I saw an old "friend" today on a social network page. I say "friend" but really she was an acquaintance - a friend of my sister. When I was a teen ager I looked up to her and wanted to be like her. She was outgoing, talented, good at everything she did, and was always the center of attention. Not that I wanted to be the center of attention cause I was so shy, but, well, yeah, the center of attention!
I had heard that in college she got into some moral problems and was kicked out of school for what ever it was that she did. I also heard that that caused her to leave the church. I'm not judging her, it's just that, well that was what I had heard...
I always thought she had a great singing voice and she could play the guitar like a pro. (She was kinda the reason I always wanted to play the guitar.) In some of the on-line photos I saw of her this afternoon, it looks as if she has a band and is still singing and playing her guitar. In fact she doesn't live that far from me - in Salt Lake City. However, I don't plan on looking her up anytime soon.
My thoughts after seeing her photos and stuff are this: there was such a different air about the person I knew in High School and the person I saw in those pictures today. Of course, in high school I think I lived in a bubble and there were a lot of people I admired. And today, I am more of a realist. I wouldn't quite say I was a cynic, but I think I have fewer people I look up to or want to emulate. At any rate she looked happy in the photos with her friends and her band. She looked like she had found success in life. She was definitely being the center of attention. But I also noticed that there were no family type pictures. No kids of her own, no siblings, just friends and her. It made me kind of sad for her. I know I would be nothing with out my family.
My Mom is my hero, my brothers and sisters are my best friends and my husband is my constant companion - the love of my life. My kids are my life! These are the reasons I get up every morning. Don't get me wrong I love my friends - they keep me grounded - but life with out family is just sad and lonely.
I am thankful for my family! I'm glad I stayed on the path I started out on as a kid. I'm glad that things that were important to me as a child are still important to me now, as an adult - family, that's what matters!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
God Bless America
I just got home, last night, from a trip to Fort Benning, in Columbus Georgia. Brian's youngest son Eric was graduating from boot camp and some Infantry training. While we were there we toured the Infantry Museum on base, saw some of the monuments out on "Sacrifice Field." I took some pictures of the Airborne monument. (These monuments were all dedicated to soldiers that have lost their life in their service to their country.) The Museum was full of historical war moments, the history of the Infantry, and all things hero!
As we toured the museum I couldn't help but feel gratitude for every man and woman who committed their lives to the service of their country - whatever the reason was, and whatever their service was. I read a story about an Army nurse and the devoted service she gave during World War Two. She lived to be 104! I saw an American flag that looked like it had blood stains on it. I saw Uniforms that had shrapnel holes in it, parts of tanks that had holes it them as well. I am completely aware that war is not for the weak hearted. War is not something to be taken lightly either. War is ugly! I have seen displays of what the enemy used in Vietnam - in the jungles. They were devious and yet very cunning! Some of their methods were very archaic as well. It is all about survival when it comes to war. But freedom is the driving force! Walking through places like this museum creates a great and overwhelming feeling of gratitude and appreciation for service and sacrifice. These were men and women, my brothers and sisters who gave so much - some gave all they had. How can I repay that debt to them? I can give my support and live my life in a way that makes their service and sacrifice worth it. I can be the kind of American that is proud of her country and all that it stands for.
I now place Eric in the category of hero! The young men who took part in the ceremonies we got to watch are all my heros. These are the young men who will be on the front line, fighting the enemy, in my behalf! I consider myself am a patriot. I am humbled by the whole idea of being a person who supports, and knows one of these soldiers. I am overwhelmed by the strength and unity that emulates from these young men. I am thankful that there are soldiers who are willing to give their life in order that mine might be free.
I love that I live in this great America. Please, God, continue to bless America?!
As we toured the museum I couldn't help but feel gratitude for every man and woman who committed their lives to the service of their country - whatever the reason was, and whatever their service was. I read a story about an Army nurse and the devoted service she gave during World War Two. She lived to be 104! I saw an American flag that looked like it had blood stains on it. I saw Uniforms that had shrapnel holes in it, parts of tanks that had holes it them as well. I am completely aware that war is not for the weak hearted. War is not something to be taken lightly either. War is ugly! I have seen displays of what the enemy used in Vietnam - in the jungles. They were devious and yet very cunning! Some of their methods were very archaic as well. It is all about survival when it comes to war. But freedom is the driving force! Walking through places like this museum creates a great and overwhelming feeling of gratitude and appreciation for service and sacrifice. These were men and women, my brothers and sisters who gave so much - some gave all they had. How can I repay that debt to them? I can give my support and live my life in a way that makes their service and sacrifice worth it. I can be the kind of American that is proud of her country and all that it stands for.
I now place Eric in the category of hero! The young men who took part in the ceremonies we got to watch are all my heros. These are the young men who will be on the front line, fighting the enemy, in my behalf! I consider myself am a patriot. I am humbled by the whole idea of being a person who supports, and knows one of these soldiers. I am overwhelmed by the strength and unity that emulates from these young men. I am thankful that there are soldiers who are willing to give their life in order that mine might be free.
I love that I live in this great America. Please, God, continue to bless America?!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Light versus dark...
Ever notice how, in the old westerns, the bad guy always wore black and the good guy always wore white? In the last couple of days there have been two themes running through my mind. (Some times things really strike me and other times I am really oblivious to what the spirit is trying to get through to my dense brain!) I'm not ever sure why these particular ideas are so front and center - it's not like I have trouble with them or I am blind to them.
Yesterday, while I was sweating through one of my work outs, it struck me how often my eye is drawn to lights. I was laying on a bench, doing a bench press with a couple of dumbbells, trying to focus my attention on an object on the ceiling to get my focus off my effort; my eye kept shifting to the over head light - which was really bright actually. It wasn't even in my direct line of sight, but I kept drifting up to look at it. Then my mind started to try and decide why I kept doing that. It kind of bugged me because the light was bright and actually uncomfortable to look at. Thats when it occurred to me that Jesus Christ is the light of this world and we MUST look to Him.
In a world full of so much darkness we need His light:
As a small child I had a bit of fear in the dark - I think most children do. It was always more comforting to have a small light on in my dark room at night. When ever I find myself in the dark - physically - it seems hard to see where I am going until I turn on a light. Then that light guides me to where I need to go and it helps me get there safely. The gospel teaches us that light and dark can not co-exist. The light absorbs the darkness but the darkness cannot overwhelm the light. Light always wins in the end.
Yet there are those that continue to shut out the light. They choose to close their blinds and turn off the switches and be in the dark - physically and spiritually. Some will even say they like it that way.
As for me, I embrace the light. I constantly have a need to fill my home with light! It warms me and comforts me. The reason it becomes uncomfortable to look directly at the light though, is what troubles me. Well, not troubles, but gives me pause. If Jesus Christ is the Light, and I can't look directly at it without feeling discomfort - spiritually - it is because I am not quite where He is. I know that I am working on being worthy to be where He is, but it will take my life time. But that is why I am so attracted to the light. I am constantly looking to where the light is - I am figuratively looking to Christ. I hope I never loose that impulse. Jesus Christ is MY LIght! He brings me comfort and keeps me from the darkness.
The other theme - of today actually - is "what good ever comes from a life of drugs and alcohol abuse?" Several stories in the news lately have to do with individuals who have taken the path that leads to drugs and alcohol - they usually get there out of curiosity or pressure from others to join the "fun" or even desperation to find something better. These stories are about crime and killings and just plain old trouble with the law.
This morning, for example, I looked at a picture of a woman only 5 years older than me who looked like she was at least 20 or even 30 years older! She was a drug addict; booked in jail for stealing a dead woman's credit cards and using them to buy things for herself! Sounds like an upstanding thing to do.
Another story is one of a female Sheriff's Deputy that was killed by a drug dealer who had, moments before, sold drugs to her brother. The drug dealer than had to hide in a man's tool shed over night - in sub freezing temperatures - so that he didn't get caught and thrown in jail. He did get caught and will go to prison! Also sounds like a great way to spend a life!
So, I can't help but wonder what good ever comes from a life of drugs? So many people die from drug over doses, car accidents while under the influence, and diseases from shared needles. I guess the bigger question is what can be done about preventing the use of the drugs in the first place? Probably not much, since the evil forces out there are so cunning and clever about how they get there "victims." They know how to make the darkness look so much more appealing than the light.
Yesterday, while I was sweating through one of my work outs, it struck me how often my eye is drawn to lights. I was laying on a bench, doing a bench press with a couple of dumbbells, trying to focus my attention on an object on the ceiling to get my focus off my effort; my eye kept shifting to the over head light - which was really bright actually. It wasn't even in my direct line of sight, but I kept drifting up to look at it. Then my mind started to try and decide why I kept doing that. It kind of bugged me because the light was bright and actually uncomfortable to look at. Thats when it occurred to me that Jesus Christ is the light of this world and we MUST look to Him.
In a world full of so much darkness we need His light:
As a small child I had a bit of fear in the dark - I think most children do. It was always more comforting to have a small light on in my dark room at night. When ever I find myself in the dark - physically - it seems hard to see where I am going until I turn on a light. Then that light guides me to where I need to go and it helps me get there safely. The gospel teaches us that light and dark can not co-exist. The light absorbs the darkness but the darkness cannot overwhelm the light. Light always wins in the end.
Yet there are those that continue to shut out the light. They choose to close their blinds and turn off the switches and be in the dark - physically and spiritually. Some will even say they like it that way.
As for me, I embrace the light. I constantly have a need to fill my home with light! It warms me and comforts me. The reason it becomes uncomfortable to look directly at the light though, is what troubles me. Well, not troubles, but gives me pause. If Jesus Christ is the Light, and I can't look directly at it without feeling discomfort - spiritually - it is because I am not quite where He is. I know that I am working on being worthy to be where He is, but it will take my life time. But that is why I am so attracted to the light. I am constantly looking to where the light is - I am figuratively looking to Christ. I hope I never loose that impulse. Jesus Christ is MY LIght! He brings me comfort and keeps me from the darkness.
The other theme - of today actually - is "what good ever comes from a life of drugs and alcohol abuse?" Several stories in the news lately have to do with individuals who have taken the path that leads to drugs and alcohol - they usually get there out of curiosity or pressure from others to join the "fun" or even desperation to find something better. These stories are about crime and killings and just plain old trouble with the law.
This morning, for example, I looked at a picture of a woman only 5 years older than me who looked like she was at least 20 or even 30 years older! She was a drug addict; booked in jail for stealing a dead woman's credit cards and using them to buy things for herself! Sounds like an upstanding thing to do.
Another story is one of a female Sheriff's Deputy that was killed by a drug dealer who had, moments before, sold drugs to her brother. The drug dealer than had to hide in a man's tool shed over night - in sub freezing temperatures - so that he didn't get caught and thrown in jail. He did get caught and will go to prison! Also sounds like a great way to spend a life!
So, I can't help but wonder what good ever comes from a life of drugs? So many people die from drug over doses, car accidents while under the influence, and diseases from shared needles. I guess the bigger question is what can be done about preventing the use of the drugs in the first place? Probably not much, since the evil forces out there are so cunning and clever about how they get there "victims." They know how to make the darkness look so much more appealing than the light.
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