This week was really funny.
I'm not even going to tell the drama that went down because I don't trust the internet.
I did learn a few things though, unrelated to the drama.
I learned about the Rock that can be seen from different angles.
While that is true, a rock can be seen from different angles and still be correct, there is one way to see the rock that is the most and complete correct.
Repentence allows us to, through a changed perspective and view of oneself, God, or life, see something more closely to how it truely is.
God's perspective is that. He sees everything exactly how it really is.
As we repent we come closer and closer to seeing that Rock exactly how it is rather than our own interpretation of how it is.
We see it more closely to how the Lord sees it.
So, there is One Truth. Just one. We are all seeking it.
That's what I'd believed in the first place.
I love this.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Best. Week. Ever.
I loved this week. Absolutely Loved it.
I learned a lot about Love. One of the YW's told a story of his mother and how he'd felt her presence out on the trail. He later read in one of her letters that she'd had a dream that same night where she came to him while he was out in the desert and kissed his forehead.
As he told me that story I felt a small fraction of the love that mother had for her son and also of the love that son had for his mother.
I watched him later ask for a copy of the Book of Mormon from an LDS YW and he started reading it. He read like crazy. He even made a leather case for the book. He later pulled it out in front of the nurse and she nonchalantly asked if he'd seen the Promise. His eyes got wide open as he thirsted for whatever information she was about to provide. She directed him to the last two paragraphs of the introduction of the Book of Mormon and to the scripture found in Moroni 10:3-5. He ran right off to go see what it said.
I learned a lot about Faith. "I'm not sure if I want to go on a mission," he said. This particular young man had gone through more experiences with drugs and near death experiences because of the drugs than I could even imagine. He had all of these experiences yet he was the most humble, loving, caring, dedicated person I've met in a very long time. He kept on track, he didn't let his guard down. The poor kid didn't want to leave ANASAZI because he still had to deal with some consequences when he returned home. I know he'll be made better for them, though. So I wanted to challenge this YW to pray to know whether or not he should serve a mission... as we talked though, I felt impressed to just have him pray about his own personal testimony. Did Jesus Christ really make it possible for us to overcome? Did Christ restore the power to act in His name to a living prophet today?
He said he would ask.
I later learned that he told another TrailWalker that he didn't know if he wanted to go on a mission because he himself wanted to be converted first. I know if He asks an answer will be given, and then once you know, you want to tell EVERYone. Oh, faith.
I learned about Hope. "I don't know if there's a Creator. There's a 50-50 change, right?... it's better to be safe then sorry." He knew that a belief in something made people live better lives. He wanted to believe in something but he wasn't sure what. Questions were coming like crazy this week, though. "What do Mormon's believe?" "Why are there so many Missionaries?" "Why do you want everyone else to belong to your religion?" That last one made me laugh. Speaking of laughing, this kid was the most hilarious person I think I've ever met in my entire life. He made me laugh SO hard. I almost peed my pants. ...or I kind of did pee my pants. He almost convinced me in a game of Mafia that I myself was the mafia, and not him. That's probably how I got so dirty this week; groveling in the dirt for my life in that game. But, anyway, this week was a turn around point for him. He started questioning life and wondering what there was to believe in. He even said he refused to do anymore drugs. He wants to change his life around and he wants something to help him. I asked him if he'd prayed before... he said no. I asked him if he would. He said yes. "Just pray to whoever you think is out there. Ask if someone is there, ask Him who He is. Bring a piece of paper with you and just write everything that comes to your mind because I know you'll receive an answer," I said. He said he would.
We had a good hiking week this week. It was pretty easy besides the mountain we had to go over that rose 1000+ feet into the sky. We hiked up that sucker and then planned to dry camp that night (no water, no fire). That night, which had the potential of being fairly difficult, ended up being one of the best nights of my life. We got in our sleeping bags after watching the most breath-taking sunset of bright reds and oranges over a landscape of rolling hills and mountains hundreds of miles away.
As we talked in our sleeping bags one thing led to another and we soon were standing up ready for a game of Worm Wars. About 5 minutes later there was a huge pile of sleeping bags with little tiny heads popping out in random places. I got a good AB workout that day from laughing so hard.
We got to lay on our backs that night and watch as the stars appeared in the sky one by one. Then we talked about the universe and how it would be impossible for there not to be other forms of life out there somewhere.
We then started singing to each other and "If you could hie to Kolob" (or another good version) came out from one of the trailwalkers. Perfect.
This week I learned of a few things that I'm lacking and of a few things that I need to do. There's a lot to do.
Oh, and Conference is this week. Watch it.
I've been thinking a lot about truth and how it is found everywhere, but then how the authority of God is only given to those whom He has called like the Prophets of old. The prophets hold the keys to access His power. That is where you can access the whole miracle.
I need to access and use it consistently or I will be of no help to those I come in contact with.
I, yet again, learned a ton this week. Another "best week ever" has now come to a close.
I learned a lot about Love. One of the YW's told a story of his mother and how he'd felt her presence out on the trail. He later read in one of her letters that she'd had a dream that same night where she came to him while he was out in the desert and kissed his forehead.
As he told me that story I felt a small fraction of the love that mother had for her son and also of the love that son had for his mother.
I watched him later ask for a copy of the Book of Mormon from an LDS YW and he started reading it. He read like crazy. He even made a leather case for the book. He later pulled it out in front of the nurse and she nonchalantly asked if he'd seen the Promise. His eyes got wide open as he thirsted for whatever information she was about to provide. She directed him to the last two paragraphs of the introduction of the Book of Mormon and to the scripture found in Moroni 10:3-5. He ran right off to go see what it said.
I learned a lot about Faith. "I'm not sure if I want to go on a mission," he said. This particular young man had gone through more experiences with drugs and near death experiences because of the drugs than I could even imagine. He had all of these experiences yet he was the most humble, loving, caring, dedicated person I've met in a very long time. He kept on track, he didn't let his guard down. The poor kid didn't want to leave ANASAZI because he still had to deal with some consequences when he returned home. I know he'll be made better for them, though. So I wanted to challenge this YW to pray to know whether or not he should serve a mission... as we talked though, I felt impressed to just have him pray about his own personal testimony. Did Jesus Christ really make it possible for us to overcome? Did Christ restore the power to act in His name to a living prophet today?
He said he would ask.
I later learned that he told another TrailWalker that he didn't know if he wanted to go on a mission because he himself wanted to be converted first. I know if He asks an answer will be given, and then once you know, you want to tell EVERYone. Oh, faith.
I learned about Hope. "I don't know if there's a Creator. There's a 50-50 change, right?... it's better to be safe then sorry." He knew that a belief in something made people live better lives. He wanted to believe in something but he wasn't sure what. Questions were coming like crazy this week, though. "What do Mormon's believe?" "Why are there so many Missionaries?" "Why do you want everyone else to belong to your religion?" That last one made me laugh. Speaking of laughing, this kid was the most hilarious person I think I've ever met in my entire life. He made me laugh SO hard. I almost peed my pants. ...or I kind of did pee my pants. He almost convinced me in a game of Mafia that I myself was the mafia, and not him. That's probably how I got so dirty this week; groveling in the dirt for my life in that game. But, anyway, this week was a turn around point for him. He started questioning life and wondering what there was to believe in. He even said he refused to do anymore drugs. He wants to change his life around and he wants something to help him. I asked him if he'd prayed before... he said no. I asked him if he would. He said yes. "Just pray to whoever you think is out there. Ask if someone is there, ask Him who He is. Bring a piece of paper with you and just write everything that comes to your mind because I know you'll receive an answer," I said. He said he would.
We had a good hiking week this week. It was pretty easy besides the mountain we had to go over that rose 1000+ feet into the sky. We hiked up that sucker and then planned to dry camp that night (no water, no fire). That night, which had the potential of being fairly difficult, ended up being one of the best nights of my life. We got in our sleeping bags after watching the most breath-taking sunset of bright reds and oranges over a landscape of rolling hills and mountains hundreds of miles away.
As we talked in our sleeping bags one thing led to another and we soon were standing up ready for a game of Worm Wars. About 5 minutes later there was a huge pile of sleeping bags with little tiny heads popping out in random places. I got a good AB workout that day from laughing so hard.
We got to lay on our backs that night and watch as the stars appeared in the sky one by one. Then we talked about the universe and how it would be impossible for there not to be other forms of life out there somewhere.
We then started singing to each other and "If you could hie to Kolob" (or another good version) came out from one of the trailwalkers. Perfect.
This week I learned of a few things that I'm lacking and of a few things that I need to do. There's a lot to do.
Oh, and Conference is this week. Watch it.
I've been thinking a lot about truth and how it is found everywhere, but then how the authority of God is only given to those whom He has called like the Prophets of old. The prophets hold the keys to access His power. That is where you can access the whole miracle.
I need to access and use it consistently or I will be of no help to those I come in contact with.
I, yet again, learned a ton this week. Another "best week ever" has now come to a close.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Dirty Verde
This week I cried twice and I also bawled twice.
It was intense. It emotionally sucked me dry.
But I learned so much.
"the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome." Joseph B. Wirthlin
This week I walked with the girls band and trailwalker Andy. He's a good friend from school so it was good to have him around when I needed to completely break down and bawl my eyes out.
This week was a fun little hike. Nothing too intense except for when we had to swim across the Verde River twice. We ran into a couple people kayaking who said they wait till this month to cross because it's the craziest with all the snow melt. ...I guess they didn't think about that one when they planned to have a couple groups of kids swim across it.
The first hiking day was fine other than the fact that we got in a little late (after hiking for 6 hours) to where we wanted to camp and none of us could bust (make fire) so we did without that first night. That means it wasn't too warm and we could only eat what we didn't have to cook (we made cold cereal with oats, dried milk, brown sugar, and nuts... it's actually really good). The stars looked even brighter that night, though.
In the morning Andy made a new fire set with a dead saguaro placed conveniently in the middle of our campsite and was finally able to bust a coal. We got some food in us and took off again for the Verde River.
After hiking for about 5 hours over mountains and through mine fields of cactus's, we made it to the Verde River just in time to see the band ahead of us cross over. We were next.
Andy jumped in first with his pack beside him, a YW (young walker), another YW, then me.
I got to see the shocked looks on everyone's faces as the freezing cold water erased all thoughts from their minds. I jumped in and all my breath left me.
Oh, and did I mention that I can't swim very well? Yeah. I didn't make it to the designated spot for exiting the river. Good thing Kyle had an emergency exit. Me and another YW floated on down stream as Kyle ran across the shore to help us at the next possible place we could get out before the river turned to rapids.
We got there, obviously, but by this time our 30-40 lb packs weighed about 50-60 with everything being soaked with water. Kyle pulled those up mud slide and then we crawled up after them. We were soaked, all of our stuff was soaked, and we needed to get somewhere to make a fire.
We hiked for about 15 more minutes, found a good camping spot, then changed into some of Andy's clothes because he packed smart enough so all his clothes were dry. Andy's the best.
I was pretty irritated at that point because I was cold and no one was trying hard to get a fire going (even though we'd all gone through the night before with out one) and so I started to get an attitude and told people to focus.
It worked.
We got fire.
Everyone's stuff got dry.
and I also burned a few holes in my sleeping bag because I held it too close to the fire. Whoops.
The next day we went hiking again to find the next spot where we would cross. Andy got sick and threw up on the way. A YW got a migraine on the way.
We got into camp and I made it clear that we would not cross that night regardless of circumstance. ...They were planning on us not crossing anyway. The river had risen even over night and the band that had barely crossed before us had a LOT of difficulties (one trail walker got separated from his pack- it went down stream about 40 miles before some random guy found it, went through it, called anasazi thinking he'd found someone's stuff that had died in the river), and a YW got pushed down stream only yards away from a little waterfall before he miraculously grabbed a branch under water and was pulled on to shore.
I was relieved that we wouldn't have to cross but I was also pissed because that other band had so many difficulties getting across. I felt like the trail was unsafe at that point and the only thing I could do about it was gather wood. So I did.
Andy had to stop me.
As I was bringing my last pile of wood over to the fire the YW who had been trying to bust gave up.
She flipped.
"F*** this place, I'm sick of it. I'd rather be in prison. I'm sick of this. I hate being pressured. ...I'm not the screw up child." She then continued to spit out information about her life that made me sick. I was already stressed out and then listening to all of her problems brought me to tears. She was sitting there suffering (from reality or from perceptions of her own reality, either way it's hard), and I didn't know how to help.
I'm not the healer. I understand that. But it's so difficult to watch someone else suffer. I wanted to help and even if I'd had something to say, she wasn't ready for it. That was hard, too. She knew she needed to change and pull out of where she'd put herself, but she wasn't open for suggestions on how to do it. I just had to listen. It was hard.
I bawled that night to Andy. He just let me cry. Thanks Andy.
The next day we crossed the verde. Dan came. We tied two packs to the backs of Andy and Dan and One YW swam behind one, then me and the other YW swam behind the other. We made it across fine and had a fire to come to to dry everything off. Everyone's things were dry and we had a great night. Thanks Dan.
The next hike was amazing. We had such a good time.
When we got to final D we got two new rabbitsticks (a rabbit stick walker is a new YW just starting the program). One of the YW's was not OK with that which brought more drama and more crying from me.
I had the option of leaving the band for the last couple of days but there was no way in H I could have done that. Andy and I stayed and we got to name the two girls and we had a wonderful bonding experience with the both of them. Thanks girls.
I learned this week about setting personal boundaries and being in a place where I can trust the plan of Heavenly Father. I learned that He has everything under control. I learned that all I can do is be worthy of the spirit and the spirit will lead and guide me so I might know the needs of each person I come in contact with. That's all I can do.
If all I need to do is sit and listen, that's fine. That may be all they need.
People learn in different ways. Some need to be instructed every step of the way, they need someone to hold their hand and do it with them. Some people need to figure it out on their own, they need to recognize that they need something and then they can get it. Some people need others to point out the way. etc. etc.
There are so many different ways that people need to be helped. There is one way to know what each of those ways is.
The spirit, man. Life is so simple. I love it.
It was intense. It emotionally sucked me dry.
But I learned so much.
"the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome." Joseph B. Wirthlin
This week I walked with the girls band and trailwalker Andy. He's a good friend from school so it was good to have him around when I needed to completely break down and bawl my eyes out.
This week was a fun little hike. Nothing too intense except for when we had to swim across the Verde River twice. We ran into a couple people kayaking who said they wait till this month to cross because it's the craziest with all the snow melt. ...I guess they didn't think about that one when they planned to have a couple groups of kids swim across it.
The first hiking day was fine other than the fact that we got in a little late (after hiking for 6 hours) to where we wanted to camp and none of us could bust (make fire) so we did without that first night. That means it wasn't too warm and we could only eat what we didn't have to cook (we made cold cereal with oats, dried milk, brown sugar, and nuts... it's actually really good). The stars looked even brighter that night, though.
In the morning Andy made a new fire set with a dead saguaro placed conveniently in the middle of our campsite and was finally able to bust a coal. We got some food in us and took off again for the Verde River.
After hiking for about 5 hours over mountains and through mine fields of cactus's, we made it to the Verde River just in time to see the band ahead of us cross over. We were next.
Andy jumped in first with his pack beside him, a YW (young walker), another YW, then me.
I got to see the shocked looks on everyone's faces as the freezing cold water erased all thoughts from their minds. I jumped in and all my breath left me.
Oh, and did I mention that I can't swim very well? Yeah. I didn't make it to the designated spot for exiting the river. Good thing Kyle had an emergency exit. Me and another YW floated on down stream as Kyle ran across the shore to help us at the next possible place we could get out before the river turned to rapids.
We got there, obviously, but by this time our 30-40 lb packs weighed about 50-60 with everything being soaked with water. Kyle pulled those up mud slide and then we crawled up after them. We were soaked, all of our stuff was soaked, and we needed to get somewhere to make a fire.
We hiked for about 15 more minutes, found a good camping spot, then changed into some of Andy's clothes because he packed smart enough so all his clothes were dry. Andy's the best.
I was pretty irritated at that point because I was cold and no one was trying hard to get a fire going (even though we'd all gone through the night before with out one) and so I started to get an attitude and told people to focus.
It worked.
We got fire.
Everyone's stuff got dry.
and I also burned a few holes in my sleeping bag because I held it too close to the fire. Whoops.
The next day we went hiking again to find the next spot where we would cross. Andy got sick and threw up on the way. A YW got a migraine on the way.
We got into camp and I made it clear that we would not cross that night regardless of circumstance. ...They were planning on us not crossing anyway. The river had risen even over night and the band that had barely crossed before us had a LOT of difficulties (one trail walker got separated from his pack- it went down stream about 40 miles before some random guy found it, went through it, called anasazi thinking he'd found someone's stuff that had died in the river), and a YW got pushed down stream only yards away from a little waterfall before he miraculously grabbed a branch under water and was pulled on to shore.
I was relieved that we wouldn't have to cross but I was also pissed because that other band had so many difficulties getting across. I felt like the trail was unsafe at that point and the only thing I could do about it was gather wood. So I did.
Andy had to stop me.
As I was bringing my last pile of wood over to the fire the YW who had been trying to bust gave up.
She flipped.
"F*** this place, I'm sick of it. I'd rather be in prison. I'm sick of this. I hate being pressured. ...I'm not the screw up child." She then continued to spit out information about her life that made me sick. I was already stressed out and then listening to all of her problems brought me to tears. She was sitting there suffering (from reality or from perceptions of her own reality, either way it's hard), and I didn't know how to help.
I'm not the healer. I understand that. But it's so difficult to watch someone else suffer. I wanted to help and even if I'd had something to say, she wasn't ready for it. That was hard, too. She knew she needed to change and pull out of where she'd put herself, but she wasn't open for suggestions on how to do it. I just had to listen. It was hard.
I bawled that night to Andy. He just let me cry. Thanks Andy.
The next day we crossed the verde. Dan came. We tied two packs to the backs of Andy and Dan and One YW swam behind one, then me and the other YW swam behind the other. We made it across fine and had a fire to come to to dry everything off. Everyone's things were dry and we had a great night. Thanks Dan.
The next hike was amazing. We had such a good time.
When we got to final D we got two new rabbitsticks (a rabbit stick walker is a new YW just starting the program). One of the YW's was not OK with that which brought more drama and more crying from me.
I had the option of leaving the band for the last couple of days but there was no way in H I could have done that. Andy and I stayed and we got to name the two girls and we had a wonderful bonding experience with the both of them. Thanks girls.
I learned this week about setting personal boundaries and being in a place where I can trust the plan of Heavenly Father. I learned that He has everything under control. I learned that all I can do is be worthy of the spirit and the spirit will lead and guide me so I might know the needs of each person I come in contact with. That's all I can do.
If all I need to do is sit and listen, that's fine. That may be all they need.
People learn in different ways. Some need to be instructed every step of the way, they need someone to hold their hand and do it with them. Some people need to figure it out on their own, they need to recognize that they need something and then they can get it. Some people need others to point out the way. etc. etc.
There are so many different ways that people need to be helped. There is one way to know what each of those ways is.
The spirit, man. Life is so simple. I love it.
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