Are You Aware?

I love BYU. It is hard to believe that within two short months, I will have finished my undergraduate studies! One of my favorite things at BYU is the weekly devotionals and forums. This last Tuesday I attended a forum address given by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I found his message to be compelling and thought-provoking.

One of his major points was that secularism has found its way into our modern culture and is beginning to erode human dignity and human rights. I agree with Dr. Mohler, that without the belief that every person is a child of God, who deserves respect and certain rights, we begin to loose sight of the value of human life. Consequently, religious liberty is also being threatened as some seek to interfere with or question the fundamental right to worship God. On this matter Dr. Mohler encouraged believers of different faiths to stand together to protect the religious freedom of all people; for as he humorously put it, "I believe we will not go to heaven together, but we might well go to jail together."

As I headed to my next class after the forum, I walked among a throng of BYU students--this happens daily as there more than 30,000 students here. At one point I came to a bottleneck where students converged from 4 congested paths. To me it appeared as if there was a current, pulling students in various directions as they skillfully slipped past one another. It was difficult for me to make it through the crowd, as I was heading in a different direction than most, but I looked up at the people around me and I found a way through, because others took notice of my need and opened the way.

With Dr. Mohler's address still on my mind, I realized that this experience was somewhat like real life. We frequently come to a congested intersection where we could run into others or be pushed down a path against our will. However, if we take the time to look up and become aware of where others are headed, a spirit of concern ensues and we are able to help one another accomplish tasks that would be impossible on our own. This is the type of community that I think Dr. Mohler was encouraging, and one that we need to lead peaceful and prosperous lives.

To access Dr. Mohler's speech, go to http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2166.

I Can See Clearly Now

The truth is I'm going blind, but before you jump to any dismal conclusions, let me explain. Growing up I never needed glasses or contacts, and I prided myself in my 20/15 vision. However, in recent years my eyesight has slowly deteriorated. About two years ago I got glasses to help me see better in my college classes, but now I often find myself wearing them throughout the day. Although I can still get by if I forget my glasses or if find it inconvenient to wear them, I crave the clarity of sight that my glasses provide, especially when I look out into the distance.

Not unlike my eyesight, over time our vision of what is actually important in life can become blurred. Sometimes we become so wrapped up in the here and now that we loose sight of what is essential. Private introspection may yield important insights concerning our priorities and path. What then is truly important? For me, three priorities are paramount: God, family, and friends. The quality of my relationships with my God, my family, and my friends allow me to determine whether I need to correct or continue my course. Take a look into the distance. Are your sights set on what matters most, or could you benefit from a pair of new glasses?

Long in the Making

Today I went on an adventure to Arches National Park in Utah. I was amazed by the natural scenery that we encountered. My favorite sight was the Delicate Arch, which is depicted on many Utah license plates. While I was at the park I learned about how this (and 2000 other) beautiful arches were formed. Initially, some seismic event caused rifts to form in the solid beds of rock. Then, as rain fell, water pooled and slowly eroded away the rock and widened the rifts until the arches and other striking features were formed.

On the car ride home I was thinking about this, and I came to the realization that the formation of these arches is very similar to how we as human beings develop our character. Initially, we are like flat and common slabs of rock, but at some point we realize a need for change. Something within calls us to be better, and we break down--usually due to our own flaws or mistakes. In this state of humility, we allow truth from heaven to shape us to become something of far greater beauty. At first large changes are required, and then over time the fine details of our character are rounded out. The final product is something so natural and good that it could not have been the result of our efforts alone. Remember that God is shaping you into the person that He foresees, so be patient in this long process until you develop character as breathtaking as the Delicate Arch.

The Beginning

Hello world! I've been considering creating my own blog for sometime, and I have finally done so to share thoughts and experiences from my life that I hope will be interesting and of worth to you. Recently, I was encouraged to look for parables, or analogies, in my own life. Since that time, I have had several experiences when I recognized that I could learn a great lesson from seemingly unimportant occurrences.

As I attempt to share my thoughts with you, I realize that I am limited in my views and experiences. Thus, I hope to follow the example of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, to help me express my thoughts and feelings in a way that can reach each of you. I also hope that my posts will generate genuine discussion and will inspire you to look for your own everyday parables.