed specifically to Timothy that relate to difficulties he was facing or would face shortly.

As I read these words, I was reminded of letters my father has written to me and advice I've received directly from him. Now we don't send letters the way they used to - we can just pick up a phone and call. This is a much more direct and immediate method of communicating, and it is just as meaningful to me as if he were with me and speaking wisdom to my heart.

My father is a very wise man. I am grateful to be his son. I am grateful beyond my ability to express for the relationship we are able to continue to develop and enjoy. As I go through some of the darkest times of my life, I am thankful for the assistance and love he gives me, the advice and optimism, and the gentle guidance. We have always been able to talk - there was none of the estrangement that many young men feel from their fathers - and this ability has only been enhanced recently.

I know he's not perfect. But his imperfections do not put me off - they make him real and reasonable and rational. They make him human.

So I love you, pop. I am proud to be your son. I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who allowed us to be associated. Thank you for always being there for me.

Comments

Post a Comment

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
4 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