Shifting Perspective

Whew, it has been an exciting and taxing week. I just started working as a counselor for Especially for Youth (EFY). EFY is a really neat program, where youth ages 14-18 get together to have fun and learn spiritually and socially. I went to EFY four times while I was that age, and I loved it. I am excited to spend my summer with some amazing youth, many of whom cannot yet see their value and potential.

Tonight I was trying to relax a little, so I got in our hot tub. After a while, I turned off the jets to enjoy some peace and quiet. That's when Bigfoot jumped over my fence and scared the living daylights out of me...just kidding; I'm just making sure you're paying attention. As I was just sitting in the water, I noticed that the farther away I moved my hands and the closer I brought them to the surface, the smaller they appeared. My best attempt to get as far away and as close to the surface as possible produced the look of a baby's tiny hands. However, each time I brought my hands out of the water, they returned to their normal shape and size.

I must have been in a contemplative mood, because this change of perspective intrigued me and I spent several minutes moving my hands and legs around and observing them. That was more difficult to explain that I imagined, but here's the point: at times our perspective becomes skewed and we appear to be much smaller than we actually are. I pray I can help pull your hands out of "the water" so that you can see your value a little more clearly.

The reason you and I and every person has inherent value is because we are all children of God. He loves us, knows us, and cares for us. Sometimes we define ourselves by our weaknesses or our imperfections, but God doesn't. He defines us by our strengths and our potential, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. If you want to know what God thinks of you, just ask Him. I know He loves and values you. My aim this summer is to help the youth I work with recognize this truth.

The Good Samaritan

Today at church I watched a video depicting the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It inspired me to be better. Take a few minutes to watch it. I will explain the insights that I received below.

One way that we can interpret this parable is that the Good Samaritan represents Jesus Christ. Like the Good Samaritan, Christ comes to us in our time of need, binds up our wounds, and takes us to a better place. Samaritans are of mixed descent: partly Israelite and partly gentile. Christ was also of mixed descent: a God who was born of a mortal mother (see Mosiah 15).

Who then is the inn keeper? You and I. Christ brings those wounded and weary souls to each of us so that we can care for them and aid in the healing process. Some of whom are among your own family. He blesses us for our work, but the full reward will not be given until He comes again, or in other words, at the Second Coming of Christ. Are you prepared and willing to watch over those souls God will place in your path? At least for me, I can do much better in this regard.

If you want to share any other insights or interpretations of the Parable of the Good Samaritan below, please do!

Now or Later

If you've never tried the candy "Now and Later," let me explain why this is a fitting name. The candy is almost hard, but just chewy enough that you can slowly break it down. This is the "Now" part. However, as you keep chewing, little bits of the candy get stuck in between or on your teeth. That is the part for "Later."

About a week ago, I had laparoscopic surgery. Now, if you're worried about me, I'm doing fine. The surgery went well, and I am on the road to recovery. Because of my surgery, I have spent a lot more time than I am used to on the couch. I spent much of this time reading and thinking. I have frequently been frustrated during the last week that I couldn't help out around the house as I usually do, especially as we got ready for my brother and sister-in-law's open house last weekend. Could I have endured the pain and pretended like my surgery never happened? Perhaps. Would I have paid in the long run for violating my doctor's order? Undoubtedly.

Getting what we want might be available "Now and Later,"but sometimes we must give up what we want now in order to receive something greater in the future. For me, I am trying to discipline myself to pave the way to more rapid and lasting health.

Banding Together

Last night I attended my brother's band concert. After one of the songs, my mom leaned over to me and said, "You could write a blog post about how it takes all of the instruments together to make a band." I thought that was an excellent idea, so here it goes.

Trumpets, tubas, and trombones; clarinets, flutes, and saxophones. While you and I may prefer one instrument to play, is one inherently superior today? All the sounds together make a song, pleasing to the ear and strong. One without the rest may do, but banded together are somehow more true.

In my mind, this same principle that applies to a band, applies to humankind as a whole. Everyone plays a different, yet vital role in society. There are teachers, mothers, technicians, doctors, etc, all of which are needed. So if you feel insignificant today, remember that your tune too is contributing to the marvelous symphony of society.We need you!

The Best Man

As I alluded to in my last post, my brother was married over the weekend. We went to Oakland, California  for the wedding. It was a beautiful event. I can't imagine it being much better. The weather was fantastic, everyone who planned on coming made it on time, and Eric and Kara are so happy together. My brother asked me to be his best man about two months ago, which was an honor for me. I helped organize his bachelor party, created a slideshow of him and Kara, and led the effort to decorate their get away vehicle.

I was particularly proud of our decorations on the car. It turned out better than I had expected. Kara's dad let them take his nice sedan, and he was justified in his worry about how we were going to decorate his car. His only rule was "nothing on the paint," which he repeated on a few occasions. We went to work and filled the back seat with balloons, tied crepe-paper streamers, and wrote on the windows using window paint. After we finished, I pulled the car up to the front and when I got out I noticed that the streamers had spread the wet paint from the windows to the top of the car. I had broken the only rule! With haste I ran to the bathroom, wet a few paper towels, and ran back to the car. It was a huge relief to me that the window paint came off easily and my brother and his new wife enjoyed the decorations as they drove off into the night.

On occasion, even when we are being careful, we will make mistakes, breach rules, or spill paint all over. When that happens, it is incomprehensible to think that we would just weep and wallow. Such moments require action--and when it comes to making mistakes in our lives, that action is called repentance. Repentance is accomplished by righting wrong and seeking forgiveness from God and cleansing through the atonement of Jesus Christ. From my own experience, I know these things are not abstract illusions, but sure realities. Mistakes made may be forgiven, but when left alone, they harden.

Dancing at the Reception

Marriage is what brings us together today...well, yesterday and then it will again on Saturday for my brother's wedding. Yesterday I was privileged to attend the sealing of my friends Spencer and Hayley at the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony and seeing true joy radiate from them made me feel happy, and hopeful.

In the evening I also attended their wedding reception. Near the end of the event, my fear came true as they announced that there would be dancing and they wanted us all to join in. I have been to several wedding receptions where they have party dancing, and it just didn't seem like my thing. It's not that I can't dance--or maybe that is the problem--I guess I'm just a little self-conscious.

Thankfully, I was with several friends from my mission, and they wanted to get out there. I decided to just enjoy the dancing and not care what I looked like. Who was I going to impress anyway? It was a lot of fun, and my opinion of dancing at wedding receptions has changed. It can be fun.

Sometimes when new opportunities are placed before us, we turn away because we don't believe we can do it. Have a little faith in yourself and when given the chance, try something new.

Stepping Stones

This week has been full of working in our backyard and my hands are showing it! We are getting our yard ready for my brother's wedding reception, so we've replaced bark, added dirt, planted a tree and shrubs, and weeded, fertilized, and trimmed the lawn. I've noticed that it is hard to think about anything of much significance when I am working outside--maybe it's all the distractions around me or my muscles screaming exhaustion, but I have thought some about my work tonight and I have one thought to share.

Along the side of our house we added a stepping stone path from the back patio to the fence. After setting each stone, I walked the path to make sure the stones weren't too close or too far apart. Then, I placed dirt underneath each stone to level it out and to prevent the stones from tipping. Finally, I put new bark on the path to surround the stones. I am no professional, but I am pleased with the result. Take a look.

In some regard each of us is building a path. This path is setting the direction for your future and provides a highway for those who will come behind. Take a second and ask yourself, where is my path headed?

If your path needs some work, there is one who is the perfect example: Jesus Christ. If you pattern your path after His, you cannot go wrong.