As young adults, there is so much expected of us. There are days where you have to multi-task things that really shouldn't be done at the same time; Like filing your nails while driving. I'm a believer in enjoying everything you do and never doing anything simply because you think you "should." But this doesn't apply if you're a slacker. Being lazy is lame.

23 April 2010

A Rainy Day at the End of the Semester

Who wants to walk to class, in the rain, early on a Friday morning? It is April and it's cold. All these elements together equal misery. Greek poetry cheered me a little, but I was disappointed to see that my sole classmate for my New Testament wasn't present, so I'd have to be responsible for all the translation that day.

But lo and behold he was there when I got to the professor's office. I asked where he was and the professor promptly piped up and said "He was smoking all night." I thought there was a hint of a smokey smell... They both grinned. He then said he was up smoking meat all night, having to turn it every 2 hours. The professor proceeded to play a song for me: "Walking in Memphis." (The reason for this is a little long to explain. But there was a reason) My co-student had brought the Professor a CD by the Chieftans, and we listened to two, Mexican/Irish songs, one narrated by Liam Neeson. And this is how the New Testament class began this morning.

Last Wednesday the professor played "Baba O'Riley" by the Who at the beginning of class.

Does any of this have to do with the New Testament in Greek? Of course not. But did the day just go from woe to awesome? Yes.

Now this is what I call an education.

06 April 2010

Word.

While typing a paper, I was searching for a word to use other than "victim", so I right clicked to reveal the handy-dandy thesaurus. The following words were the result.
  • injured party
  • fatality
  • casualty 
  • sufferer
  • wounded
  • prey
  • dupe
  • butt

Aim.

Great aim has never been one of my qualities. Normally it is not a big concern, except on days like today, when the snow is perfect for snowballs.

On the way to campus, some friends and I amused ourselves with throwing snow at each other. And since we were all walking the same direction we were in close proximity, which granted easy shots. Here some examples of epic hits, despite most of our lack of great coordination.

  • Throwing a ball at the passing TRAX train, and nailing one of the rear cars in the front window.
  • Walking behind me, a ball that was "meant to land in front" landed right on my forehead.
  • Parting ways, I threw one last ball. I was aiming for his shoulder...but nailed him right in the side of the head, allowing snow to get into his collar. Also, snow was molded perfectly in the shape of his ear, like a bright white, and I'm sure very cold, hearing aid. 
\o/

05 April 2010

A little confused...

Every time I turn a corner (and I mean every corner I turn) in the house I watch out for a small black dog...
I say "Good-bye Teeka!" to an empty kitchen...
I was early to class today because I didn't have to feed the dog or let her out...
Sitting with my dinner, I look for a begging face...
Chilling with the family, I wait for the click-click of claws and tinkle of a collar as she comes to sit by me...
I hear deep breathing and a sigh as she curls up in her bed when I go to sleep...

For more than 14 years this happened. I was in 3rd grade, 7 years old.

Now it doesn't, and it is very strange. Though how very appropo for her to choose to leave on Saturday night, when the next morning is Easter...

At least I can put my Easter basket full of treats on the floor without her getting her nose into it.

03 April 2010

So We Might Be Free

I don't think we can or will ever be able to fully appreciate the extent of the life and sacrifice of a man named Jesus Christ. I have heard some Christian people say that they don't know how other, non-Christian, people are able to live without faith in a God, or any redeemer. They say that life is hard enough to try living it on your own. But as has been proved through thousands of years and billions of people's not acknowledging a higher power, at least in the Christian monotheistic sense, it is possible to live a life "on your own". I know several very intelligent people who seem very content in their atheistic/agnostic beliefs. They find peace in learning and loving.

Now, you Christians are going to start telling me that they are probably in pain deep inside, burying or having destroyed the light of Christ they were born with. You might say they know deep down inside that there is a higher power. Or that they are just too puffed up in themselves to see that someone might be better than they are. They have found a place of mind where they can function and live their lives the way they find best for themselves. Of course, this is part of my point.

We are taught in the book of John that, parenthesis added, "that was the true Light (referring to Jesus Christ), which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9) Also in the Doctrine and Covenants, "And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world..." (D&C 84:46). Though people may refuse Christian theology, there is a light that stays with them. As long as a man obeys a law, he/she is blessed for it.

The Lord never intended for us to be ignorant and foolish beings that relied explicitly on Him. We are to attempt to grow our own brains through experience. He has said, "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me" (D&C 9:7). All men are searching for the same thing. Happiness. Though with one short survey of current events on this planet we call Earth, this concept may seem laughable. But even those who seek to harm every other being on the planet are searching for happiness, either in this life or the next: They just have a very different concept of happiness. But that is another topic for another day.

People who do not profess a belief in the One True God are not left alone because of their unbelief. They too, as children of Heavenly Father regardless of all of their choices (lets face it. who makes the right choices every time?), are entitled to the promised blessings. They too may feel of His love in their lives. God is "no respecter of persons" (D&C 1:35). We obtain what we own (knowledge, understanding, gift of the Spirit, etc.) through our own choices, but not Love. Love is unconditional. Jesus of Nazareth did not approach the Garden of Gethsemane thinking "This Atonement is only for the righteous, hard-working, obedient people." As I said at the beginning, I do not think we may fully understand the Atonement, because it is in places we cannot see, in, maybe especially, places we do not expect.

We also cannot appreciate the chains we are bound with by wrong choices and wrong thoughts. Whenever you put sugar into your body, your blood flow is slowed. You cannot see or feel your blood moving through you, so you obviously can't feel when it's slowing. Except those times when you feel that sugar crash of a lethargic body, when you've ingest way too much sugar. So is the same reaction of your soul when you act on something that pulls you from perfection like God. You can't feel the chains wrapping around your brain of judgment, feeling, and compassion. But like sugar, if you keep eating it, your body slows and deteriorates. Each chain slows and deteriorates your brain and soul. But because of Christ, we can be freed from every chain. Every. Single. One. Heavy, solid and brick like chains, to strings of nylon. This is what is conditional. Anyone can live forever. And everyone will. But not everyone can live free forever.

For most people this is hard to fully understand, and for all people impossible to fully understand. Again like the sugar, you cannot really tell what is happening to you. This is why so many deny the Christ. The sad thing is, everyone is so desperate for healing. Grasping and slipping in their own minds, seeking goodness and solace around them when it isn't to be found in the minds of men. Christ has broken the bonds of death and sin. His Love is eternal and infinite (1 Nephi 11:22; 2 Nephi 1:15; 1 John 4:7-8; Romans 8:39 ).

One day we will have the chance to meet our Maker and our Redeemer. Until then, believe on the words of prophets from all generations of mankind. For today this Easter Sunday, Jesus Christ rose. His work is complete. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Rejoice in what you do know. Rejoice in the peace and love that is available to you now, at this moment. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Happy Easter.
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