Not the Least Bit Complicated

While reviewing my portfolio from high school I came across a philosophical essay debating science and religion. At the end my teacher wrote "but- if we must 'prove' faith- what's the point in faith? (complicated- right?)" I don't remember what I wrote in the essay but I must not have done a very good job of explaining faith. Upon the moment of reviewing the paper an error on my part did not ever occur to me as possible and I instinctively assumed something to be wrong with my teacher's comment. I had to repeat it out loud several times to make sense of  it. He is not entirely wrong. He knows perfectly well that faith consists of a belief without proof, and therefore questions its value when evidence is required. With that in mind I suppose the only error was ever putting science and religion to a debate at all. Winning a debate calls for factual and logical proof of one's position. While science may have all the tangible evidence it deems sufficient it could never compete with religion because its foundation is faith (a belief in things unseen that are true) and has never yet produced enough physical evidence to satisfy them.
A major part in God's earthly design for us is that we learn to believe without having seen. Why come down in a burst of glory with a choir of angels when the words of a song, kind act of a stranger, or tight hug of a friend in time of need can convince us of God's love just as profoundly? Why pay for a limousine to go to the grocery store if a mini-van can do the job just as effectively? Returning to the essay, why debate a thing which-- by its very nature-- should not be provable? In that light I declare the situation not the least bit complicated.

Change of Plans

I know that before I said I would hurry and finish the challenges, but I feel it necessary to abandon that project-- or rather, postpone it. I am preparing to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, my mission assignment letter should be arriving this following week. In light of this, I am altering my study materials to better ready myself for missionary service. I will be studying the Missionary Handbook, the Book of Mormon, and a few pamphlets that missionaries from my home town gave me to review. Frequent posts on this material should not be expected, however I will post when I feel inspired to share a certain message. Then I will serve my mission and no posts will appear here for 18 months. I have no doubt, though, that my mother will create a blog and post my weekly letters if you want to keep up with the miracles happening!

Change Comes Slowly

I have an announcement to make--which seems rather over-dramatic considering the readership of this blog is practically nonexistent beyond myself: I'm moving up the timetables. I want to finish the remaining challenges I have as quickly as possible because there are so many other wonderful events transpiring in my life that I feel the need to share, but I find it difficult to do so with this pressing obligation to fulfill my goal of completing these challenges. I know that my plan from an eternity ago miserably failed and I have no doubt that I let a lot of you down in becoming sidetracked, and making and breaking promises. My life excelled quite faster than I had ever dared imagine. Like a sudden and unpredictable gale force wind mowing down my path, life raged on and snagged me right along with it leaving behind this one simple goal of mine. I don't attempt to excuse myself from utter failure, only explain. Although, I suppose failure is completely surrendering to my vain and human self-- not pushing forward and getting back on the horse, so maybe I haven't failed yet. Either way, it's irrelevant  because I will finish these challenges and within the next few weeks (fingers crossed). The old weekly pattern has been trashed and a new, slightly sporadic design is on the drawing board: I will be posting every couple of days, sometimes back to back, sometimes only a couple times a week, but I WILL finish these challenges and I WILL press forward. Then I can freely share the miracles and mercies and tribulations and redemptions and incredulity of my ever-accelerating, wonderful, beautiful, simple life.
In a renowned novel a very wise J.R.R. Tolkien detailed a plain and simple, yet merry people who lived their lives ignorant of the outside world with "change coming slowly." A heart may be a hard thing to change, but so to are the massive impenetrable gates and doors adorning those beloved ancient fortresses in Europe and the mighty change occurring as one of those swings open is wrought by the tiniest of hinges. I apologize for the delay, but one thing I can promise: not matter how long it takes, change will always come.

Week 5: Live the Gospel

Challenge: Rise above worldly fears and live the Gospel.
Promise: Love will become the governing factor in your life.
Dunn begins with two scenario's of "One" who is not sinning and "Another" who is trying to do good. The psychology behind this (which we just discussed in class a couple weeks ago-- I actually am learning at college : D) consists of three steps in moral belief. The transition between these steps generally occurs naturally as a person ages. Children obey to not receive punishment: "Don't throw a tantrum or you'll be spanked;" slightly older adolescents simply follow the rules because "they're the rules;" and-- hopefully-- adults do good because "it's the right thing to do" or to help someone else. Dunn combines these first two processes into one "founded on fear."
He also gives an example of a Bishop's interview in which the Bishop asks if you would like the hard or easy interview. The easy one asks if you are living the law; the hard one asks if you are living the Gospel. "Living one will keep you out of hell, bu living the other will return you to the presence of God."
One thing he specifically promises is that if you live the Gospel "you will thereby have a particular ability to inspire others." Reflecting on this in context of the mission I will soon be serving and my friends' experiences who are currently serving, I can testify to this. I know and pray that I will be able to live the Gospel well enough in the future to inspire others, through the Holy Ghost, to come unto Christ, and I have seen this ability at work in current missionaries.
This week just happens to be Helaman Residence Halls Mission Week. For this purpose I have been "called" to Ireland Dublin. I am hereby formally accepting the challenge to retire at 10:30, rise at 6:30, dedicate an hour to scripture study every day, and attend as many of the functions of the week as I can (I would dress like a missionary if it weren't so cold haha). Beyond these tasks I will try to spend more time in service and prayer for others around me. I will practice abandoning the confines of fear for the liberty of the Gospel and the embrace of love, and as I do...I hope to be able to focus more on others and inspire a Spirit of obedience to a higher law in others.
I would recommend trying to improve in one area of living the Gospel this week, or whatever you feel you should do to forfeit fear and live the Gospel. Good luck! God bless your efforts!

My Decision

I will post about the next challenge tomorrow, but I just wanted to quickly comment on the last one.
In applying the concept of decision making, I have made one....a big one:
I'M SERVING A MISSION!!!!!!!!
I will submit my papers in January, finish winter semester, and then "forget [myself] and go to work!"

Week 4: Learn How to Make Life's Decisions

Before I post about the challenge, I issue my sincere apology for not posting the last few weeks and express my heart-felt regret for the experiences and opportunities that I, and maybe even some have you, have missed out on because I allowed moving and school to distract me from these goals. I cannot promise that it won't happen again- I am human after all- but I beg all of you who are reading this to bare with me through my weaknesses. I have no desire whatsoever to skip a single challenge so I am picking up where I left off. Many of you may have continued in my absence. I thank you for being so diligent, and pray that you will not be too upset with my poor example.

Challenge: Learn how to make life's decisions.
Promise:  You will see more clearly the right forks in the road.
Dunn relates the story of a man seeking an apostle's guidance because he felt that-- despite his prayer, study, and faith-- he had not received direction. The apostle most wisely corrected: "You have left out [a] step...which is to make your own decision, based on your goals and on the feelings you have had in prayer. The Lord's promise is that he will confirm or disavow our decisions, not that he will make the decisions for us...."
Many times in life we become so lost and confused that in our dire need we think how much easier hard decisions would be if Heavenly Father chose the correct path for us. Fortunately, God does not operate this way. I say fortunately because-- even though it is difficult-- I reflect on the growth and confidence I gain from following the deciding process as the apostle above instructs and see the value of careful study, prayer, and thought before approaching God with a decision. While we review the many avenues laid before our feet and pour our hearts out to God, He will direct our thoughts to the right option. Just because He has not confirmed or denied a decision yet, does not mean He will not help you make it.
I know this is shorter compared to past commentaries, but, as Nephi said, "the things which I have written sufficeth me..." (1 Nephi 14:26).  I leave you to the challenge with one more comment: I encourage you to select one decision currently on your plate and set aside five to ten minutes a day to contemplate, study, and pray about the issue. Then, whenever you feel you have reached the appropriate decision, kneel and explain to Heavenly Father, in detail, why you have reached it and ask to know if it is the correct choice for you. "...and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right," (Doctrine & Covenants 9:8)
Good Luck!

Week 3: Priorities

Challenge: Discover Your Priorities.
Promise: Greater Freedom from Tensions and Frustrations.
Faced with a barrage of random events, work, and my own inherent laziness, I struggled to find time to write this post or even peak at the next chapter. So you can imagine the smack in the face I felt when I glanced at chapter three yesterday. There I was dashing about with a million things to do-- or lying on the couch too lethargic to even walk five steps to the kitchen for water-- when I discovered this week is about priorities. A book reprimanded me! I can almost hear Ron Weasley's voice echo in my brain: "She needs to sort out her priorities." Embarrassed, I admit that my efforts the last couple of weeks has been extremely lax-- so much so that Heavenly Father had to chastise me through the written word! With limited time remaining this week, I address a much needed topic: priorities.
Dunn suggests writing a list of your priorities and then writing a list of where you spend your time. He affirms, and from experience I concur, that they most likely won't match up. The president and prophet of my church, Thomas Monson, lamented that only in times of great sorrow, "when life's candle dims and threatens to darken," do we remember what's really important. Well, I am not going to wait. No more will I simply talk the talk-- I will walk the walk.
Fortunately, as Dunn indicates, God has already outlined the priorities befitting a disciple of Christ. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God...and all these things shall be added unto you," (Mathew). "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches," (Jacob 2: 18-19, Book of Mormon).
I encourage anyone who hasn't yet to "sort out [your] priorities." Start putting in time where it matters most for you. "And as you do...I promise you greater freedom from tension and frustrations," (Dunn).
Now, I am listening to Enya and she sings, "only if you want to you can seize the day...only if you want to you can find a way." Go and find a way!