Wrap up

I never really had a set plan as to what i should write. I would just sit down and whatever popped into my mind first is what i would write about. I realize now though the majority of my blogs are lessons that i have learned, or things that have helped me. I feel that this blog was as much for my audience as it was for me. It is helpful to have a record of you thoughts. When things happen you think ah i will never forget that. This event is stuck in my memory. But, i always seem to forget details. Reading past blogs is like opening a photo album to my thoughts. I am grateful that Sister Steadman had us do blogs. Sometimes we are forced to try things we enjoy.

Stand together

This past week in church we had a lesson on the armor of God. While the teacher was describing the different peices of armor i began to think of past experiences. My brother and i have made armor in the past and fought with it. Essentially we got big sticks, and tried to kill each other. But i realized that some pieces of armor you cant put in for yourself. You need a good friend to have your back. And. even once you got the armor on fighting alone is very hard. But, if you stand beside one another and lock shields then there are few things that can break the line. The whole is greater then the sum of the parts. Since coming to BYU i have found amazing friends. For the first time in my life i have peers that i look up too. I now understand the meaning of the phrase. The strongest climb together.

Grow together

Before coming to BYU i never had really close mormon friends. I was the only active LDS kid in my class. I knew some folk who were younger then me. But, we weren't all that close. Since gettin here i have found tons of LDS friends. It is not that my friends back home were bad folk, i jsut could not share some things with them. They were religious too so church talks always turned into arguements. For the first time in my life i have friends who i wish i could be as them. I see them and think dang! they have got it together. It is so helpful to have the support group of great friends. It is interesting how we reflect nature. The greatest predators hunt together, the tallest trees grow side by side. Life is a group trek, not an indivdiual journey. Never be too busy to stop and help a fellow traveler. And, dont be afraid to reach out for a lil help of your own. You might just find a friend to walk with, afre all traveling all by your lonesome is not very fun.

Polishing the Diamond

Today at the devotional Bishop Burton offered an old chinese proverb he said "it is friction that polishes the diamond." He went on to explain that it is trials that teach us. Adversity is the greatest teacher there is. All the advice and words of inspiration mean nothing if we have never expereinced life. This does not mean we should seek out problems though. Trust me, they will come all by themselve. I have noticed that some people i know are always complaining about something. And i wonder, am i one of those people. I have decided that i need to smile at the cold, and bless the heat. Laugh when i fall down, and smile when i can hardly stand up straight. Bishop Burton made a very profound statement, it was something to the effect of "why build earthly anchors, when ya need to fly on high."