There are times when the road seems long, and the battle hard. Discouragement comes so easily, yet is so hard to push away. Oft we feel like the very jaws of hell do gape open after US. We are in battle - a battle for our souls. A battle that will be fought until, at last in the strength of the Lord, we come forth victorious. There are times (this past week was one for me) when the notion that "The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us." (Churchill) rings so very true in my ears.
When Winston Churchill was first appointed Prime Minister, he delivered a very powerful speech to the House of Commons. I've not posted the whole thing, but this part, in particular, helps me to find strength and motivation. I've clipped out a couple pieces, but largely left it intact.
"We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war ... with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; ... That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; ... But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Inspiration and Answers
There's an adage that says that luck happens when opportunity meets preparedness. I decided tonight that inspiration (and answers) can happen when preparedness meets need.
In seminary, we learn "scripture mastery" scriptures. While all being good scriptures, and also dealing probably in part with core principles, I always wondered what went into the selection of them. It wasn't until years later, when struggling to get my life back on track, that I would periodically remember or think of scriptures that would be appropriate to the trial I was having. Many times, the scriptures I thought of were those that I had learned in high school in my seminary classes.
Tonight, I found myself frustrated. I felt like I was doing everything that I was supposed to be doing, but I still felt like I wasn't feeling the spirit the way I should be. I didn't understand why I wasn't feeling better. I was genuinely trying my best, shouldn't I feel better than I did? This came after several days of feeling blah and not feeling like I thought I should, considering my sincerity in doing what was right.
While I was feeling that way, I envisioned a conversation with a friend, where I told the friend that I felt like I was "brickwalling" and not feeling good or making progress. I started laughing immediately once I thought of this. Why? Several days ago, I read The Last Lecture. One of the things that Mr. Pausch said was "brick walls are there to test how badly we want something." It made sense. I felt like what I was experiencing was a test of my faith. I was experiencing a test to see just how badly I wanted to do what was right. Would I continue to do what I should, holding out in faith that I would be rewarded?
So, then, by having sought wisdom by reading a good, healthy book, I prepared myself in my moment of need to remember that statement, and to be able to apply it in my life. I think that it's just so with inspiration. The more good things we ingest, the easier things can come to us when we need them. Had I not read previously this comment made by Mr. Pausch, I would possibly had not made so easily the connection between why I was feeling the way I was. Certainly, my "brick wall" wouldn't have been immediately correlated with a test of how bad I wanted to do what was right.
I don't think that inspiration can ONLY come through things we've read or otherwise ingested into our conscious, I think this is merely one more vessel for the Lord to speak to us and to instruct us. It stands to reason, then, that the more we fill our minds with good things, the more easily we will be able to remember and utilize those things we've learned in our hour of need.
Did everything become better upon this discovery? No, but I now realize that this is one more test of my own faith, to continue to "go and do" even when I don't feel immediately rewarded for it.
In seminary, we learn "scripture mastery" scriptures. While all being good scriptures, and also dealing probably in part with core principles, I always wondered what went into the selection of them. It wasn't until years later, when struggling to get my life back on track, that I would periodically remember or think of scriptures that would be appropriate to the trial I was having. Many times, the scriptures I thought of were those that I had learned in high school in my seminary classes.
Tonight, I found myself frustrated. I felt like I was doing everything that I was supposed to be doing, but I still felt like I wasn't feeling the spirit the way I should be. I didn't understand why I wasn't feeling better. I was genuinely trying my best, shouldn't I feel better than I did? This came after several days of feeling blah and not feeling like I thought I should, considering my sincerity in doing what was right.
While I was feeling that way, I envisioned a conversation with a friend, where I told the friend that I felt like I was "brickwalling" and not feeling good or making progress. I started laughing immediately once I thought of this. Why? Several days ago, I read The Last Lecture. One of the things that Mr. Pausch said was "brick walls are there to test how badly we want something." It made sense. I felt like what I was experiencing was a test of my faith. I was experiencing a test to see just how badly I wanted to do what was right. Would I continue to do what I should, holding out in faith that I would be rewarded?
So, then, by having sought wisdom by reading a good, healthy book, I prepared myself in my moment of need to remember that statement, and to be able to apply it in my life. I think that it's just so with inspiration. The more good things we ingest, the easier things can come to us when we need them. Had I not read previously this comment made by Mr. Pausch, I would possibly had not made so easily the connection between why I was feeling the way I was. Certainly, my "brick wall" wouldn't have been immediately correlated with a test of how bad I wanted to do what was right.
I don't think that inspiration can ONLY come through things we've read or otherwise ingested into our conscious, I think this is merely one more vessel for the Lord to speak to us and to instruct us. It stands to reason, then, that the more we fill our minds with good things, the more easily we will be able to remember and utilize those things we've learned in our hour of need.
Did everything become better upon this discovery? No, but I now realize that this is one more test of my own faith, to continue to "go and do" even when I don't feel immediately rewarded for it.
The Gratitude Project
Well, it's no surprise to me that there are other projects out there by this same name. But, that's ok. This is my own personal project, so I'll call it what I will. :) What is my Gratitude Project? I'll tell you...
While reading The Last Lecture, the late Randy Pausch talked about showing gratitude. One thing he mentioned, specifically, was how hand-written thank you notes were generally more highly regarded than any other form. I got to thinking about when the last time I wrote a card in such a fashion. It's been a good, long while... In fact? I'm not even sure that I can point to the last time. Definitely sometime during my teenage years - if not earlier. It's kind of a sad remark on the current state of affairs in my life.
So, I've decided to get a handful of Thank You cards with the intent of finding at least one person/group a week to express gratitude to. It doesn't have to be something done during the week, either. It can even be a long (possibly?) forgotten act of kindness someone showed some time ago. A friend mentioned it would be a bit like pay it forward, only I suppose this is kind of paying backward. (I've never seen the movie, so I can't really comment on that aspect.) But, I'm hoping that it will bring me to a fuller awareness of what other people do for me, or even for others. I'm frequently grateful for what people do for OTHER people, so even that applies.
In any case, I'm excited and a bit nervous about the whole idea. In any case, it should be interesting, and I'll probably bring my project results back here later.
While reading The Last Lecture, the late Randy Pausch talked about showing gratitude. One thing he mentioned, specifically, was how hand-written thank you notes were generally more highly regarded than any other form. I got to thinking about when the last time I wrote a card in such a fashion. It's been a good, long while... In fact? I'm not even sure that I can point to the last time. Definitely sometime during my teenage years - if not earlier. It's kind of a sad remark on the current state of affairs in my life.
So, I've decided to get a handful of Thank You cards with the intent of finding at least one person/group a week to express gratitude to. It doesn't have to be something done during the week, either. It can even be a long (possibly?) forgotten act of kindness someone showed some time ago. A friend mentioned it would be a bit like pay it forward, only I suppose this is kind of paying backward. (I've never seen the movie, so I can't really comment on that aspect.) But, I'm hoping that it will bring me to a fuller awareness of what other people do for me, or even for others. I'm frequently grateful for what people do for OTHER people, so even that applies.
In any case, I'm excited and a bit nervous about the whole idea. In any case, it should be interesting, and I'll probably bring my project results back here later.
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