I Believe in Love

It has been a very interesting weekend that has left me pondering some of my beliefs. My beliefs get challenged often times simply by getting exposed to others, their ideas, beliefs, practices, experiences, lives. Something deep within me, more often than not, simply disagrees with many ideas. But, I am at a constant challenge with myself to live those ideals.

One idea that I believe in is loyalty. I don't believe in just being friends in the moment. I don't believe in simply being friends because it is convenient. I am not perfect at this by any stretch of the imagination. But once friends, true friends, always friends. I believe that love is eternal.

I have heard, over and over, people say that their friendships are a calculation, a formula, a scale, and when it gets too hard, they walk away. I understand this view, but I disagree. I understand walking away from abuse, manipulation, and malicious intentions, but to walk away mid-tragedy...that I don't agree with.

Furthermore, I have watched, time after time, that when people go through a really hard spot, they find themselves abandoned by people who they thought were true friends. I really, really hope that I will never be one of those friends. But, inevitably I will let someone down, I am sure. But, there is something about watching a friend suffer with depression, death, mistakes, prison, anorexia, lack of employment, loss of a child, that in my mind, requires sacrifice and an increase in love.

Also, I do believe in love, marital love, family love, friendship love. I believe it is real, tangible, a power in life that goes deeper than any of us really comprehend. I believe that marriages can be glowingly happy; I've seen it. I am the product of it. I know it is possible for me. I believe couples can stay dedicated to each other in the face of short comings, disease, cancer, accidents, faults, most everything. I believe that criticism does not have to be an inevitable part of marriage and I do believe that marital love can be very, very sweet.

I believe that families can love and respect each other deeply. I guess I should say, it is more than a belief, it is knowledge. I know these things are and can be real. I believe that one man can be satisfied by one woman and vice versa. I believe in purity, chastity, and morality - not as a stick to beat people by, but as a support, a loyalty to another, a commitment to another human being, a family unit, a segment of society.

I love the feeling of love that comes for me after a long conversation with friends and family members. And that may be a really cheesy thing to write on a blog...but it is true. I love the feeling of warmth, brightness...and that quiet humility that comes from really connecting with someone. That quiet knowledge that I need to be better, because I love.

I believe in the perfecting quality of love, that it demands the very best from us. If we really have it, we willingly give the best we have for others because we desire the best for them. Sacrifice comes willingly and without compulsion. Love is a driving force for good.

I believe that people are irreplaceable. I believe in brothers, sisters, children, babies, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends...and that it has the potential to be all that we ever dreamed it could be.

These beliefs are just a part of me. They always have been. I think that something in me will always believe, and if that belief weakens through experiences of life, then I will always have hope, a very real hope, that these things are and can be real. I really have no idea where my life will take me. I could find myself in a war-torn country someday where damaging abuse has happened on a wide scale. I could live in a place where no one believes in love. I have, actually, already lived in a place where love is not as abundant as it is in the U.S. But, despite all that is said or done, I do believe in love. I believe in generating love. And if none of these things are or can be, then my existence is futile.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

You Are Belle!

Intelligent and kind. Your beauty goes much further than your apperance. Also, you make judgements of people based on their personality and not their looks. Attaining all the knowledge that you can is one of your major goals in life, but you are also a person who can make things happen.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Funny Little Moments

I decided last night that when I went running this morning I'd stretch while watching the French news on my laptop. Got up, went running, listened to the French podcast - which P.S. is generally much better about international coverage. So there I am stretching away while my heart beat slows down when the end segment was about a French study about the "American" sport of jogging with aging. The study compared people over the age of 50 who run a few times a week versus those who don't. These French scientists were "astounded" at the profound difference it made. Those who ran regularly were less handicapped, had a longer active life, and died much later than their sedentary counterparts. By the end of the study 34% of the sedentary people had died whereas only 15% of the runners had passed away. If that isn't motivation to go running tomorrow as well, I don't know what is.

Grubfest 2008

Something strange has been lurking about St. Louis. Maybe you've noticed. I first became aware of it last year 'round about this time. I finally was able to put my finger on it. The only word that adequately describes it is Grubfest.

After a surreptitious search of the dictionary I finally found the definition.

Grubfest: A phenomenon takes place around the peak meteor season of the summer in a town called Grubville. Participants, known by the local population as 'Grubfesters' find their way to a field (which is either infested with chiggers or bulls) and watch the shooting stars.

I thought for sure that after spying on last year's adventure Grubfest would not be a recurring event. But, as it turns out, it tripled in size AND had a 75% return rate of last years attenders. I blame this on the fact that people don't actually read my blog (otherwise they would have known better) and the 'Grubfesters' from last year are certifiably crazy.

Since I know that none of you would find the authentic dictionary definition convincing I attached some covert photos of the Grubfest phenomenon.





Grubfesters



Grubfesters Nate, Debbie, Eric, & Robert



Chantal n' Debbie grubfestin'



Laura n' Eric moseying around the boats. The "lake" on which these boats sit is a man-made lake. You'd expect nothing less of a grubfest host.



Robert Marshall(known secretly to Grubfesters as 'Host') with the boats.



Unfortunately, the phenomenon of Grubfesters is evident in other places as well. This phenomenal phenomenon may be taking place near you!! You may discover pockets of 'festers' during peak meteor time just before dawn on August 12th. Consider yourself warned.

http://www.earthsky.org/article/earth-skys-meteor-guide-for-2008

A Nastalgic Moment

I remember being a kid in junior primary looking at the class just older than me. I realized that one day we'd be grown ups. The thought was a little too weird to really digest. It was soooo far away. I couldn't even imagine it.

Before I went to college, I had never been on an airplane....or ever out of New England more than a handful of times. The thought that tomorrow I'd be in an airplane across the country was so...weird.

A day later I sat there in my newly moved in dorm room wondering if I'd ever have one of those often spoken of experiences of staying up all night working on papers. I couldn't really fathom it.

Before going into the Missionary Training Center there was that building, the mysterious building in which I'd never been beyond the room where you see missionaries off in. I'd watched my brother and rare good friends leave from there, but I couldn't really imagine that I would ever really see the inside.

Before the marathon, as they bussed us up into the mountains, it was that same surreal feeling. The idea that at the end of the day I'd have actually run a marathon was a hard to imagine.

Yesterday, I was sitting in my hotel room wondering what it would be like to take the bar. Well, I am half way done. Life is so strange sometimes. Today the girl seated next to me looked at me and said, 'We are taking the bar. How weird is that?' She spoke my feelings exactly.

But, somehow everything does get done. All of us primary kids grew up, and most have long since finished college, gotten married, and had children. I've now been on more airplanes now than I can count. In college, I stayed up all night writing papers on more nights than I can count. I completed the mysterious world of the MTC and I managed to survive the year and half after that. Somehow the marathon was run, gimp knee and all, and now I am halfway done the bar. Life is so surreal sometimes.

Trumpet Lessons for the Angels

I've been working on my topic for the Idea Group (angels) for a while now and it has been...incredible. The things I've learned have far exceeded what I ever would have guessed. When I prayed to know if the church was true, the answer that it is true far exceeded the answer I expected to get. Although, truthfully I had no expectations. But the breadth and depth of what that means is continually impressed upon me.

For example, angels throughout time have testified of Christ. In the Book of Mormon an Angel appeared to King Benjamin and told him that Christ would be born to a woman named Mary. His name would be Jesus Christ. (Mosiah 3:2) The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would bear a son, and his name would be Jesus. He was subsequently named Jesus and "his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Luke 2:21

When Christ was born, angels appeared to the shepherds. When Christ died, two angels were in his tomb and testified that he had been resurrected. Angels helped the work of the apostles even after Christ was gone, for one let the Peter out of prison after he had been placed there. (Acts 5:19)

Angels are no less among us now. In this dispensation, Joseph Smith was visited by numerous angels. At the pinnacle of all of the temples is a golden figure of the angel Moroni, the angel who brought Joseph Smith the Book of Mormon.

I guess the thing that has impressed me is that all of the records I could find of angels all point to one thing, that Jesus is the Christ. They not only testified of it long before he came, but they made sure that all of the prophecies were fulfilled, and they testified of its fulfillment. I already knew the church was true, i.e. that it is the one that Christ in his resurrected form directs under the direction of the Father, but I never realized how much the role of angels has played in the gospel throughout history.

I hear constantly that the most important thing is to be a good person, simply a good person and religion doesn't matter. I would submit that both matter. I think being a good person is the responsibility of every human being no matter what their beliefs. With that said, truth is truth.

This scripture really hit me yesterday:

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Angels throughout history have born witness of Him, Christ bore witness of his role, and I bear witness of him. Jesus is the Christ.

This One is Dedicated to Cindy