Seasons Come and Go...

This past Wednesday was Transfer meeting...

     

The Missionaries that had completed their assigned time spoke in front of the rest of us, the new arrivals(fresh from the MTC!) were introduced with their trainers(I was in their place a bit over a year ago!), we all said our Goodbyes; tears were shed, good luck was wished and we went on our merry ways.

Thinking back to when I first arrived, I didn't know anybody; who was leaving, who arrived with me, it was just my MTC companion and me...

This time, I knew all eleven of the 'dying'(departing) missionaries, I respected them for who they are and had a personal relationship/friendship/acquaintanceship with each one of them.  I also knew most of the Senior Couples.

Some of the Fantastic Senior Couples that left!

A scripture came to mind at this point:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted...  -Full Reference-

It's crazy what can happen in a year.

People change over time.  I've definitely changed as I have gotten older.  We keep on improving, knowing that there is purpose in our life, even if it's the purpose we give it.

As I mentioned before, there were several missionaries(Elders, Sisters, and Senior Couples) whom I respected immensely who went home that day.  They had finished their mission.  It was tough to see them go, but it was time for them to move on...

So here I am, ready to face the new day, knowing that in a year, I will be in their place...

Speaking of time,

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he(or she) does, whoever (s)he is.  -C.S. Lewis

This is not a picture of me...

Which way is right...?

So there was this one time, at band camp...

Nah, just kidding!

Last week, our District (group of missionaries), was asked to usher at an InterFaith concert put on by the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.  We, of course, jumped at the opportunity!

So we hopped on the Metro and got on our merry way.

When we got off, we were at a loss at where to go (we were all unfamiliar with this particular part of D.C.), but luckily, I had grabbed a map.  I whipped it out and started to look for the street we needed to go to,

"Excuse me, are you all lost?", a woman asked us.  Four men in suits with a map and slightly confused faces apparently stand out 'round these parts(this was a tender mercy for sure).

At first she tried to guide us with the map, then she decided the map was too troublesome and she pulled out her 'I' device(I, personally, dislike all apple devices).  With the Power of Technology, she told us exactly where we needed to go, how we needed to get there (she googled the address) and quickly left us before we could ask for a name.

Left to our own devices(a paper map), we began navigating to the road we thought was our destination.

We were almost there.  We were almost late.  We were relieved to see that street, then~

~TRAGEDY STRUCK!~ 

We realized that we had gone to the wrong part of the street!  Pulling out our map, we frantically tried to find the next part of the street.  Seeing now where we needed to go, we set out again, this time at a more forced pace.

In the end, we got there about a half an hour late with no real consequences.  Everything that needed to get done, got done and the night was a success!

Looking back though, I can see the parallel in my own life.

We were told exactly where we needed to go by that woman who helped us, but we were unfamiliar with the area, so we followed what we thought was the right route to the wrong place...

Likewise, I've had guidance from my Heavenly Father, Parents, Leaders, etc... and continued forward, thinking I'm going the right way but cut off from their direct presence(the internet in this case), I lost my way for a time, but with the guidance of the scriptures, prayer, personal revelation (or a map)... I always have returned back to the right way(also known as happiness).

I can testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants nothing more than for us to be happy.

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...who am I!?

Who. 

Am. 

I.

This is a question which plagued me at many points of my life.  

Who am I?  

What's the point?  

Why should I?

It's a question I think all of us make war with.

As for myself, I found comfort looking up at the starry (sometimes) night sky.  Back in my hometown, there's some light pollution, so it's not exactly prime stargazing material, but that's the quality that actually helped me understand the answer.

It was early December, I was waiting for a close friend of mine at the Bell Tower (an important landmark in the city of Muncie).  I took a seat at the base of it and looked up at the sky wondering what exactly was in store for me...

When you look up at the sky, especially in a city, it's quiet. It's dark.  Just a couple really bright stars here and there, maybe Venus or Jupiter, but besides that-

Nothing.  Just empty night.  It's black, unfriendly, and cold (especially in the winter).

What I found was that, as I waited (patiently), my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw what was once hidden, the stars which were concealed by the glaring lights of the city.

It was a huge step for me.

You may be thinking, "How in the world does this relate to his original question!?"

In this world, we have lot's of things telling us what to believe.  

Magazines telling us what to wear, how to act, how to treat each other, etc...

T.V. showing us what 'reality' is like.

Games showing us who's who in a galaxy that's waaaaaaaaaaay too far away.  (not speaking against them!  I love those games)

For me, that was the empty night sky so full of questions and not enough answers-  the light obscured the beauty and majesty of the universe created just for us by a loving Father.

I could see the stars, not all of them nor their full beauty, but I could see them.  

My mind made the connection for me as I sat back and enjoyed the view in the brisk December cold.

You see, I was listening a song performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, My Shepard Will Supply My Needs, it's a beautiful song.

I realized that I would always have questions.

I know I am my Heavenly Fathers' Son.  He wants me to learn and grow and sometimes, that means I'll make mistakes.  Sometimes, that means I won't have all answers, I might not even know the question I want to ask but I am His son.  That was enough for me.

The next realization that I had; I had to wait for a moment, let my eyes see what was really there, not just freak out if I couldn't immediately discern anything.  I had to 'tune' out the light to see those stars.

Likewise, we have to stop for a moment.  We have to pay attention to those divine messages we get.  The world can get pretty distracting and obscure the bigger picture but if we want to see those stars, we have to sit still for a moment.

I sat there for a few seconds, shocked at the way my mind put two and two together.

My friend came a few minutes later.  I shared the insights with her and we took a moment to enjoy the quiet peace as we listened to music...

~~~~~

That experience helped me appreciate the wonderful plan that our Heavenly Father has for us and the tools he has given us to learn more about it...

So the summary of what I learned was this;

Sometimes we need to stop our lives, put them on hold for a second, so we can learn about the bigger picture from God, the source of all Truth.

After all, in the scriptures many times in words of comfort, he says,

"...Be still and know that I am God."

 -Full Reference-

(Yes, I am still in the process of discovering of who I am but with this was a major step in that process.  Like my parents always said, "Remember whose you are")

Thank YOU Veterans! 

The Languages of Love: Giving Gifts!

I've been told that there are five different languages of love by Elder Hart (Which he was told by his Mom, aren't Moms the best?)~

Physical Touch, Acts of Service, Giving Gifts, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation

A couple of weeks ago(STORY TIME!), we were just relaxing during our lunch hour at the apartment.  We were talking, cracking jokes, y'know, the usual.

One of our roommates, Elder Stevenson, asked Elder Mecham for a piece of one of his tiny microwavable pizzas-

This, of course, sparked controversy~

"No."

"Why not?"

" 'Cause I'm a poor missionary."

"Just a bite!  Not that much, I promise," Elder Stevenson never gives up when it comes to food, especially when it comes to pizza, "C'mon, pleeeeeeeeeease?"

At this point, Elder Hart and I start paying more attention and since he's more of a peace keeper, he tries to make some sort of compromise.

I just stand back and watch, enjoying the little escapade(having faith that it would work out, of course[!]).  Elder Hart talks,

"Elder Mecham, What would the Savior d-"

"He would expect me to take care of myself, so I can help others!"  At this point Elder Mecham was getting  exasperated.  Elder Stevenson jumped on that,

"Is a bite really going to make that much of a difference...?"

"Look, if I had enough money, I would buy ALL the microwavable pizzas in the D.C. area, then I would share freely and we'd have enough food to last us for the next transfer!"  He took a bite out of his pizza, "Y'know, it's kind of like, 'I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give',(We quote scripture at each other all the time) just like King Benjamin says!"

As this is going along;

On the inside, I'm laughing like a maniac.

On the outside, I am completely stoic, straight-faced, and serious.

I could tell he was at his turning point, so I wanted to push just a little bit more(being the mischievous person that I am)...

"Well, that doesn't mean anything, giving means so much because we don't have an infinite amount."

I paused for a second, thinking about what I said.

That's exactly why giving means so much.  We don't have an infinite amount of time or resources, it's a sacrifice if we give something to someone else, it means more if we have less (usually).  Just like the widow's mite, that Jesus used as an example,

In the end, Elder Mecham didn't give Elder Stevenson a piece of his pizza.

I'm not speaking for or against that, I just want to say this;

We all have choices in our lives, in fact, this life is a time for us to learn to make choices!

One thing that I've noticed through my own time on this Earth is that when we make sacrifices to include God in our life(whether it be time or resources; [remember the languages of love!]) we are blessed for our decision.


...What do you think?

  

Technology; A Blessing and a Curse

 "...Thou shalt not ^aidle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy ^btalent that it may not be known." 

-Full Reference-

There are countless opportunities provided to us through the virtual world.

We can go all over the world in the blink of an eye.  We can see the Great Wall of China, travel to the Eiffel tower, then talk to another person on the other side of the world, all while eating at the local burger joint. 

 

This technology, more specifically, the internet, has allowed us to keep in touch with people that we otherwise would not be able to and keep tabs on them(ahem... FACEBOOK-Stalking!).  We can take classes online and learn in ways that may not have been dreamed of even ten years ago.

But there are dangers too.

Viruses.  Hackers.  Time-wasters.(yes, they're a danger too!)

Back when I was home, instead of spending some quality time with my family, I wanted to try to save the galaxy from the tyrant Mengsk.  Again.  

I wanted to survive the Zombie Apocalypse with my fellow virtual survivors, rather than chilling with my real family.  

I wanted to beat down the Sith Lords(or join them to rule the galaxy... One can never decide...) instead of playing with my little brother.

Y'know, the little things.

Technology is wonderful.  I will never argue that, but I look back to the time that I could've been spending with my family, maybe helping those around me, and I just shake my head...

What could I have done with all that time that I spent on the computer???

I love video games!  There is no arguing that.  I love playing the stories, listening to the music, discovering who beat who.  But I feel like I could've spent it more wisely!  As it states in the bible; there is a time for EVERYTHING(!) and it's important that we not waste the already little time we have! Amulek (A missionary from The Book of Mormon) reminds us,

"For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors."  -Full Reference-

The internet is great, wonderful, and all around useful, but think about what we could be doing instead of wasting time. (Unless, of course, you're doing something useful, in which case; Good on ya!)

In the Mormon Message below, David A. Bednar(an Apostle) provides the following two questions to help us with our use of technology;

1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?

2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?

Made with excerpts of David A. Bednar's  talk, "Things as They Really Are"

In the end, I can only remember the prophetic council of Jacob(another prophet from the Book of Mormon), which helps me when I'm trying to make a choice-

"O be ^awise; what can I say more[!]?"

-Full Reference-

Note: There is a voting option to the right that you can select a question that Elder Hart and I will answer!  Vote!  Make your voice heard!  Let us know that people care...  :( 

Question; What methods have you learned to help you spend your time effectively?