Following the Light in the Plan
Well, another week has come and gone. It has been a busy one, but I am not sure how much I can report on. I have been on the road again. It feels like I have spent more nights in hotels than I have in my own bed this month, but when you do the math, I really haven't.
Any who, I am here to put a different thought in to words. I don't know how I will do, but I will try. Since I reported last week that I really did not feel like I had pondered the way I wanted too, I spent another week on Alma 12:32. I have read and re-read this verse several time in the past couple weeks. I have had several impressions while doing so, but I have not really been able to verbalize them. So here we go....
After God made the plan of redemption known unto man, he gave them commandments. I have thought a great deal on this. Why did we need this plan of redemption? - because man had partaken of the fruit of knowledge. They now understood that there was good and evil in the world or they had chosen to allow good and evil to be recognized. It was always there, but until they partook of the fruit, evil had no power over them. Why did we need commandments? - because we needed to know how to find balance between good and evil. We needed to understand how to overcome the evil that we had allowed to surround us. Commandments give us the ability to better follow and recognize the Light of Christ in our lives. By following Him, the Light, we are able to return to the presence of God, the Father. We we are able to satisfy the laws of justice and mercy. We are able to use the Light within us for good.
Wow, there is so much there. I was trying to internalize it over and over again this week. Then during one of those long flights I decided to watch "The Force Awakens". A statement that was made during the movie hit me. I am always amazed at how the plan of redemption influences the playwrights, screen writers, and story tellers in the world. I wonder if they know what they are doing.
It was an intense moment in the movie, the Mega Death Star was being charged and the republic was trying to figure out how they could defeat it. I know, it was not call the Mega Death Star, but that is not the point I am making, so focus and get back with me.
This massive weapon of destruction gained it's power by draining the power, light, of a near by sun. Once it had drain the power, the sun, light, was darkened. So, at one point the rebel forces are going in to destroy the Death Star and Poe says, "As long as we can see the Light, we have Hope."
WOW! What a powerful statement. As long as we can see the Light, As long as we have Light, As long as Light has power to influence our lives, we will have Hope. So do we see the Light? Do we follow the Light? Do we strengthen the power of the Light in our lives?
As I watched the rest of the movie, that is all I could think about. What happened as the last rays of the sun were being drained? Kylo-Ren gave in to the darkness. Solo was killed. How does that happen? Why didn't Kylo-Ren see the power of the Light in his life instead of the power of the Darkness in the world around him? Why didn't he or Darth Varder recognize that each Supreme Emperor was getting their power by sucking the Light out of them? Why don't we see that Lucifer gains his power in the same way? They become more powerful as we allow them to turn the power of our Light for evil. Think about it.
What it boils down to, As Jedis, they/we were/are taught that there are laws, ordinances, commandments that must be followed within the Force. It is when we choose to ignore those laws, ordinances and commandments that, Lucifer turns our Light, something that he does not have, to darkness. He takes away our Hope.
What happened in the end? When the rebel forces destroyed or overcame the Death Star? Did you notice that it became a brilliant Sun? When the force of Light destroyed the darkness, the darkness became a powerful source of Light. Almost like gaining Celestial Glory. Just a thought.
What does that mean for us?
In order to help others recognize the Light within them, we must show them the Light within us. In order for them to be willing to commit to follow the Light, they must see the power and blessings that come to us as we follow the Light, as we live according to the laws, ordinances, and commandments, as we attend our meetings to be instructed, read our scriptures, to be enlightened, and say our prayers to be given understanding.
I watched Dr. Strange as well, but that is an completely different analogy. I don't have time to go into that one in this blog. Cliff Hanger....
As I said, this week has been busy.
The Queen, Professor, and I came home from adventures and tried our best to get back into normal routines. It was not easy. I had to turn around and leave again on Tuesday. While I was gone, the Queen started another project or two.
The Professor did her best to find excitement and energy to track back on. She also applied for Grad School. We will see what comes of that.
Tall Man continued working the grind and interviewed for a couple different opportunities. We hope he hears back on them soon. It was good to have him help in a move yesterday and then to have Ehl-Bo join us at the family service project.
Ehl-Bo started her new opportunity. It sounds like most of it was just filling out the routine paperwork and such.
Puddin did his best to stay warm. This crazy Utah weather has been a roller coaster. One day is bright and warm, the next is rain and snow. I think he has been caught in it twice this week.
We got to catch up briefly with Lady Hawkins the past two evenings. She looked tired. School and work can sometimes take a toll, especially when she had to keep going back north to work between hanging out.
I did get a text from Songbird, she shared how she was working on skooling SnackPack. It did not happen this go around, but she performed well.
We had a great turn out to the quarterly family service project. Thanks to all who participated.
Any who, I am here to put a different thought in to words. I don't know how I will do, but I will try. Since I reported last week that I really did not feel like I had pondered the way I wanted too, I spent another week on Alma 12:32. I have read and re-read this verse several time in the past couple weeks. I have had several impressions while doing so, but I have not really been able to verbalize them. So here we go....
After God made the plan of redemption known unto man, he gave them commandments. I have thought a great deal on this. Why did we need this plan of redemption? - because man had partaken of the fruit of knowledge. They now understood that there was good and evil in the world or they had chosen to allow good and evil to be recognized. It was always there, but until they partook of the fruit, evil had no power over them. Why did we need commandments? - because we needed to know how to find balance between good and evil. We needed to understand how to overcome the evil that we had allowed to surround us. Commandments give us the ability to better follow and recognize the Light of Christ in our lives. By following Him, the Light, we are able to return to the presence of God, the Father. We we are able to satisfy the laws of justice and mercy. We are able to use the Light within us for good.
Wow, there is so much there. I was trying to internalize it over and over again this week. Then during one of those long flights I decided to watch "The Force Awakens". A statement that was made during the movie hit me. I am always amazed at how the plan of redemption influences the playwrights, screen writers, and story tellers in the world. I wonder if they know what they are doing.
It was an intense moment in the movie, the Mega Death Star was being charged and the republic was trying to figure out how they could defeat it. I know, it was not call the Mega Death Star, but that is not the point I am making, so focus and get back with me.
This massive weapon of destruction gained it's power by draining the power, light, of a near by sun. Once it had drain the power, the sun, light, was darkened. So, at one point the rebel forces are going in to destroy the Death Star and Poe says, "As long as we can see the Light, we have Hope."
WOW! What a powerful statement. As long as we can see the Light, As long as we have Light, As long as Light has power to influence our lives, we will have Hope. So do we see the Light? Do we follow the Light? Do we strengthen the power of the Light in our lives?
As I watched the rest of the movie, that is all I could think about. What happened as the last rays of the sun were being drained? Kylo-Ren gave in to the darkness. Solo was killed. How does that happen? Why didn't Kylo-Ren see the power of the Light in his life instead of the power of the Darkness in the world around him? Why didn't he or Darth Varder recognize that each Supreme Emperor was getting their power by sucking the Light out of them? Why don't we see that Lucifer gains his power in the same way? They become more powerful as we allow them to turn the power of our Light for evil. Think about it.
What it boils down to, As Jedis, they/we were/are taught that there are laws, ordinances, commandments that must be followed within the Force. It is when we choose to ignore those laws, ordinances and commandments that, Lucifer turns our Light, something that he does not have, to darkness. He takes away our Hope.
What happened in the end? When the rebel forces destroyed or overcame the Death Star? Did you notice that it became a brilliant Sun? When the force of Light destroyed the darkness, the darkness became a powerful source of Light. Almost like gaining Celestial Glory. Just a thought.
What does that mean for us?
In order to help others recognize the Light within them, we must show them the Light within us. In order for them to be willing to commit to follow the Light, they must see the power and blessings that come to us as we follow the Light, as we live according to the laws, ordinances, and commandments, as we attend our meetings to be instructed, read our scriptures, to be enlightened, and say our prayers to be given understanding.
I watched Dr. Strange as well, but that is an completely different analogy. I don't have time to go into that one in this blog. Cliff Hanger....
As I said, this week has been busy.
The Queen, Professor, and I came home from adventures and tried our best to get back into normal routines. It was not easy. I had to turn around and leave again on Tuesday. While I was gone, the Queen started another project or two.
The Professor did her best to find excitement and energy to track back on. She also applied for Grad School. We will see what comes of that.
Tall Man continued working the grind and interviewed for a couple different opportunities. We hope he hears back on them soon. It was good to have him help in a move yesterday and then to have Ehl-Bo join us at the family service project.
Ehl-Bo started her new opportunity. It sounds like most of it was just filling out the routine paperwork and such.
Puddin did his best to stay warm. This crazy Utah weather has been a roller coaster. One day is bright and warm, the next is rain and snow. I think he has been caught in it twice this week.
We got to catch up briefly with Lady Hawkins the past two evenings. She looked tired. School and work can sometimes take a toll, especially when she had to keep going back north to work between hanging out.
I did get a text from Songbird, she shared how she was working on skooling SnackPack. It did not happen this go around, but she performed well.
We had a great turn out to the quarterly family service project. Thanks to all who participated.
Comments