All the Places to Love.

 
Scared and sacred are spelled with the same letters. Awful proceeds from the same root word as awesome. Terrify and terrific. Every negative experience holds the seed of transformation.
And with time, things change on their own. Time changes places, feelings, thoughts, and people. People change places, they change style, and they change each other.  In all of the mess, the people, the places, the things, and the thoughts, good can be taken and given to and from it all. There are many settings in this world that can undergo such an impact. To one, some places may be seemingly insignificant. To another, the places may mean more than the rampant facade.

The crucible setting is not idealistic. In my mind, Salem is dismal. There is always contention in the air. Selfishness leaving a prevalent impression. Almost like a disease. One's own self being the first on the mind. The time was a rough one. The fear of the future, struggle for a new colony, and the discovering of right and wrong a constant reminder of the past and present circumstances. The battle of the individual fought far too often. The fight against brother and friend, fought with too much ferocity. The war for hope and faith left behind in a distant past. Salem is far from the idealized home town. 

Of all the settings to love, picture this: you wake up. You're extremely excited. It's already 5:15. How could you have slept so late? You almost leap out of bed, then tip-toe into the living room. Peaking around the corner, your heart stops for a split second. The ornaments on the ever green: luminescent. Glowing red, green, and gold. Making your own heart warm with anticipation. Santa has been there. There, under the tree, many presents. If only there is one with your name it. 
This is Christmas. An experience viewed from the eyes of a child. Christmas is magical. When you defiantly plod of to bed, the trunk of the tree can be easily seen. The stockings hang limp over the fireplace. When you wake up, the tree trunk is no longer bear, and the stockings too full to hang on the mantle.
I'm told that one person made Christmas even more magical. I'm told that Grandma Shirlene knew how to do Christmas. They say there were always carols, cards, and stories, complete with gingerbread houses. No, not gram crackers, but, real ginger bread. She made a whole town every Christmas she could. The presents were present. Christmas with Grandma Shirlene was something to be remembered. She focused on the part that mattered. The love in the air could always be felt. Especially at Christmas with Grandma.

Content and contention have the same beginnings. Oppression and impression a lasting effect. Places change people. Negative things make a positive change in the refugee that knows what not to want. You make the best out of your circumstances before they get the best out of you.

Becoming.

Do you want to know what I've decided?

I've decided that somehow in the big scheme of things, my life matters. And, what I do with my life matters. No, I doesn't matter to everyone, but it will matter to someone. Maybe even a handful of someones. 

And you want to know what else?

I have a Heavenly Father who knows my whereabouts. What I'm feeling, thinking, doing and all the intentions of my heart. Righteous or otherwise.

And He cares. He cares about you, and me. And, I'm thankful. I'm thankful that He has a plan for my life. I'm thankful that He's the one in my driver's seat. I'm thankful that I'm not in charge. 

Catch the vision.

 You know where you are. And so does our Heavenly Father. He is watching out for you. He knows your potential. He knows what your feeling, thinking, and doing. He knows every intent of your heart. He knows where you can be, and what you can become.  

"In our customary Church vocabulary, we often speak of going to church, going to the temple. and going on a mission. Let me be so bold as to suggest that our rather routine emphasis on going misses the mark. The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshiping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple' rather , the issure is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord' house. The issue is not going on a mission' rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout the rest of our life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength."

~David A. Bednar

D&C 4:2

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Heart: Love unconditionally. Be positive

Might: Live the commandments. Be committed. 

Mind:  Actively engaged.

Strength: Perseverance with immense selflessness and love.

Working like everything depends on you, and praying like everything depends on God. 

He Loves you.

Someone Special

       There are many things that could be considered special. But some things I can’t keep forever. But, I will remember them forever. My favorite thing is someone special. Also known as: a hero.

       Everyone has a hero. To me, a hero is someone I can always turn to, no matter what happens: someone so optimally sent to me that they have changed me for good. A hero has good standards and knows their priorities. They understand their potential, and the potential of those around them. There is a hero out there for all of us.

       Some people find heroes in a religious leader, in a family member, or in extraordinary people from the past. Many people have become heroes in my life.  My heroes have wandered into my life when I least expected them, but when most needed them. That’s how a hero works.

       As a part of the human race we each have a responsibility to help each other, to let each other know that we’ll be running the race together. Not to win, but to cross the finish line. To know the satisfaction of winning two races: the one you ran, and the one that you pushed, the one you cheered on.

“People come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return.”

-Wicked

       Someday I want to be a hero. I’ve been influenced by the best. Now, I’ll influence for the better.

           

           

My Hero Vs. a Crucible Villain

“A boy doesn't have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn't like pie when he sees there isn't enough to go around.”
Edgar Watson Howe

       Heroes, Villains; Good guys, Bad guys; Protagonists, antagonists; Optimists, Pessimists; Winners, Losers. To me, being a hero is selflessness at any level. Being willing to risk life or limb for a greater good. The bad guy is usually self centered, revengeful, and unhappy. But, most antagonists do have an admirable quality. Most are so full of anger and passion; that their motivation and drive is seemingly unconquerable. In the same light, Heroes have such a passion for life, for others and for their successes. Each has their place; it’s a matter of deciding your team.

       Abigail Williams is a prominent villain in the play, “The Crucible”. She manipulates everyone around her. Her motivations aren’t more complex than jealousy.  Abigail is driven by lust. She had a very hard past as an orphan. She is low on the social status of Salem.  She is shunned and scorned by respectable people.  Rumors were spread by some, about the child, many of which have pieces of truth in them. Abigail will find every opportunity to cast the opposition away from her direction. Thus, driven by her passions and full of indignation.

       My Great Aunt RaNon has become a newfound hero of mine. She was not much older than 60, and died about a week ago.  She was my Grandma Shirlene’s sister. My Grandma died 23 years ago. Both died from cancer. As her funeral approached, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t anticipate the outcome.

      

        As I arrived and saw my other great aunt and uncles, second cousins, cousins, and other close family members, I was surrounded by love. When the family was invited in for family prayer and closing the casket, I was near tears. I am not a crier, but, when I saw my older brothers’ eyes on the verge of a stream of tears, I melted. My own eyes wet my cheeks with an unexpected amount of salty drops.

       In the service, many people mentioned her undying belief that love conquers all. Even as she battled her own enemy, cancer, she knew that if she could do nothing else, she could smile.

       As she started to lose her memory, family members would come to see her. With a level head, she would tell them, “I may be forgetting many things, but I’ll never forget the people I love.” She knew her priorities.

        Aunt RaNon served anyone and everyone. There were over 1,500 people who were touched enough by her to attend her viewing. There was such an expansive group of people. Close family and friends, many of which didn’t share the same beliefs, but they were touched just the same.

       I have described two incredibly different people. Abigail Williams and RaNon Zabriskie do have something in common. They are passionate. When they believe something, they know it with all their hearts. And, they live it with every fiber of their being.

       They believe differently. Abigail is blamed for something and denies it and casts the blame elsewhere. RaNon would take the constructive criticism with a spoon full of sugar, learning and growing the whole time. For Abigail, life is all about her, making her comfortable, making herself “top dog”. Aunt RaNon made it to the top by making life about other people. Not about her; making the most of every breath, every moment, and every person. Abigail threatened others to gain power and to have the upper hand. She didn’t have one real friend. RaNon loved, and loved a lot.  She was loved immensely in return.

       Heroes and villains; Good guys and Bad guys; Protagonists and antagonists; Optimists and Pessimists; Winners and Losers. We have a choice. Being a hero is selfless, happy, exhilarating, and thrilling. Not only do you experience your own joy and happiness, but you also experience each and every blissful and exuberant moment that those you love experience. As a villain, you end up alone. The choice is ours. And it will make all the difference.