Valentines Day

Many of us seem to agree that being single, or "forever alone", is not the happiest a person can be. We think that it is only when we are together with someone that we can truly touch and taste heaven. I agree with this in certain degrees but not all. Especially as members of the Church we slowly begin to trap ourselves in the process of thinking that "because I am not with somebody or married, I am not truly happy". Does this sound like the kind of man or woman God wants to make of us? People cannot make us happy no matter how much they inspire us, uplift us, and love us. We are broken and flawed creatures with the innate capacity to hurt, disappoint, and fail one another. If a couple were to look to love one another even with the most sincere intentions, their love would eventually wane like the phasing moon. The light from the moon does not come from the moon itself but reflects it from the sun. Likewise love does not come from inside our human souls, it comes from the Son, even the Light and Savior of the world. We CHOOSE to let that light enter into our souls and enLIGHTEN our whole being. We can even choose to let that light shine into the souls of those who open up to us and embrace us (Matthew 5:16). But I don't believe you can make someone happy no matter how hard you try. Happiness is a choice we ALL make individually. With the light of Christ in us we can learn to inspire, uplift, and love people even unconditionally, but their happiness as well as our own depends centrally upon the Master and God of Love. So this Valentines Day and for the rest of this life dwell not upon how unhappy "I am" because of a lack of somebody else's absence in "my" life or because of their mistakes and shortcomings; let us rather pray that our souls be worthy to contain the magnitude and sheer power of God's love within that we may thence shine outward and inspire those who so stand in need. Then will they be given a clearer choice and opportunity to turn their hearts to the Master, Source, and true God of Love that they, like we, be happy in Him. 

I know that happiness is not so much a state of feeling as it is a choice of living. I also know that we would be foolish to not yet realize that no matter how much we or other people try, we cannot be happy by or through someone else. Remember the parable of the Ten Virgins, how the five who were unprepared had not oil in their lamps (note that they were single/unmarried). This oil can represent the individually accumulated choices that brought about the personal happiness of each virgin. Don't you think that in order to even perceive and be with the Master, Source, and God of Happiness they needed to BE happy themselves regardless of their relationship status? Thus in order to be prepared we too must make choices every day of our time on earth that will bring us closer towards happiness. Choosing to date, court, and marry someone is important and a vital step towards fulfilling the Plan that our Heavenly Father has for us, but we would be missing it all if we continued to make the mistake of focusing our being happy only through wanting or trying to get what we don't have.  It's what we DO have! President Kimball stated that "we (as Latter-Day Saints) should be the happiest people on Earth because of how richly blessed we are". So I propose that if you are tempted to even joke about what you don't have, such as having a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a spouse, try to find that tiny hole within yourself and make a choice that will fill it with the love of Christ. He has taught us to "labour not for the meat that perisheth (people, riches, power, prestige, recognition, boyfriends/girlfriends, degrees, etc.), but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which [He] shall give unto you (...)". (John 6:27) He has also taught us that He is "the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall LIVE forever: and the bread that [He] shall give is [His] flesh, which [He] will give for the life of the world." (John 6:54) So let us labour to lay down our sins and personal desires and choose to fill the gaps and holes in our souls by partaking of this bread. I know that the ingredients for this bread are all of the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ. Let Valentines day be a day for us to personally remember that we don't need someone else to make us be happy, we need Him! Let it be a day to remember that our happiness stems from the labor of bringing others towards the God of Love and Happiness, "for behold, this is [His] work and [His] glory (His happiness)—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life (and happiness) of man" (Moses 1:39, emphasis added). So whether we be single, in complicated situations, dating, married, or hoping for any of that to happen, Happy Valentines Day my friends and be happy! :)

My First Step

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson

To those who are reading this and may wish to know me better, I thank you. It is love that draws our interest one to another and ties us together as one; I boldly declare that. I am not saying that you are here because you love me, but I am suggesting that if love is not your reason, what is? Alas, this is my blog and it is here that I wish to record my thoughts, feelings, desires, dreams, etc. I only wish to restate that I know and believe we are ALL one, that love is the twine that connects us, and, that twine...well...is formed when we communicate.

I love to write; I feel more understood and a greater understanding of the world around me. I once read that "a [writer] has a better memory for things of the spirit. He [or she] can hold fast to an emotion and an idea until they are firmly and clearly embodied in words". I do not consider myself an eloquent verbal communicator, but through keeping a journal since my childhood I have escaped into a realm of thinking and reasoning that has most shaped my character today.

As my writing has helped me to find my desires and ambitions it has become more directed toward the greatest ambition I have of all - my future posterity. Slowly over time my thoughts and desires written in my journal has become more and more filtered into letters and words I feel most important for my future posterity to know and less of the "unimportant" parts of my life. Of course the small steps you take to reach the top of the mountain are the most important; however, when you are teaching a fellow hiker what the way up to the top is you don't explain every single step you took to get there. You simply give him or her the most important advice you can and allow him or her to take his or her own steps and gain the experience of his or her own journey.

I decided to begin writing in a blog to simply write about the very steps I take in this life - the imperfect small steps I take throughout my life. Because the thoughts I record in my journals are considered sacred to me, I thought I would allow these thoughts to be published for those who wish to enter into my realm of thinking. I am not trying to stand out or create a special persona of myself, rather, I feel it is my duty and, even my desire, to share my perception of the life that we all share together. My thoughts will now become your thoughts and my dreams your dreams as I paint for you the song of my heart and the colors of my thinking. I do not wish to convince anyone that what I write, say, think, reason, or feel is superior in any way to those around me. I am a firm believer that we were ALL created equal. But an artist is unsuccessful if he or she does not gently put to sleep the reality in which the recipient lives and open the door to the reality in which he or she breathes in. We ALL have a different and unique way in viewing life, and, at the same time we are trying to discover its true meaning. Well, here is what it means to me...