Coinsidence, I Think Not

Sunday was my ward conference and the stake president was the last one to speak. He quoted a poem at the end of his talk. As I listened to just a portion of the poem I wrote down the title not remembering or hearing the author's name, so that I could read it later. Then later this week as I was going through more of the poems I was assigned to read there it was, the poem that I heard a day earlier in church, The Lamb, by Blake.
As I read the poem I pictured a mother telling this poem to a young child as a bed time story. I love how there are such huge questions, cosmic questions, and yets its meant to be understood by all ages. I also love how a lot of the examples or questions that are presented can be taken in a personal childlike way. You could replace the word lamb for child or son. Every child is a child of God and its a very easy way to associate that principle with this poem by replacing the word. It brings God to a level that the reader can understand. The poem compares Him with us mere mortals.
In a way I could see this poem being taken from Psalms in the Bible. I think it would fit very nicely. After all it was meant to be song.

Is it worse to have dreams that you cant obtain or to not have any dreams at all and so there isn’t any disappointment? Is it bad to be content or is it bad to not be? If asked if I’m content with life I say yes. Everything is going well, I’m progressing, I have a good family and good friends, a good job, a good car, I have things that I need and even things that I want. There should be no complaints. Yet, even with my life as good as it is I look to the side and see my dreams far off in the distance. Are they achievable? Are they realistic? Logic tells me no. Sometimes dreams shouldn’t come true. I’ve been glad of the few dreams I’ve given up. Do I think I could have reached them? Yes, with no doubt in my mind, I know I would not have only reached them but I would have been good at them. But that wasn’t for me. My path is being lead to somewhere different.
I guess we are always struggling with us making the path or us following the path. As humans we don’t want to show our weakness, and I think by not reaching our goals and being ok with that is a sign of weakness, in a human nature setting which can also be known as being prideful. But if we are content and are willing to submit it’s a far better thing we do to be content and be directed and realize we don’t know what’s better for us all the time. So in conclusion I’ve come to the decision that its good to be content with how life it but its also good to have ambitions and dreams, as long as we don’t begin to regret or despise our current conditions.

Lessons From a Book

Today I just finished reading a book. The book is called "Left To Tell". Its the story of a surivor of the Rwanda genocide of mid '90's. It's a truely inspirational story. During this womans ordeal she always managed to find God and keep Him in her thoughts. She constantly prayed, not only to keep herself safe, or friends and family members but eventually she prayed for her enemies. To soften their hearts, and to have devil come out of them.
As I read this womans heroing story I thought of my own life. I haven't had anything come close to comapre with the horrific tradgities that she had, but I thought of my own life. Here was I just the night before wallowing in self pity over such trivial things and being angry and frustrated and tired form a long says drive. I would playfully throw a pillow across the room as a reaction to my sitution and huff and puff and give a sour face. Here was I thinking how life will enver be better, how life will never change and I'll never reach my goals because life is out to get me.
I feel so ashamed. My life is nothing that this woman's was, or other peoples are around the world. I have a wonderful life, and there is no reason or excuse for me to act that way. Yes some of it was in a childlike fun, but I'm better than that. After reading this woman's miraculous story I only wish I could be half of who she is. The faith, the optimism, the trust, the love, the courage, the forgiveness. It makes me want to do better. It makes me not want to wallow and to want to be angry or hold any malice in my heart for fellow children of God.
For my new beginning I want to find the strength and courage to be the better person. To think well of others, to make my enemies my friends. I feel like I shouldn't care about these miniscule problems in my life. There are worse things. I need to be thankful for what I have. All I want to do is whats right.