I've been meaning to update my blog for a couple weeks now, but school's been absolutely crazy, so I haven't really had any time.
Anyhow, finals are over. I pounded through them. Woke up at 5a.m. on Saturday and took 3, woke up at 5a.m. on Monday and took 2, and woke up on Tuesday at 7a.m. and took 1. Ironically, I did worst on the last final.
Anyhow, I want to write now about what I've been meaning to write about for the last couple of weeks.
So, on the Monday where we had our last Chinese "lab" class, my TA, Sisi, was wrapping up, expressing her gratitude for us (because we're awesome) and all that. And then, she reminded us why we're studying Chinese.
Sisi said whatever reason we had for learning Chinese, it was something really important to her, because we were larning the language of her people. More often than not, people say that China isn't open for the gospel yet, that when it is, we won't have enough missionaries, that it will be amazing... but, she said "When I see students from China who leave their country and get baptized and bring the gospel back, or when faithful Chinese take a few days' trip to Hong Kong to have the lessons taught to them in two days and get baptized, that shows me that China is open. And, you are learning the language of my people to make that difference in their lives."
I wish I had written this earlier.
But, what she says makes so much sense. I have the opportunity and privilege to take my language and share the gospel with those who do not yet have it. I have my language also because I am Chinese, and I'm proud of it. Whatever Heavenly Father gives us, He gives it to benefit others, to serve those around us.
What better way then to bring the gospel of good news to His children?
She thanked us, and the Spirit was there.
Chinese, here I come.
-eechie.
As part of an effort to raise awareness for the earthquake in Japan, the Asian Ward at BYU organized a flash mob dance, which I was fortunate enough to participate in. Early Saturday morning and other evening rehearsals led to this:
Please enjoy and support Japan by buying their products!
-eechie.
Please enjoy and support Japan by buying their products!
-eechie.
I've just spent the past two days with N. Eldon.
I think Harold might be getting jealous.
Sorry Stephen Jones.
I think Harold might be getting jealous.
Sorry Stephen Jones.
18 credits was probably not the best idea.
But, I've learned a lot. mostly that when I put my mind to something, that I can accomplish it.
This week is going to be absolutely crazy. But, I know it is something that I can do. General Conference this past weekend was great.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks hit home with his talk about desire. He said:
"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving and our becoming."
I fail more often than not to act on my desires. I get my desires and priorities down, but I am hard pressed to make the right choices at times and "become."
It really is something for me to work on.
When someone's been given much, there is so much expected. I need to live up to my full potential.
The widow gave all she had, her two mites. What are my two mites?
-eechie.
But, I've learned a lot. mostly that when I put my mind to something, that I can accomplish it.
This week is going to be absolutely crazy. But, I know it is something that I can do. General Conference this past weekend was great.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks hit home with his talk about desire. He said:
"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving and our becoming."
I fail more often than not to act on my desires. I get my desires and priorities down, but I am hard pressed to make the right choices at times and "become."
It really is something for me to work on.
When someone's been given much, there is so much expected. I need to live up to my full potential.
The widow gave all she had, her two mites. What are my two mites?
-eechie.
I haven't posted in forever. My friend, Sister Mikelle Norton, reports to the MTC on Wednesday to serve in the Singapore Mission, where I too served. She posted this story on her blog.
Please read it.
I love my mission more than I can say. Some days I wish I was back there still. The joy of a mission truly is one that surpasses all understanding.
I love mt Savior so much.
Marks Of A Man
Please read it.
I love my mission more than I can say. Some days I wish I was back there still. The joy of a mission truly is one that surpasses all understanding.
I love mt Savior so much.
As I jumped on board my flight from Miami to Salt Lake City, I paused for a moment to catch my breath. Seated near the front of the plane was an excited young man, probably 19, sitting with his parents. His hair was short and his clothes new and sharp. His suit was fitted perfectly and his black shoes still retained that store bought shine. His body was in good shape, his face clear, and his hands clean. In his eyes I could see a nervous look, and his movements were that of an actor on opening night.
He was obviously flying to Utah to become a missionary for the Mormon Church. I smiled as I walked by and took pride in belonging to this same Church where these young men and women voluntarily serve the Savior for two years. With this special feeling, I continued to the back where my seat was located.
As I sat in my seat, I looked to the right and to my surprise, saw another missionary sleeping in the window seat. His hair was also short, but that was the only similarity between the two. This one was obviously returning home, and I could tell at a glance what type of missionary he had been.
The fact that he was already asleep told me a lot. His entire body seemed to let out a big sigh. It looked as if this was the first time in two years he had even slept, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was. As I looked at his face, I could see the heavy bags under his eyes, the chapped lips, and the scarred and sunburned face caused by the fierce Florida sun.
His suit was tattered and worn. A few of the seams were coming apart, and I noticed that there were a couple of tears that had been hand-sewn with a very sloppy stitch.
I saw the name tag, crooked, scratched and bearing the name of the Church he represented, the engraving of which was almost all worn away. I saw the knee of his pants, worn and white, the result of many hours of humble prayer.
A tear came to my eye as I saw the things that really told me what kind of missionary he had been. I saw the marks that made this boy, a man. His feet - the two that had carried him from house to house, now lay there swollen and tired. They were covered by a pair of worn-out shoes. Many of the large scrapes and gouges had been filled in by the countless number of polishings.
His books - laying across his lap were his scriptures, the word of God. Once new, these books which testify of Jesus Christ and His mission, were now torn, bent, and ragged from use.
His hands - those big, strong hands, which had been used to bless and teach, were now scarred and cut from knocking at doors.
Those were indeed the marks of that man. And as I looked at him, I saw the marks of another man, the Savior, as he was hanging on the cross for the sins of the world.
His feet - those that had once carried him throughout the land during his ministry, were now nailed to the cross.
His side - now pierced with a spear. Sealing his gospel, his testimony with his life.
His hands - the hands that had been used to ordain his servants and bless the sick were also scarred with the nails that were pounded to hang him on the cross.
Those were the marks of that great man.
As my mind returned to the missionary, my whole body seemed to swell with pride and joy, because I knew, by looking at him, that he had served his Master well.
My joy was so great, I felt like running to the front of the plane, grabbing that new, young missionary, and bringing him back to see what he can become, what he can do.
But would he see the things that I saw, could anyone see the things I saw? Or would he just see the outward appearance of that mighty elder, tired and worn out, almost dead.
As we landed, I reached over and tapped him to wake him up. As he awoke, it seemed like new life was entering his body. His whole frame just seemed to fill as he stood up, tall and proud. As he turned his face towards mine, I saw a light about his face that I had never seen before. I looked into his eyes. Those eyes, I will never forget those eyes. They were the eyes of a prophet, a leader, a follower, and a servant. They were the eyes of the Savior. No words were spoken. No words were needed.
As we unloaded, I stepped aside to let him go first. I watched as he walked, slow but steady, tired but strong. I followed him and found myself walking the way that he did. When I came through the doors, I saw this young man in the arms of his parents, and I couldn't hold it any longer.
With tears streaming down my face, I watched these loving parents greet their son who had been away for a short time. And I wondered if our parents in Heaven would greet us the same way. Will they wrap their arms around us and welcome us home from our journey on earth? I believe they will. I just hope that I can be worthy enough to receive such praise, as I'm sure this missionary will.
I said a silent prayer, thanking the Lord for missionaries like this young man. I don't think I will ever forget the joy and happiness he brought me that day.
He was obviously flying to Utah to become a missionary for the Mormon Church. I smiled as I walked by and took pride in belonging to this same Church where these young men and women voluntarily serve the Savior for two years. With this special feeling, I continued to the back where my seat was located.
As I sat in my seat, I looked to the right and to my surprise, saw another missionary sleeping in the window seat. His hair was also short, but that was the only similarity between the two. This one was obviously returning home, and I could tell at a glance what type of missionary he had been.
The fact that he was already asleep told me a lot. His entire body seemed to let out a big sigh. It looked as if this was the first time in two years he had even slept, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was. As I looked at his face, I could see the heavy bags under his eyes, the chapped lips, and the scarred and sunburned face caused by the fierce Florida sun.
His suit was tattered and worn. A few of the seams were coming apart, and I noticed that there were a couple of tears that had been hand-sewn with a very sloppy stitch.
I saw the name tag, crooked, scratched and bearing the name of the Church he represented, the engraving of which was almost all worn away. I saw the knee of his pants, worn and white, the result of many hours of humble prayer.
A tear came to my eye as I saw the things that really told me what kind of missionary he had been. I saw the marks that made this boy, a man. His feet - the two that had carried him from house to house, now lay there swollen and tired. They were covered by a pair of worn-out shoes. Many of the large scrapes and gouges had been filled in by the countless number of polishings.
His books - laying across his lap were his scriptures, the word of God. Once new, these books which testify of Jesus Christ and His mission, were now torn, bent, and ragged from use.
His hands - those big, strong hands, which had been used to bless and teach, were now scarred and cut from knocking at doors.
Those were indeed the marks of that man. And as I looked at him, I saw the marks of another man, the Savior, as he was hanging on the cross for the sins of the world.
His feet - those that had once carried him throughout the land during his ministry, were now nailed to the cross.
His side - now pierced with a spear. Sealing his gospel, his testimony with his life.
His hands - the hands that had been used to ordain his servants and bless the sick were also scarred with the nails that were pounded to hang him on the cross.
Those were the marks of that great man.
As my mind returned to the missionary, my whole body seemed to swell with pride and joy, because I knew, by looking at him, that he had served his Master well.
My joy was so great, I felt like running to the front of the plane, grabbing that new, young missionary, and bringing him back to see what he can become, what he can do.
But would he see the things that I saw, could anyone see the things I saw? Or would he just see the outward appearance of that mighty elder, tired and worn out, almost dead.
As we landed, I reached over and tapped him to wake him up. As he awoke, it seemed like new life was entering his body. His whole frame just seemed to fill as he stood up, tall and proud. As he turned his face towards mine, I saw a light about his face that I had never seen before. I looked into his eyes. Those eyes, I will never forget those eyes. They were the eyes of a prophet, a leader, a follower, and a servant. They were the eyes of the Savior. No words were spoken. No words were needed.
As we unloaded, I stepped aside to let him go first. I watched as he walked, slow but steady, tired but strong. I followed him and found myself walking the way that he did. When I came through the doors, I saw this young man in the arms of his parents, and I couldn't hold it any longer.
With tears streaming down my face, I watched these loving parents greet their son who had been away for a short time. And I wondered if our parents in Heaven would greet us the same way. Will they wrap their arms around us and welcome us home from our journey on earth? I believe they will. I just hope that I can be worthy enough to receive such praise, as I'm sure this missionary will.
I said a silent prayer, thanking the Lord for missionaries like this young man. I don't think I will ever forget the joy and happiness he brought me that day.
David Bryan Wiser
-eechie.
-eechie.
I've been really bad at reading my scriptures.
And, I feel really bad about it.
Resolution.
I'm busying a paperback copy of The Book of Mormon, read it, and mark what I feel means something to me.
Then, I'll take that and give it to someone.
And I'm going to keep doing that, day after day and month after month... and year after year,
so,
that I can be happy, and share that happiness with someone who needs it.
-eechie.
And, I feel really bad about it.
Resolution.
I'm busying a paperback copy of The Book of Mormon, read it, and mark what I feel means something to me.
Then, I'll take that and give it to someone.
And I'm going to keep doing that, day after day and month after month... and year after year,
so,
that I can be happy, and share that happiness with someone who needs it.
-eechie.
A couple of days ago, I ran into a girl that I really liked and who I have been on a few dates with. Things didn't turn out the way that I'd hoped. After... well, things didn't work out, I moped for days about what I could have done better, what I could have changed and all that. All these "what ifs" ran around my head and bothered me to no end.
When I saw her again, some of those emotions coursed through my mind and heart again. What if? What if I had asked her to wait? What if I had just asked if she wanted to chat for awhile? Then those what ifs from a couple months ago came back, and it was not fun.
But then I thought, "Why am I what-if-ing? What's the point?" I could dwell on it more, I could be a slave to those questions that would only bring doubt and self-pity, or I could be stronger, and not who, what, when, why and how it too.
It so happens that one of my friends, Tasha Hinton, posted the little thought posted below on her blog that day that helped me stop what-if-ing, but instead, being believing.
When I saw her again, some of those emotions coursed through my mind and heart again. What if? What if I had asked her to wait? What if I had just asked if she wanted to chat for awhile? Then those what ifs from a couple months ago came back, and it was not fun.
But then I thought, "Why am I what-if-ing? What's the point?" I could dwell on it more, I could be a slave to those questions that would only bring doubt and self-pity, or I could be stronger, and not who, what, when, why and how it too.
It so happens that one of my friends, Tasha Hinton, posted the little thought posted below on her blog that day that helped me stop what-if-ing, but instead, being believing.
-eechie.I am grateful that at the end of the day
when life is just too overwhelmingI can simply ask Godto help me with all of the things that I needand I don't have to say them out loudbecause He knows them already.Thanks God.In all things, You are good.
We all have our insecurities, One way or another.
I ran into a friend this morning who I hadn't talked to in quite awhile. Sat down to chat with her, and, in doing so, ended up having a mini-counseling session, wherein she told me that she wasn't feeling happy, or, at least, she wasn't as satisfied with her life. I asked her what was wrong. We went through a short list of the basic things that occupy most of our time.
"School?" - "Good, not taking too many credits." - Check.
"Dating?" - "Not bad, I like my boyfriend and he treats me well." - Check.
"Family?"- "Alright, worried about my family though, my parents aren't getting along too well." - Kinda Check.
We talked about how we can be happy, how we can find peace within ourselves. It seemed to me that her lack of happiness stemmed from a lack of confidence in herself, in who she was and where she wants to go in life. I think we all have those issues at one point or another, which is up to us to overcome.
More often than not, we allow external factors to affect who were are, and with that, effect a change in us that is not positive. Sure, it's not easy to be completely unaffected by the world. The only two things that could probably get us to that state would be ignorance or apathy. So, what can we do?
"I think I'm in a rut." she said.
Rats. Ruts. I remember being on a rut on my mission. It was hard. How did I get out of it? I really didn't want to bring religion into this particular post, but I guess I can't leave it out since it is such a huge part of my life. I got out of my rut with God, plain and simple. Well, it was what I did each and every day. Guidance from a loving Father in Heaven helps me each day to see things from His view, through His eyes, and realize that there's a lot more to things in life that meet the eye. But, for those who don't believe in God, or who aren't particularly religious, how can peace be found?
Well, confidence in self, right? Emerson said, " Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that iron string." It's in developing a relationship with ourselves that those insecurities fade away. Developing a relationship with ourselves is just like any relationship. We spend time with ourselves, we talk to ourselves, we think, we ponder, and we answer the questions that matter most to us, based on our values and morals. We set a standard for ourselves that we feel comfortable with, and then we work towards it. We pursue excellence within ourselves by doing so, because we pursue that which allows each of us to become who we want to be.
I was watching an old episode of Grey's Anatomy. One of the doctors, Izzy, was talking about another doctor, Cristina, about why she was jealous of her. It wasn't because she was overtly talented, or attractive, or smart. She was jealous because Cristina "knows what she wants, she has this faith in her skill, in herself... it's an unwavering faith. She knows who she is."
I want to have that in myself. I want to know what I want and have confidence in myself, in my skills. So, I'm going to have to find that from within. I know I can. I'm halfway there. I'm working on knowing what I want. The most important thing to remember in all of this though, I think, is to not look back. Well, maybe not look back at all, but, as another character in the show said, "I needed to come back so that I could see that it was alright to leave." When we take what we need to learn, we turn back and face and future and never look back, we come to terms with the fact that it is alright. We've overcome that challenge, that obstacle in the past. When we can do that, our insecurities fade away, because the burden of the past weighs us down no longer.
With confidence in self, with faith in self, then insecurity becomes in-security, security in self, confidence and faith in yourself where a person is not dragged down by self-doubt. You control yourself, but not really, because knowing who you are allows you to do just what you need to do without a questioning yourself.
So, as Emmanuel Teney has said (and I believe that this can be applied to faith in self),
-eechie.
I ran into a friend this morning who I hadn't talked to in quite awhile. Sat down to chat with her, and, in doing so, ended up having a mini-counseling session, wherein she told me that she wasn't feeling happy, or, at least, she wasn't as satisfied with her life. I asked her what was wrong. We went through a short list of the basic things that occupy most of our time.
"School?" - "Good, not taking too many credits." - Check.
"Dating?" - "Not bad, I like my boyfriend and he treats me well." - Check.
"Family?"- "Alright, worried about my family though, my parents aren't getting along too well." - Kinda Check.
We talked about how we can be happy, how we can find peace within ourselves. It seemed to me that her lack of happiness stemmed from a lack of confidence in herself, in who she was and where she wants to go in life. I think we all have those issues at one point or another, which is up to us to overcome.
More often than not, we allow external factors to affect who were are, and with that, effect a change in us that is not positive. Sure, it's not easy to be completely unaffected by the world. The only two things that could probably get us to that state would be ignorance or apathy. So, what can we do?
"I think I'm in a rut." she said.
Rats. Ruts. I remember being on a rut on my mission. It was hard. How did I get out of it? I really didn't want to bring religion into this particular post, but I guess I can't leave it out since it is such a huge part of my life. I got out of my rut with God, plain and simple. Well, it was what I did each and every day. Guidance from a loving Father in Heaven helps me each day to see things from His view, through His eyes, and realize that there's a lot more to things in life that meet the eye. But, for those who don't believe in God, or who aren't particularly religious, how can peace be found?
Well, confidence in self, right? Emerson said, " Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that iron string." It's in developing a relationship with ourselves that those insecurities fade away. Developing a relationship with ourselves is just like any relationship. We spend time with ourselves, we talk to ourselves, we think, we ponder, and we answer the questions that matter most to us, based on our values and morals. We set a standard for ourselves that we feel comfortable with, and then we work towards it. We pursue excellence within ourselves by doing so, because we pursue that which allows each of us to become who we want to be.
I was watching an old episode of Grey's Anatomy. One of the doctors, Izzy, was talking about another doctor, Cristina, about why she was jealous of her. It wasn't because she was overtly talented, or attractive, or smart. She was jealous because Cristina "knows what she wants, she has this faith in her skill, in herself... it's an unwavering faith. She knows who she is."
I want to have that in myself. I want to know what I want and have confidence in myself, in my skills. So, I'm going to have to find that from within. I know I can. I'm halfway there. I'm working on knowing what I want. The most important thing to remember in all of this though, I think, is to not look back. Well, maybe not look back at all, but, as another character in the show said, "I needed to come back so that I could see that it was alright to leave." When we take what we need to learn, we turn back and face and future and never look back, we come to terms with the fact that it is alright. We've overcome that challenge, that obstacle in the past. When we can do that, our insecurities fade away, because the burden of the past weighs us down no longer.
With confidence in self, with faith in self, then insecurity becomes in-security, security in self, confidence and faith in yourself where a person is not dragged down by self-doubt. You control yourself, but not really, because knowing who you are allows you to do just what you need to do without a questioning yourself.
So, as Emmanuel Teney has said (and I believe that this can be applied to faith in self),
As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.I have faith in myself, a knowledge within my heart of who I am. As Ruyard Kipling put it,
If you can keep your head when all about youThings will work out. Faith in self. Faith in God. You know yourself. Trust you.
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
-eechie.
It’s been great being able to have some alone time with my Dad. I never had too much of that growing up since he was always traveling. But, we were talking about the different paths that life takes us down. We started talking about my Grandfather, who, at fourteen years old, left his home in China to work in Thailand. He spent the next eleven years there, working on a river selling goods. He returned to China and picked up my Grandmother when his parents told him that they had a wife for him. They went back to Thailand. after few years, Thailand raised taxes in imports, which my Grandfather primarily dealt with, so they decided to leave, but not before visiting China one more time, with their two young daughters in tow. They left one of my Aunt’s there as collateral; my Great-Grandparents wanted to know that they would go back. They left for Singapore, and never returned. My Grandparents had another eight children in Singapore, the youngest being my father. While nine children were raised in Singapore, the one left behind was raised in China. The same generation, and countries apart. One generation removed, and the worlds we live in are completely different. No more are the old traditions. Instead, they are replaced with modern ideas and values. Nothing wrong, just completely different. My Dad said, “Can you imagine if Grandpa hadn’t decided to leave China? You’d be there right now, working in some rice field with the water buffalo. You certainly wouldn’t be sitting where you are right now.” Where am I sitting right now? In a plane, 41000 feet in the air, on the way back to college in Provo, UT. If my Grandfather hadn’t made that decision, where would I be, what would I be doing? Fate? Destiny? Fatwincidence (fate and coincidence combined)? I don’t know. I probably wouldn’t have been a Mormon, or this or that. Maybe it would all have ended up the same in some, weird way. But, it happened this way, it happened to me, for me. I am who I am today, and where I am today, all because of the decision of one young boy all those years ago.
I could tell you how my Father got from Singapore to the States and yada yada, but that’s a story for another day.
Times fly. Time flies. I don't know how many times I have said that, but it really does. It's been another adventurous year. Four and a half months were spent as a missionary, and rest of the year, as a normal citizen of the world! The mission was wonderful and amazing and everything that I could ever have hoped for. I'm sure that you've gathered from my weekly emails/mission blog, that it was the best decision that I have yet made in my young life! As I have said many times before, it was hard, it was heart-breaking, it was tough, but it was something that I had to do, because I now who what I believe in, I know what is true.
Seven and a half months have gone by since I finished my mission. It has been a blast! Sure, there have been some upsets and disappointments, but life is good. I'm really starting to see it in a different light, a different perspective, understanding that my happiness is really dependent on me. It's so interesting just how life takes its little twists and turns, and how some decisions are life altering. Ok, so maybe I haven't had any particularly life-altering experiences, but I have learned that it's good to take a step back sometimes and realize that things can and will always work out. Sometimes, it really seems like a bad decision made can never be rectified, and so you, well, I, dwell on it and wonder what I could have done. I've been re-reading a book by John Wooden. I would quote the whole book, but.. yeah... so here’s one of my favorites, and since it's related to what I'm talking about....
In my little mortal mind and heart, it’s sometimes hard to give up the things that are dear to your heart. But, from a slightly more spiritual standpoint, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
With that in mind, I know that I will be blessed this year. I'm where I am for a reason, here, at BYU, meeting people, and studying and being happy. I have a purpose here, which I'm supposed to figure out and fulfill. Grandpa was inspired in his own way so that I could be where I am today. So, some will be expected, others will be surprises. But some things I do know and have faith in. I have friends who love me and are there when I need them, I have family who are my angels on this Earth. Most of all though, and I know I've said this more than once. I know that I have a Heavenly Father and Brother who love me perfectly and who want me to be happy. So, what can I do? I can do what Heavenly Father wants me to do, trust in Him.
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'
So I went forth and finding the Hand of God,
Trod gladly into the night.
-M. Louis Hakins
With that in mind for this day and week, and month, and new year, I am
on
my
way.
-eechie.
I could tell you how my Father got from Singapore to the States and yada yada, but that’s a story for another day.
Times fly. Time flies. I don't know how many times I have said that, but it really does. It's been another adventurous year. Four and a half months were spent as a missionary, and rest of the year, as a normal citizen of the world! The mission was wonderful and amazing and everything that I could ever have hoped for. I'm sure that you've gathered from my weekly emails/mission blog, that it was the best decision that I have yet made in my young life! As I have said many times before, it was hard, it was heart-breaking, it was tough, but it was something that I had to do, because I now who what I believe in, I know what is true.
Seven and a half months have gone by since I finished my mission. It has been a blast! Sure, there have been some upsets and disappointments, but life is good. I'm really starting to see it in a different light, a different perspective, understanding that my happiness is really dependent on me. It's so interesting just how life takes its little twists and turns, and how some decisions are life altering. Ok, so maybe I haven't had any particularly life-altering experiences, but I have learned that it's good to take a step back sometimes and realize that things can and will always work out. Sometimes, it really seems like a bad decision made can never be rectified, and so you, well, I, dwell on it and wonder what I could have done. I've been re-reading a book by John Wooden. I would quote the whole book, but.. yeah... so here’s one of my favorites, and since it's related to what I'm talking about....
You can always look back and see where you might have done something differently, changed this or that. If you can learn something, fine, but never second-guess yourself. It's wasted effort.I'm learning that bit by bit, and hoping that I really can master my emotions so that when something like that happens, I know that things can't change. I can't go back in time and change things that have already happened, decisions that I have already made. But, as my Mission President always reminded me, I can react to a certain situation in a certain way. So, I’m going to take what I can learn from those experiences and move on, though it is terribly hard to sometimes. How do you get rid of thoughts and memories that have affected you so? Anyone?
In my little mortal mind and heart, it’s sometimes hard to give up the things that are dear to your heart. But, from a slightly more spiritual standpoint, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
So, as a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future.It is with that mindset that I hope that I can take that in mind and apply it, so that I have the fortitude and strength to accomplish the things that the Lord has in store for me, whether or not I like it. Sometimes, I feel that Heavenly Father doesn’t have control of lives completely, that He just lets things happen. but then I realize that if I didn’t believe that, then my faith would not be worth living. Everything does happen for a reason, Heavenly Father does answer every single prayer, and He is always mindful of us.
Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.I have faith then, because of my testimony, I have faith, because of the things that I have seen God do for me, seeing His hand in my life. I am blessed, oh so blessed to be where I am and to be able to have what I have. Thought. I’m reading a book right now titled Mao’s Last Dancer. As the author describes what he had to go through as he was growing up as a young child, hardly any clothes, or food, or a bed to sleep in, I am reminded of just how blessed I am, to have that and more. Sure, material things can’t make up for the occasional emotional mess that I might be in, or for that something that didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. But, I am so blessed by a long Heavenly Father who has provided me with so much through my Earthly parents.
With that in mind, I know that I will be blessed this year. I'm where I am for a reason, here, at BYU, meeting people, and studying and being happy. I have a purpose here, which I'm supposed to figure out and fulfill. Grandpa was inspired in his own way so that I could be where I am today. So, some will be expected, others will be surprises. But some things I do know and have faith in. I have friends who love me and are there when I need them, I have family who are my angels on this Earth. Most of all though, and I know I've said this more than once. I know that I have a Heavenly Father and Brother who love me perfectly and who want me to be happy. So, what can I do? I can do what Heavenly Father wants me to do, trust in Him.
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'
So I went forth and finding the Hand of God,
Trod gladly into the night.
-M. Louis Hakins
on
my
way.
-eechie.
