Just a Red Neck Pillow
My head has been in an interesting place all week. I spent most of it on a business trip. Honestly, it was not something I was particularly excited about, but I was going to give it my best effort. It was planned to take place downtown Chicago, near corporate head quarters. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that most of my peers were all traveling with me. I was equally surprised to find out that there was a group from one of the remote offices in the mid-west arriving at the same time. It was the beginning of many good reunions to come to pass in the next few days.
After meeting and greeting in the airport baggage claim area, I was shocked to learn that a majority of the group had never even been downtown Chicago, let alone near corporate offices. There were 13 of us all together, and they were a little bit apprehensive about how to get us all from the airport to the downtown hotel. We looked at cabs, way too expensive. There was a shuttle service, but they could only promise a group of 10 on the next trip. And finally, there was the train, mass transit, the Blue Line. For some reason they were afraid of getting lost.
I offered to be one of the 3 to take the train and they could all take the shuttle. But once the offer was made, no one wanted to be in the group who was not willing to take the train. Faith increased in all of them as they realized that some of us had taken the train and promised not to let them get lost in a big, strange city.
It was a learning adventure for all. Learning how to read and follow the signs through out the airport, buying passage from a kiosk, using the tickets of passage to get through the turnstiles, and then finally figuring out which train to board, even choosing a car to ride in was an adventure. Once we were all settled and felt safe with our transport, we turned to catching up for the next 55 minutes or so.
As we approached our stop, I stood up and gathered my belongings. I was surprised to hear some say, "Oh, I am so glad we have someone watching out for us, I would never have known this was the stop." As we disembarked, many of them stood in the underground tunnel waiting for someone to take the lead. They were completely lost and confused as to the direction they should go. Though they questioned me when I started walking, it did not take long for them to follow with willing steps. However, some were not as fast to believe. I was asked several times to slow down so we did not lose anyone. At one point, someone bring up the rear said they were worried they would lose sight of me and not know where to go.
Upon hearing this, I removed the bright red neck pillow from my carry on and held it high above my head. Slowly the word was passed down the line to just follow the red pillow. And follow they did. I held it high as we moved in and out of commuters coming onto the platform, but the escalators, through the tunnels, and finally up the stairwell exit to street level. Together, they followed me we confidence.
However, once we were at street level, the group seemed to be easily distracted. Even though I held the pillow high, they would pause to peer in store windows, snap a selfie in front of a sculpture, or stop to watch the world around them. Encouragement continued to ring from many of our little caravan, "Come on, Keep up, We can come back, You don't want to get lost, and Yes, he knows where he is going."
I have thought about this experience all week as I have re-read, listened to, and thought upon several talks from conference, pondered JS-Hist 1:8-9, and particular verses from Words of Mormon verse 17. Starting with the latter and working my way back. King Benjamin and many holy men did speak with power and authority because of the stiffneckedness of the people.
The Stiffneckedness caught my attention. What does it mean to be stiffnecked? Many relate it to sin or disobedience, but as I reflected upon my adventure, I wondered if it did not mean distracted as well. How many of them became so distracted that they could or would not turn to follow the the red pillow? How many of them risked getting lost? My thoughts turned to Moses and the fiery serpents. How many people refused to look upon his staff and see the brazen serpent that would heal them. I suddenly envisioned that Moses and his staff did not remain in one location. He was constantly moving closer to and towards the Promised Land, they just had to turn and follow.
I then pondered young Joseph, in a world of great excitement and confusion. He was not sure who to follow, who to look too, or which denomination had the brazen serpent. So, he turned to God, first through scripture, then through prayer. He understood how to get the direction he was seeking.
Finally, as I have pondered many of the talks from Saturday Morning session, we are reminded over and over again to turn to Him, draw near unto Him, follow Him.
How fortunate we are to have a prophet of God on the earth today, holding high the banner to which we should follow. I pray that you will loosen your neck muscles, even turn your whole body about if needed to follow Him and those He has given us to lead. Just words for thought.
There you have it, this is where my mind has been.
While I was a way, the world around here continued to move forward.
The Queen worked, did mutual, attended a few polo games, finished a quilt, and cared for her ailing husband.
The Professor attended class, taught a child or two, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.
Tall Man continues drawing near to the end of a semester and carry all the stress and burdens that come with those final days. It can be a heavy set of luggage to carry the first few times if not always.
SnackPack is winding the year to a close. They have started interviews for next years officers, auditions are taking place, and we are moving closer to Summer Games.
Such is the life, day in and day out.
For those interested, Magna Central is no more. Everything was divided at 3100. 2nd and 10th went to the East and 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th went to the South. The wards stayed in tact as presently constituted. We will see if there are future changes to be made as we have another conference now on the weekend of the 30th and 1st. Stay tuned.
After meeting and greeting in the airport baggage claim area, I was shocked to learn that a majority of the group had never even been downtown Chicago, let alone near corporate offices. There were 13 of us all together, and they were a little bit apprehensive about how to get us all from the airport to the downtown hotel. We looked at cabs, way too expensive. There was a shuttle service, but they could only promise a group of 10 on the next trip. And finally, there was the train, mass transit, the Blue Line. For some reason they were afraid of getting lost.
I offered to be one of the 3 to take the train and they could all take the shuttle. But once the offer was made, no one wanted to be in the group who was not willing to take the train. Faith increased in all of them as they realized that some of us had taken the train and promised not to let them get lost in a big, strange city.
It was a learning adventure for all. Learning how to read and follow the signs through out the airport, buying passage from a kiosk, using the tickets of passage to get through the turnstiles, and then finally figuring out which train to board, even choosing a car to ride in was an adventure. Once we were all settled and felt safe with our transport, we turned to catching up for the next 55 minutes or so.
As we approached our stop, I stood up and gathered my belongings. I was surprised to hear some say, "Oh, I am so glad we have someone watching out for us, I would never have known this was the stop." As we disembarked, many of them stood in the underground tunnel waiting for someone to take the lead. They were completely lost and confused as to the direction they should go. Though they questioned me when I started walking, it did not take long for them to follow with willing steps. However, some were not as fast to believe. I was asked several times to slow down so we did not lose anyone. At one point, someone bring up the rear said they were worried they would lose sight of me and not know where to go.
Upon hearing this, I removed the bright red neck pillow from my carry on and held it high above my head. Slowly the word was passed down the line to just follow the red pillow. And follow they did. I held it high as we moved in and out of commuters coming onto the platform, but the escalators, through the tunnels, and finally up the stairwell exit to street level. Together, they followed me we confidence.
However, once we were at street level, the group seemed to be easily distracted. Even though I held the pillow high, they would pause to peer in store windows, snap a selfie in front of a sculpture, or stop to watch the world around them. Encouragement continued to ring from many of our little caravan, "Come on, Keep up, We can come back, You don't want to get lost, and Yes, he knows where he is going."
I have thought about this experience all week as I have re-read, listened to, and thought upon several talks from conference, pondered JS-Hist 1:8-9, and particular verses from Words of Mormon verse 17. Starting with the latter and working my way back. King Benjamin and many holy men did speak with power and authority because of the stiffneckedness of the people.
The Stiffneckedness caught my attention. What does it mean to be stiffnecked? Many relate it to sin or disobedience, but as I reflected upon my adventure, I wondered if it did not mean distracted as well. How many of them became so distracted that they could or would not turn to follow the the red pillow? How many of them risked getting lost? My thoughts turned to Moses and the fiery serpents. How many people refused to look upon his staff and see the brazen serpent that would heal them. I suddenly envisioned that Moses and his staff did not remain in one location. He was constantly moving closer to and towards the Promised Land, they just had to turn and follow.
I then pondered young Joseph, in a world of great excitement and confusion. He was not sure who to follow, who to look too, or which denomination had the brazen serpent. So, he turned to God, first through scripture, then through prayer. He understood how to get the direction he was seeking.
Finally, as I have pondered many of the talks from Saturday Morning session, we are reminded over and over again to turn to Him, draw near unto Him, follow Him.
How fortunate we are to have a prophet of God on the earth today, holding high the banner to which we should follow. I pray that you will loosen your neck muscles, even turn your whole body about if needed to follow Him and those He has given us to lead. Just words for thought.
There you have it, this is where my mind has been.
While I was a way, the world around here continued to move forward.
The Queen worked, did mutual, attended a few polo games, finished a quilt, and cared for her ailing husband.
The Professor attended class, taught a child or two, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.
Tall Man continues drawing near to the end of a semester and carry all the stress and burdens that come with those final days. It can be a heavy set of luggage to carry the first few times if not always.
SnackPack is winding the year to a close. They have started interviews for next years officers, auditions are taking place, and we are moving closer to Summer Games.
Such is the life, day in and day out.
For those interested, Magna Central is no more. Everything was divided at 3100. 2nd and 10th went to the East and 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th went to the South. The wards stayed in tact as presently constituted. We will see if there are future changes to be made as we have another conference now on the weekend of the 30th and 1st. Stay tuned.
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