The Rules, Laws, and Processes
We had an interesting conversation around the dinner table
last night. The Professor is trying to teach her class about fractions. It is a
concept that is hard for small children to understand. Heck is it hard for
adults to understand. So my question is why? Why do we have to follow certain
rules, laws, and processes to make the numbers work? Who came up with these
rules? Who made them right? Why do these laws hold over time? Maybe the
questions might change to why do we have such a hard time following these
rules, laws, and processes?
However, many don't like to follow this rule of only adding
the numerator and leaving the denominator the same. Some don't like to
like to find common denominators when they are different and just add them
both. Why doesn't it work? Why doesn't 3/4 + 3/4
= 6/8 or 3/4? Why doesn't 3/4 + 1/2 = 4/6 or 2/3?
Because when you are adding things together, they should be increasing
not remaining the same or decreasing in size. 6/8 = 3/4 2/3 is less than
3/4. We cannot add something and get a smaller number or equal number. It goes
against the law of addition.
So back to original questions, Who made this law? Again, who made that person right? We could apply the same questions to all laws and concepts that govern math, physics, science, nature, etc... When it all comes down to it, these laws were not made by the men, the were discovered or remembered. They are only obeyed by the men who discovered them. Through trial and error, they have tried to help others understand them, so that they too may live by them. We cannot change them. We cannot choose to make 3/4 + 3/4 = 6/8 just because it makes more sense to us or because we want to.
Why? Don't I have agency to choose how fractions are added? I guess you do, but that does not change the laws of mathematics. It does not change the principles that have been discovered. They are not laws that were made or created on this planet, but are followed, accepted, and obeyed. When we choose to ignore them, we just end up with less or when we try to put all the pieces together, they will not fit.
Many people have dedicated long hours sometimes their entire lives into proving or trying to disprove these laws. They know they are there, they just cannot explain why they are there and where they came from and why they have to be followed. They can explain them in many different fashions, they can write them out in a myriad of different sequences, but the fact is they all say the same thing. We have to understand them and obey them to progress.
These laws are not just temporal, they are spiritual as
well. On top of them, there are other laws that govern our existence. I don't
have all the answers to all the whys. I just know they are there. They don't
always make sense to me, but I know that they have to be followed for success
or increase. In order for all the pieces and answers to fit together, there is
an order that must be lived to get there. They have to be balanced. We cannot
choose to follow some and ignore others and expect to have the desired result.
If we don't follow the order, there will be missing parts in the end.
We have been given the order for success by our Heavenly Father. It is not always easy. Just like doing math problems, it is easy to make mistakes. That is why we use pencils and have eraser(Atonement). We are able to erase the mistakes and try again until we get it right. Does that change the fact that we made mistakes, nope. It just means that we had to learn to apply the laws better until it because easy to solve/live the math problem of life.
Can you see how this same principle applies to everything we do? Maybe I am over simplifying it, but it is true. I know it. I don't always know how to say it. I live it because I want the best possible result. I don't live it because it is fun or easy all the time. Sometimes I have lived it because my math teach told me that is the way it and so I did. Other times I have learned for myself that it is an order/law that cannot be changed. I have learned to understand the order/law and thus I live it because I want to have success, not because someone wants me to have success. In order to do so, I have to follow the order and live according to the law I have come to understand.
We have been given the order for success by our Heavenly Father. It is not always easy. Just like doing math problems, it is easy to make mistakes. That is why we use pencils and have eraser(Atonement). We are able to erase the mistakes and try again until we get it right. Does that change the fact that we made mistakes, nope. It just means that we had to learn to apply the laws better until it because easy to solve/live the math problem of life.
Can you see how this same principle applies to everything we do? Maybe I am over simplifying it, but it is true. I know it. I don't always know how to say it. I live it because I want the best possible result. I don't live it because it is fun or easy all the time. Sometimes I have lived it because my math teach told me that is the way it and so I did. Other times I have learned for myself that it is an order/law that cannot be changed. I have learned to understand the order/law and thus I live it because I want to have success, not because someone wants me to have success. In order to do so, I have to follow the order and live according to the law I have come to understand.
On with the week. It has been super eventful. SnackPack referred
to it as the SBO Hell Week. And that kind of sums it up.
Do I need to say more?
OK here is a picture of the events of Tall Man's week.
Yep, that is just two buildings down from his current domicile. He was jerked from sleep by smoke, fire alarms, and chaos.
So where should we start?
The Queen and I had two Memorial services to attend this week. It was nice to get with fellow co-workers, but sad to know that there were two of them we would not be getting with for a while. They were both great people that have left us with great perspectives for life. The rest of the week we spent working, visiting, going to the temple, and waiting for SnackPack to come home from his adventures.
The Professor is chest deep in all sorts of stuff. They changed the ward boundaries for all YSA Wards in our region. She was tasked with preparing for a Linger Longer with the members of the old and new ward. On top of that, she was teaching fractions and being taught herself.
In addition to the Towering Inferno this week, Tall Man has been preparing for opening night. I think he spends more time at the theater than he does at home or work. He has asked to crash at our house a couple times this week, just so he can get some sleep. I guess I have really been out of it. We talked about other things yesterday, but not about the play. I will have to get an update from him. Maybe you should do the same.
SnackPack was out of the house every day before 6 and home around 11. There were a couple times we saw him come home and change clothes or drop off supplies for the Senior Sunrise. He was even up crazy early on the weekend for a polo game. He had to be on deck at 7. Everyday was filled with a game, parade, or preparation for the fore mentioned items. Then to top it all off, he came home around 8 last night because all of friends were at the dance. He told us he was just going to hang out until 10 and then he had to go help clean up after the dance. We were OK with it. It was nice to have him around for a little while, even if he was just playing video games.
Then around 9 p.m. a young lady walks through the front door and says, "Hey, is SnackPack here?" We had no idea who she was. We told her he was downstairs. A few minutes later, he came up wearing a white shirt and bow tie. Off they went to the dance. I think he does it just to see how we will react sometimes. I hope we have not disappointed him.
Last night we went over to welcome Elder Murdock home from his mission. It was fun to catch up with old friends. He looks good and is jumping right back into the swing of things.
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