Seeking, Desiring, Enduring, or Expecting
My mind has been full of these thoughts for the past several years, but recently, they have come to the forefront of my mind. I have been dealing with some rather interesting situations in the work place that have made me question the mind set of being of the world today. It is often challenging to be in the world, observing, and trying not to be caught up of the worldly happenings of day to day life.
I am use to hearing the phrase, "That is not fair!" at home. I have watched my children grow and develop into active participants in the events of the world. Many times they get caught up in the happenings of the world and want to join in. When they are denied certain access, activities, or properties, I hear them shouting from the roof tops how it is not fair. I explain that some properties must be earn, they are not going to be handed to them on platters. We have several discussion about the fact that not all activities are appropriate and that some liberties come with responsibility. If one has not proven that they can handle such responsibility, then they much make the changes in their lives to show that they can. And finally, access is a privilege not a right.
At times I feel that I am just going round and round through the same cycle. I keep trying to figure out how I can better articulate that they might understand. In fact, there have been many times that I have been beating myself up and questioning if maybe I am being too harsh. Maybe I should change with the times. Then I go out into the world for a few seconds and realized that I am not. It is a hard and sad realization, but the fact of the matter is, we are here to prove ourselves, not be given the platter.
I have been reading in Helaman and 3 Nephi about the challenges of Nephi and his brethren. There are many chapters that talk about them dedicating several years of their lives to proclaiming the Gospel, a way of life that encourages us to change our desires that they might be in harmony with that of our creator. With these desires we should be seeking the good in all things, striving to be better today than we were yesterday, and most importantly, being the best individual we can be. In the mean time, we have to interact, associate, be tempted by those people and things that the Adversary would have us be distracted by.
As I was saying, these men, spent every moment of their lives trying to do help others change. What did they get in return. As you read about them, they had a great deal of heartache. It tore them apart to see the selfishness of those around them. They watered their pillows at night over the greed, pride, and arrogance of the people they were teaching. It pained them to watch this people they were teaching destroying themselves with the sense of entitlement and expectation, especially when they knew that they would be forfeiting a great reward.
How many of you face the same frustrations? I know I have. I just can't understand why they choose to reject a path that will bring them great rewards in the end. Why can't they look forward to the possibilities?
Then I remember the path described by Lehi. There is a mighty mist of darkness. This mist if filled with distractions, access, activities, and properties that lead us away and eventually envelope us from finding that great reward. These men I have mentioned did the same. The remembered. When their hearts were pained, their pillows wet, and the gloom of despair surrounded them, the remembered and then got up from their knees and endured another day, seeking the reward of finding someone whose eyes would be open, and that would change their hearts desire to seek the same.
It is not easy work, life. It is filled with challenge, affliction, torment, defeat, and harshness, but we must never lose sight of the great reward. We must firmly plant our feet and keep moving forward with the hopes of success. And one day, we will receive the reward ourselves.
I am use to hearing the phrase, "That is not fair!" at home. I have watched my children grow and develop into active participants in the events of the world. Many times they get caught up in the happenings of the world and want to join in. When they are denied certain access, activities, or properties, I hear them shouting from the roof tops how it is not fair. I explain that some properties must be earn, they are not going to be handed to them on platters. We have several discussion about the fact that not all activities are appropriate and that some liberties come with responsibility. If one has not proven that they can handle such responsibility, then they much make the changes in their lives to show that they can. And finally, access is a privilege not a right.
At times I feel that I am just going round and round through the same cycle. I keep trying to figure out how I can better articulate that they might understand. In fact, there have been many times that I have been beating myself up and questioning if maybe I am being too harsh. Maybe I should change with the times. Then I go out into the world for a few seconds and realized that I am not. It is a hard and sad realization, but the fact of the matter is, we are here to prove ourselves, not be given the platter.
I have been reading in Helaman and 3 Nephi about the challenges of Nephi and his brethren. There are many chapters that talk about them dedicating several years of their lives to proclaiming the Gospel, a way of life that encourages us to change our desires that they might be in harmony with that of our creator. With these desires we should be seeking the good in all things, striving to be better today than we were yesterday, and most importantly, being the best individual we can be. In the mean time, we have to interact, associate, be tempted by those people and things that the Adversary would have us be distracted by.
As I was saying, these men, spent every moment of their lives trying to do help others change. What did they get in return. As you read about them, they had a great deal of heartache. It tore them apart to see the selfishness of those around them. They watered their pillows at night over the greed, pride, and arrogance of the people they were teaching. It pained them to watch this people they were teaching destroying themselves with the sense of entitlement and expectation, especially when they knew that they would be forfeiting a great reward.
How many of you face the same frustrations? I know I have. I just can't understand why they choose to reject a path that will bring them great rewards in the end. Why can't they look forward to the possibilities?
Then I remember the path described by Lehi. There is a mighty mist of darkness. This mist if filled with distractions, access, activities, and properties that lead us away and eventually envelope us from finding that great reward. These men I have mentioned did the same. The remembered. When their hearts were pained, their pillows wet, and the gloom of despair surrounded them, the remembered and then got up from their knees and endured another day, seeking the reward of finding someone whose eyes would be open, and that would change their hearts desire to seek the same.
It is not easy work, life. It is filled with challenge, affliction, torment, defeat, and harshness, but we must never lose sight of the great reward. We must firmly plant our feet and keep moving forward with the hopes of success. And one day, we will receive the reward ourselves.
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