Thoughts on Life's Joys and Journeys

Ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth...

2010-02-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

Well, life has become increasingly busier every day as new decisions and opportunities peak over the horizon in the not so distant future. Today was quite an amazing day for me in many of the different areas of responsibilities I have (as do most other students). I met wonderful people today, heard about inspiring and ambitious business ventures, and made some serious progress on goals of my own. But, at the end of the day, I am so eager to settle down at my desk and study the scriptures. I have learned so much today, but it'll seem so insignificant if not coupled with or built upon today's little addition to the foundation of truth in my life. I love the scriptures. I gain joy, peace, and perspective from them.

Also, I wanted to just get down my feelings about an experience I had today in teaching me to be more like Christ. As I have struggled to get on the same page with a school group I am working with, I have been very tempted to let greed creep in. But, with the help of a great friend and sound advice from my parents, I was able to change my approach to be more founded on charity. I feel more filled with the love of God.

Sunset Ride!

2009-04-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

So we went for a bike ride tonight. What a beautiful sunset! I feel so grateful. The air, sky, nature, and friends were all wonderful and refreshing. What a beautiful place in which we live!

Flowers need to live too...

2009-03-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

So, here is the story, starting with step one.

Step one: Bryan (I, myself) walks through grocery store, smells beautiful flowers, and realizes he has never had his very own flowers. He decides he really likes roses, but thinks it might be a little much for his roommates the first time they see him buy himself a boquet. So, he'll start off with a gerber daisy and some yellow and white things too (as pictured on the left).

Step two: Bryan buys flowers and takes them home. Roommates ask, "Whoa, Bry! Who are the flowers for?"
Bry: "Me"
Roommates: "Wow! From who?"
Bry: "Me." Shrugs shoulders with grin on face because it is true.

Step three: Bry is astonished as 10 days pass by with the presence of lively and vibrant floral life filling the small corner of Bry's room. How great!

Step four: Flowers suddenly begin to tilt, wilt, and become crunchy. Bry wonders, 'What is it? Why the sudden change?' He decides that one day soon, he should change the water, like changing the oil.

He busily continues his life.

This morning, after 3-4 days of dying flowers, he decides to finally change the water. But, alas, it is gone! Who took it? 'Oh dear,' thinks Bry, 'flowers don't just like to be in water. They drink it!' He concludes that this is the reason for crunchy and wilting flowers.

Step five: Bry waters flowers this morning. Sadly, he hasn't seen life coming back yet. And yes, he trimmed the stems. Could it be too late for this floral arrangement?

The most important nothing you can do.

2009-03-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

After three days in a row of fairly good rest, I have become a true advocate for the importance of sleep. I can open my eyes--both of them--all the way. It's changed my days. I am so much happier and more productive with my time. I am not always counting the minutes until bedtime now.

"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast."
~William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Every sunset is a chance to reconcile and review and lay aside; every sunrise is a chance to start anew. Start ready! Get a good sleep.

P.S.

2009-01-15T20:42:00.000-08:00

I'm not very funny, so don't expect to be rolling in laughter (unless it's mockery) after reading my blog. The end.

Sunrise, Sunset

2009-01-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

I was listening to this song (Sunrise, Sunset--from Fiddler on the Roof) today as I worked at Project Read (an adult literacy program for Utah County). Every day, we have time while the sun shines to work, play, learn, grow, and serve. Or, we can choose to squander the time, idling away our lives on meaningless or even harmful activities. We only have today. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, and yesterday is gone. We only have today. And, if we only have today, then working, playing, learning, growing, and serving should all be part of today. Some days will have a balance different than others. But, today is all I have. So, I will do all I can to find joy, not fleeting happiness, indulgence, or indifference, but joy! Thomas Monson said, "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family....

"Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

I have many big decisions coming up in my life. It could be a bumpy ride, but at least I get to ride it. I am looking forward to these big decisions and the changes, good and hard, that will help me appreciate the joy in the journey.