I believe that we are all painfully aware of our weaknesses. I know that is surely the case with me. I hate to report it, but I also believe Jo Anne is painfully aware of them as well. She is very kind however, in that she does not broadcast them about.
One of my greatest challenges throughout my life is that I have been very jealous and possessive of my time. It has always been far easier for me to give money than time. Paying tithing, etc., has never been a challenge or a perceived sacrifice. Giving of my time however is another story.
Don't get me wrong, over my lifetime I have given freely of my time to others, but in my heart of hearts sometimes it has been given far too grudgingly.
My brother Darrel, eight years older than me, had an interesting experience during the BYU/Utah football game this year. I am a strong BYU fan, but compared to my brother, I pale in passion, intensity, and longevity. Just as the game was beginning last week the missionaries came to his home thinking they had a dinner appointment at that time. There had been some miscommunication and Darrel and his wife had gone out to eat lunch just before the elders arrived. Darrel had settled down in front of his TV to watch this epic match between the "good guys" -- BYU, and the "villainous University of Utah Utes." Shocked and horrified within, he recovered quickly and took the two elders out to dinner at a nearby restaurant missing the entire first half of the "biggest game" of the year. The elders ate well as usual, but Darrel kind of choked down what little he could eat. He was gracious, I believe, and was quite uncomplaining, as he explained to me what had happened. Well, the last half of the game was nothing a true BYU fan would want to watch, so the "big game" was quite a wash for my brother. I honestly don't believe I would have been so gracious. I would have probably had the elders dig through the cupboards and refrigerator and fix themselves a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Anyhow, I think my brother is on his way to ultimate sanctification and exaltation as evidenced by the way he handled this experience.
For some time now, at the end of certain stake meetings that are cut a little bit short on purpose, the member of the stake presidency who is conducting announces that we will dismiss to the cultural hall for a "Linger Longer" time. Instead of rushing out and away from the building immediately, time is set aside for us to just visit and renew acquaintances with good friends that we don't see nearly often enough. Of course, Jo Anne has never needed any one to invite her to "linger longer" in a social setting. She has been "lingering longer" as long as I can remember.
I am sure the concept is not necessarily original with our stake, but I personally believe it is a wonderful concept, especially for a time challenged person like me. It is always a test for me to "linger longer" willingly and cheerfully. There are so many other "important" things on my agenda that need to be done.
The life of the Savior has always been an inspiration to me as I have tried to learn to "linger longer", visiting with, and hopefully being blessed and blessing others in the process. I believe one of Jesus' most beautiful attributes was his sociability and willingness to "linger longer" with others. It was not his purpose to give money to those in need, but to give of himself and his time, selflessly and constantly. I carry many pictures of him in my mind that inspire me when tempted to not "linger longer" happily and willingly.
For example, John's account of the Savior visiting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well [John 4] has always had a profound impact upon me. Tired and hot he taught this woman, and a Samaritan at that, with all of his heart, revealing to her who he was and ultimately converting her and many of her friends and family in the adjacent village, because he was willing to "linger longer."
He was not too busy to assist his mother at the wedding feast by changing the water to wine -- his first recorded miracle. I have often wondered how long he "lingered" there. Wedding receptions are not my favorite thing I hate to admit and I usually try to "linger" as little as possible.
After the resurrection he walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." [Luke 24: 21]
It was not given to them to know who he was at that point and as he was about to part from them, Luke recorded the following: " But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them." [Luke 24: 29] It was while he "lingered longer" that he revealed himself to these two men as the resurrected and glorified Savior.
Example after example of course could be cited of Jesus' willingness and desire to give of his time, not just to the multitudes, but to individuals in obscure settings as well. It seems to me that his entire life was all about "lingering longer" to bless the lives of others with his time and presence.
My favorite picture of his "lingering longer" however, is as he finishes his first day of ministering to the descendants of Lehi here in the Americas as the resurrected Christ, Mormon recorded: "And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them. And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you." [3 Nephi 17:5-6] And then Jesus said: "Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them..." [3 Nephi 17:7]
I think I love this passage so much because I see myself in many of the categories Christ mentioned. Just think of the joy that came to those who were paralyzed who could now walk -- I identify with that -- just because Jesus was willing to "linger longer."
I have a long way to go to approach Jesus' willingness and desire to "linger longer" with those who needed his help. I think I am making progress though, but if we are ever visiting and you notice me looking over your shoulder at one of the three clocks I have hanging on the walls of my bedroom you have my permission to pull the air hose off my trachea!
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Don't Blow Your Lead
Last week Jo Anne and I went to the Newport Beach Temple for the first time in some time because of various difficulties we have been dealing with. One of the Temple workers came up to me and said, "It is so good to see you here." I responded with, "It's good to be seen!" In my mind I was also saying, "It's better to be seen than to be viewed!" And then yesterday I had some surgery done on my pressure sore. While the doctor was performing the procedure she noticed a spot that looked suspicious and decided to do a biopsy. As she was working away I thought, "Better to be the subject of a biopsy than an autopsy!"
As challenging as life can be at times, I am still happy to be around. I am one person you will never hear complaining about getting older. I will take every day I can get, realizing the precious gift mortality is.
Life is particularly good at this time of the year if you are a sports junkie like I am. We have college football, college basketball being initiated, and the NBA season beginning as well. I suppose my love for sports is evidence of a misspent youth; however, it surely does add an enjoyable dimension to my life.
Many years ago I heard President Joe Bentley, president of the Newport Beach Stake at the time, give a talk to the youth about how important it is not to "Blow our lead," in life. He was alluding to how frequently in the NBA one team will have a 20 or even 30 point lead and almost unbelievably lose the game at the end.
I have already seen this phenomenon occur in the NBA several times this year -- in fact I observed it almost happen last night to my beloved Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were playing the New Orleans' Hornets and had a 21 point lead most of the game, but almost ended up getting beat in the fourth quarter. They were very fortunate to barely win a game they should have won easily, and almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as teams do who "blow their lead."
Why do basketball teams blow their lead so frequently? There is probably no easy answer, but I think human nature, being what it is, they become complacent, depart from the fundamentals that built their lead in the first place, and quit playing with intensity. In most cases, I observe that they quit playing tough defense. There is not a great deal of glory in playing defense. It requires constant and consistent hard work and is not nearly as fun or glorious as launching a three pointer that splashes through the net to the applause and cheers of the crowd. However, teams that don't continue to play hard-nosed, in-your-face defense, usually end up blowing their lead and often times losing the game. In basketball as in life, to ultimately win the prize -- the game or eternal life -- we must endure to the end and not "blow our lead!"
I have always been intrigued by the lives of three characters in the Old Testament -- Saul, David, and Solomon. Each of them was given an "early lead" in life. Of Saul it was said that he was "... a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people." [1 Samuel 9:2] Anointed by Samuel to be the King of Israel as a young man with the promise of a long and productive life ahead, we know that he "blew his lead" through pride and disobedience, was filled with jealousy and hatred toward David, and eventually died an ignominious death as a miserable old man.
Samuel the Prophet was inspired to anoint the young boy David to replace Saul as the next King of Israel. We read of David, "... Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward...." [1 Samuel 16:12-13]
Whoever was given a bigger lead as a young man than David? He had the faith to go forward to slay Goliath. He was a great poet and musician, as well as a powerful warrior. He loved the Lord and was loved by the Lord. Our heart aches for David as we observe him through the pages of history "blow his lead," in his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the slaying of her husband. How could you have done it, David? I know why -- he quit reading his scriptures and praying, [he quit playing defense and departed from the fundamentals of his faith] and undoubtedly was also lifted up in his pride. And so this boy of such promise and infinite potential blew his lead and ended his days in misery and heart ache.
David's son, Solomon, was a sweet and humble young man who loved the Lord when he began his reign as King of Israel, as evidenced in the following prayer he offered to Jehovah. "And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in... Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" [1 Kings 3:7, 9]
Solomon was blessed with wisdom. He loved the Lord and built the great temple. Under his direction Israel flourished as never before; but, even great Solomon eventually "blew his lead", as we all know. He forsook Jehovah, married many "strange women", allowed the worship of false gods in the kingdom and eventually died a hollow shell, and but a shadow of his former humble and wise self.
Surely the Lord could have called men to be kings of Israel that would have endured faithfully to the end. I believe there is a great lesson in his not doing so, however. I call it the "Two Faces of the Three Kings of Israel." Those two faces are the natural man and the spiritual man we are all capable of being. Birth, the privileges we receive in our youth, our infinite potential as sons and daughters of God mean nothing if we do not, day by day, do those things that enable us to not blow our lead, give in to the natural man that is always lurking just beneath the surface, and endure faithfully to the end.
We, who have been given so much, must never grow complacent, quit playing intense defense and "blow our lead."
As I give patriarchal blessings to the youth of our stake, I am overwhelmed with who they really are and of their infinite potential. Just coming for a blessing is evidence of the great lead they have been given in life already. I hope many, if not all of them, will never "blow their lead" which they need not do if they will continue to play intense, consistent defense and never grow complacent. At what age can we afford to abandon the fundamentals of life that strengthen faith, and to not play the game of life with intensity?
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
As challenging as life can be at times, I am still happy to be around. I am one person you will never hear complaining about getting older. I will take every day I can get, realizing the precious gift mortality is.
Life is particularly good at this time of the year if you are a sports junkie like I am. We have college football, college basketball being initiated, and the NBA season beginning as well. I suppose my love for sports is evidence of a misspent youth; however, it surely does add an enjoyable dimension to my life.
Many years ago I heard President Joe Bentley, president of the Newport Beach Stake at the time, give a talk to the youth about how important it is not to "Blow our lead," in life. He was alluding to how frequently in the NBA one team will have a 20 or even 30 point lead and almost unbelievably lose the game at the end.
I have already seen this phenomenon occur in the NBA several times this year -- in fact I observed it almost happen last night to my beloved Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were playing the New Orleans' Hornets and had a 21 point lead most of the game, but almost ended up getting beat in the fourth quarter. They were very fortunate to barely win a game they should have won easily, and almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as teams do who "blow their lead."
Why do basketball teams blow their lead so frequently? There is probably no easy answer, but I think human nature, being what it is, they become complacent, depart from the fundamentals that built their lead in the first place, and quit playing with intensity. In most cases, I observe that they quit playing tough defense. There is not a great deal of glory in playing defense. It requires constant and consistent hard work and is not nearly as fun or glorious as launching a three pointer that splashes through the net to the applause and cheers of the crowd. However, teams that don't continue to play hard-nosed, in-your-face defense, usually end up blowing their lead and often times losing the game. In basketball as in life, to ultimately win the prize -- the game or eternal life -- we must endure to the end and not "blow our lead!"
I have always been intrigued by the lives of three characters in the Old Testament -- Saul, David, and Solomon. Each of them was given an "early lead" in life. Of Saul it was said that he was "... a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people." [1 Samuel 9:2] Anointed by Samuel to be the King of Israel as a young man with the promise of a long and productive life ahead, we know that he "blew his lead" through pride and disobedience, was filled with jealousy and hatred toward David, and eventually died an ignominious death as a miserable old man.
Samuel the Prophet was inspired to anoint the young boy David to replace Saul as the next King of Israel. We read of David, "... Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward...." [1 Samuel 16:12-13]
Whoever was given a bigger lead as a young man than David? He had the faith to go forward to slay Goliath. He was a great poet and musician, as well as a powerful warrior. He loved the Lord and was loved by the Lord. Our heart aches for David as we observe him through the pages of history "blow his lead," in his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the slaying of her husband. How could you have done it, David? I know why -- he quit reading his scriptures and praying, [he quit playing defense and departed from the fundamentals of his faith] and undoubtedly was also lifted up in his pride. And so this boy of such promise and infinite potential blew his lead and ended his days in misery and heart ache.
David's son, Solomon, was a sweet and humble young man who loved the Lord when he began his reign as King of Israel, as evidenced in the following prayer he offered to Jehovah. "And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in... Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" [1 Kings 3:7, 9]
Solomon was blessed with wisdom. He loved the Lord and built the great temple. Under his direction Israel flourished as never before; but, even great Solomon eventually "blew his lead", as we all know. He forsook Jehovah, married many "strange women", allowed the worship of false gods in the kingdom and eventually died a hollow shell, and but a shadow of his former humble and wise self.
Surely the Lord could have called men to be kings of Israel that would have endured faithfully to the end. I believe there is a great lesson in his not doing so, however. I call it the "Two Faces of the Three Kings of Israel." Those two faces are the natural man and the spiritual man we are all capable of being. Birth, the privileges we receive in our youth, our infinite potential as sons and daughters of God mean nothing if we do not, day by day, do those things that enable us to not blow our lead, give in to the natural man that is always lurking just beneath the surface, and endure faithfully to the end.
We, who have been given so much, must never grow complacent, quit playing intense defense and "blow our lead."
As I give patriarchal blessings to the youth of our stake, I am overwhelmed with who they really are and of their infinite potential. Just coming for a blessing is evidence of the great lead they have been given in life already. I hope many, if not all of them, will never "blow their lead" which they need not do if they will continue to play intense, consistent defense and never grow complacent. At what age can we afford to abandon the fundamentals of life that strengthen faith, and to not play the game of life with intensity?
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Friday, October 31, 2008
Be of Good Cheer
One of my favorite people is Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. I met him for the first time in November 1989 when he was sent by the First Presidency to Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, California to release me as president of the Irvine, California stake. He and his wife visited with Jo Anne and I while standing around my hospital bed. It was like having your grandfather and grandmother come to visit. He was the essence of kindness and compassion. He told us that he always hated to release stake presidents, but it was especially difficult to release me prematurely, and under such difficult circumstances. Before leaving that night, he gave Jo Anne and I each an apostolic blessing. There was no doubt in our minds that we had been blessed by a modern-day Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For a number of years after that, from time to time early in the morning, the phone would ring and the voice on the other end would say, "This is Elder Wirthlin." Jo Anne would always say, "Really?" He simply wanted to know how we were doing and if there was anything he could do for us. That tells you an awful lot about Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, doesn't it?
He told us if we were ever in Salt Lake City to come visit him in his office in the Church Office Building. One summer as we were at BYU for Education Week, we drove up to Salt Lake City to meet with Elder Wirthlin. His secretary was waiting for us and graciously ushered us into his office. There he sat, hunched over his desk in obvious pain -- he had a bad back -- just working his heart out. His desk was covered with piles of papers and maps. He was chairman of the committee regarding boundary changes in the Church. Every proposed new ward, stake, mission, etc. had to be studied and approved by his committee. It would have been a monumental and daunting assignment for a young man, but Elder Wirthlin was in his 80s and not in the best of health. It was an unspoken object lesson to us of endurance and never giving up.
Seeing how busy he was, I said something like, "Elder Wirthlin, you are so busy, and it has been such a treat for us to just see the inside of the church office building, I think it would be best for us to leave you to your work." He got up from his desk and said "If I don't have time to visit with you, I don't have time for anything."
For the next hour he gave Jo Anne, our 16 year old youngest daughter Jackie, and I his undivided attention. He was delightful. He was so positive, cheerful and upbeat, he made us all feel good inside. For not one second did we feel we were imposing upon him and were any kind of burden.
I knew he had been a star running back at the University of Utah in his youth. I got up enough courage to say, "Elder Wirthlin, what is your favorite college football team?" He got a big smile on his face and said, "Well, with me the Church always comes first, BUT..." Then this great Apostle of the Lord, but also a loving grandfather, proceeded to tell us how his grandson, a great high school linebacker, heavyweight wrestling champion for the state of Utah, and a returned missionary from Australia was not given the time of day by BYU's coaching staff, but was recruited by guess who -- the University of Utah. It was wonderful and refreshing to see this human side of a great spiritual giant.
As we left his office, just above a light switch adjacent to the door, in the most obvious place possible, was a Norman Rockwell type painting of two old-time college football players with the old leather helmets. One wore a BYU uniform and the other the uniform of the University of Utah. The University of Utah football player had just destroyed the BYU player with a bone crunching tackle. Elder Wirthlin said many of the brethren had begged him to remove the painting, or at least hang it in a more inconspicuous place, but he said he never would.
These memories about Elder Wirthlin were stirred up in my mind because of his classic General Conference address in October of this year. The title of his talk was taken from some advice given to him by his mother as he was discouraged and depressed after having lost an important football game. His mother said, "Joseph, COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!" The thesis of his talk was: "The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."
"Come what may and loving it" is the only way to live life. I had to learn that lesson many years ago and am constantly taking refresher courses on the subject. I have learned to appreciate the many ironies in my life that make me laugh frequently. I don't remember signing up in the pre-Earth life to be paralyzed and on life support, but here I am, and that's what I got. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don't find something to laugh about regarding this situation, including seemingly constant life-threatening experiences. It is so easy to be troubled and afraid, self-absorbed, taking ourselves too seriously, filled with self-pity, and just being plain miserable. We don't have to be that way. I haven't said this for many years but it is so true -- Barbara Johnson wrote a beautiful book entitled, "Pain Is Inevitable, Misery Is Optional!" How true that is!
The Lord says it a bit differently, but it is the same essential and eternal truth. There are 12 scriptures in which he tells us to "be of good cheer." And we are admonished to "... submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." [Mosiah 24:15]
I have discovered that it simply is not enough to endure. We must rise to another level -- the level the Lord expects of us -- to submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
PS. The reports regarding my demise have been greatly exaggerated. Last week I did have a ventilator malfunction but Jo Anne, several policemen, paramedics, and well-trained personnel at our local ER intensive care unit pulled me through. I was unconscious and in a comatose state for quite some time and have no recollection of what happened. I did know that BYU was playing UNLV on Saturday and with short-term memory loss continually pestered the nurses with, "Will I be released in time to see the game?" So you can see my priorities are in proper order. There was some concern I would be brain damaged; I will leave it up to you to decide whether that is the case or not. At least one member of my family (whom I won't mention by name) would give a "yes" vote.
For a number of years after that, from time to time early in the morning, the phone would ring and the voice on the other end would say, "This is Elder Wirthlin." Jo Anne would always say, "Really?" He simply wanted to know how we were doing and if there was anything he could do for us. That tells you an awful lot about Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, doesn't it?
He told us if we were ever in Salt Lake City to come visit him in his office in the Church Office Building. One summer as we were at BYU for Education Week, we drove up to Salt Lake City to meet with Elder Wirthlin. His secretary was waiting for us and graciously ushered us into his office. There he sat, hunched over his desk in obvious pain -- he had a bad back -- just working his heart out. His desk was covered with piles of papers and maps. He was chairman of the committee regarding boundary changes in the Church. Every proposed new ward, stake, mission, etc. had to be studied and approved by his committee. It would have been a monumental and daunting assignment for a young man, but Elder Wirthlin was in his 80s and not in the best of health. It was an unspoken object lesson to us of endurance and never giving up.
Seeing how busy he was, I said something like, "Elder Wirthlin, you are so busy, and it has been such a treat for us to just see the inside of the church office building, I think it would be best for us to leave you to your work." He got up from his desk and said "If I don't have time to visit with you, I don't have time for anything."
For the next hour he gave Jo Anne, our 16 year old youngest daughter Jackie, and I his undivided attention. He was delightful. He was so positive, cheerful and upbeat, he made us all feel good inside. For not one second did we feel we were imposing upon him and were any kind of burden.
I knew he had been a star running back at the University of Utah in his youth. I got up enough courage to say, "Elder Wirthlin, what is your favorite college football team?" He got a big smile on his face and said, "Well, with me the Church always comes first, BUT..." Then this great Apostle of the Lord, but also a loving grandfather, proceeded to tell us how his grandson, a great high school linebacker, heavyweight wrestling champion for the state of Utah, and a returned missionary from Australia was not given the time of day by BYU's coaching staff, but was recruited by guess who -- the University of Utah. It was wonderful and refreshing to see this human side of a great spiritual giant.
As we left his office, just above a light switch adjacent to the door, in the most obvious place possible, was a Norman Rockwell type painting of two old-time college football players with the old leather helmets. One wore a BYU uniform and the other the uniform of the University of Utah. The University of Utah football player had just destroyed the BYU player with a bone crunching tackle. Elder Wirthlin said many of the brethren had begged him to remove the painting, or at least hang it in a more inconspicuous place, but he said he never would.
These memories about Elder Wirthlin were stirred up in my mind because of his classic General Conference address in October of this year. The title of his talk was taken from some advice given to him by his mother as he was discouraged and depressed after having lost an important football game. His mother said, "Joseph, COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!" The thesis of his talk was: "The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."
"Come what may and loving it" is the only way to live life. I had to learn that lesson many years ago and am constantly taking refresher courses on the subject. I have learned to appreciate the many ironies in my life that make me laugh frequently. I don't remember signing up in the pre-Earth life to be paralyzed and on life support, but here I am, and that's what I got. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don't find something to laugh about regarding this situation, including seemingly constant life-threatening experiences. It is so easy to be troubled and afraid, self-absorbed, taking ourselves too seriously, filled with self-pity, and just being plain miserable. We don't have to be that way. I haven't said this for many years but it is so true -- Barbara Johnson wrote a beautiful book entitled, "Pain Is Inevitable, Misery Is Optional!" How true that is!
The Lord says it a bit differently, but it is the same essential and eternal truth. There are 12 scriptures in which he tells us to "be of good cheer." And we are admonished to "... submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." [Mosiah 24:15]
I have discovered that it simply is not enough to endure. We must rise to another level -- the level the Lord expects of us -- to submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
PS. The reports regarding my demise have been greatly exaggerated. Last week I did have a ventilator malfunction but Jo Anne, several policemen, paramedics, and well-trained personnel at our local ER intensive care unit pulled me through. I was unconscious and in a comatose state for quite some time and have no recollection of what happened. I did know that BYU was playing UNLV on Saturday and with short-term memory loss continually pestered the nurses with, "Will I be released in time to see the game?" So you can see my priorities are in proper order. There was some concern I would be brain damaged; I will leave it up to you to decide whether that is the case or not. At least one member of my family (whom I won't mention by name) would give a "yes" vote.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Remembering
Every once in a while, like many of you, I have an unsolicited, unexpected, and spontaneous wonderful experience. It is usually something very simple, but at the same time very profound. I had such an experience the Sunday of General Conference.
Still trying to get over a nagging pressure sore I was lying in bed watching and listening to both sessions of Conference on my laptop computer. I had a scheduled patriarchal blessing to give a half-hour after the afternoon session. As soon as the session was over Jo Anne and my son in law Nathan, got me into my wheelchair and I rolled into my office to prepare to give a blessing to a wonderful 16-year-old young lady. Giving her a Patriarchal blessing was a sweet experience- the capstone, I thought, to a perfectly beautiful Sabbath day.
Our two youngest daughters, Rachel and Jackie, and their husbands Matt, and Nathan and our three youngest granddaughters, ages 4, 2, and 14 months had been with us during the day watching conference. They all went out for a walk while I gave the blessing. You never know what the noise level might be with unpredictable and emotional preschoolers.
We eventually all sat down around the dining room table to enjoy a beautiful Sunday dinner together. Not to give a false impression of an idyllic setting, I must report that after the family prayer the 14-month-old, in trying to climb up a stool fell off, bumped her head, and her mother, Jackie spent much of the dinnertime getting her calmed down. You know how that goes.
And then the unexpected experience came to me. As I was looking at my two youngest daughters and their husbands, married in the temple and with these three beautiful little granddaughters, I had a flashback of memories. It is said that when people are about to die in a traumatic way that their entire life flashes through their minds. I have had a number of near-death experiences and this has never happened to me -- just sheer panic. However, at the dinner table that Sunday afternoon I did enjoy a vivid, warp speed recall of my life with Rachel and Jackie over the years. The memories were sweet.
When I had my accident over 19 years ago now, Rachel was nine and Jackie turned four just days after losing my the battle with the ocean. At the time I thought "Why would the Lord send these two little girls to us to take care of and raise, knowing with his infinite foreknowledge what was going to happen to me?" It took but a short while to realize that, in fact, these were two angels the Lord knew that Jo Anne and I needed to get through the coming challenging years. Without going into great detail, these little girls were my arms and legs and assisted Jo Anne with my care day in and day out for years. They still pitch in and help, along with their husbands now, whenever they are around.
The only dad Jackie can remember is one in a wheelchair. We have a unique relationship because of it. She once said to her mom, "Wouldn't life be boring if dad were normal like everybody else?" Come to think of it though, maybe some of your kids have said the same thing about you. How many drinks of water, nose wipes, suctionings, channel changes, fixing computer problems, helping their mother get me dressed and into the wheelchair, etc. have they done for me over the years? The memories were vivid but the overwhelming feeling was one of gratitude to have lived long enough to see these little girls married and with sweet little babies of their own. It was sort of a payday experience for me, and I felt that if the Lord saw fit to call me home at that moment, I was at peace with myself and that life had not been so bad.
Memories are wonderful things. President Monson often quotes the poet John Barrie who wrote that "God gave us memories that we might have June roses in the December of our lives." Hopefully we will live in such a way that our memories as we grow older will be "June roses" and not regrettable noxious weeds.
For the last several years I have had a project of trying to read out of each of the standard works every day. I am afraid I am a bit like Marjorie Hinckley, who had a similar goal and reported in a talk she gave that after having set the goal she was already three weeks behind. But she also went on to say she wasn't discouraged and would keep plugging away at it having received great benefits from the days she accomplished her goal. It reminded me of the words of Robert Browning who said, "If a man's reach does not exceed his grasp than what is a heaven for?"
As I read the Scriptures in this manner I am reminded of the important truths that I constantly need to remember every day of my life. To me, all of the Scriptures are simply a book of remembrance of the most important truths ever revealed to mankind.
The word "remember," or a derivative of it, is used 240 times in the Book of Mormon alone. My life is extremely blessed as I remember through searching the Scriptures each day that which is worth remembering the most. And of course the most important thing to remember was taught by Helaman to his son's Nephi and Lehi: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." [Helaman 5:12]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Still trying to get over a nagging pressure sore I was lying in bed watching and listening to both sessions of Conference on my laptop computer. I had a scheduled patriarchal blessing to give a half-hour after the afternoon session. As soon as the session was over Jo Anne and my son in law Nathan, got me into my wheelchair and I rolled into my office to prepare to give a blessing to a wonderful 16-year-old young lady. Giving her a Patriarchal blessing was a sweet experience- the capstone, I thought, to a perfectly beautiful Sabbath day.
Our two youngest daughters, Rachel and Jackie, and their husbands Matt, and Nathan and our three youngest granddaughters, ages 4, 2, and 14 months had been with us during the day watching conference. They all went out for a walk while I gave the blessing. You never know what the noise level might be with unpredictable and emotional preschoolers.
We eventually all sat down around the dining room table to enjoy a beautiful Sunday dinner together. Not to give a false impression of an idyllic setting, I must report that after the family prayer the 14-month-old, in trying to climb up a stool fell off, bumped her head, and her mother, Jackie spent much of the dinnertime getting her calmed down. You know how that goes.
And then the unexpected experience came to me. As I was looking at my two youngest daughters and their husbands, married in the temple and with these three beautiful little granddaughters, I had a flashback of memories. It is said that when people are about to die in a traumatic way that their entire life flashes through their minds. I have had a number of near-death experiences and this has never happened to me -- just sheer panic. However, at the dinner table that Sunday afternoon I did enjoy a vivid, warp speed recall of my life with Rachel and Jackie over the years. The memories were sweet.
When I had my accident over 19 years ago now, Rachel was nine and Jackie turned four just days after losing my the battle with the ocean. At the time I thought "Why would the Lord send these two little girls to us to take care of and raise, knowing with his infinite foreknowledge what was going to happen to me?" It took but a short while to realize that, in fact, these were two angels the Lord knew that Jo Anne and I needed to get through the coming challenging years. Without going into great detail, these little girls were my arms and legs and assisted Jo Anne with my care day in and day out for years. They still pitch in and help, along with their husbands now, whenever they are around.
The only dad Jackie can remember is one in a wheelchair. We have a unique relationship because of it. She once said to her mom, "Wouldn't life be boring if dad were normal like everybody else?" Come to think of it though, maybe some of your kids have said the same thing about you. How many drinks of water, nose wipes, suctionings, channel changes, fixing computer problems, helping their mother get me dressed and into the wheelchair, etc. have they done for me over the years? The memories were vivid but the overwhelming feeling was one of gratitude to have lived long enough to see these little girls married and with sweet little babies of their own. It was sort of a payday experience for me, and I felt that if the Lord saw fit to call me home at that moment, I was at peace with myself and that life had not been so bad.
Memories are wonderful things. President Monson often quotes the poet John Barrie who wrote that "God gave us memories that we might have June roses in the December of our lives." Hopefully we will live in such a way that our memories as we grow older will be "June roses" and not regrettable noxious weeds.
For the last several years I have had a project of trying to read out of each of the standard works every day. I am afraid I am a bit like Marjorie Hinckley, who had a similar goal and reported in a talk she gave that after having set the goal she was already three weeks behind. But she also went on to say she wasn't discouraged and would keep plugging away at it having received great benefits from the days she accomplished her goal. It reminded me of the words of Robert Browning who said, "If a man's reach does not exceed his grasp than what is a heaven for?"
As I read the Scriptures in this manner I am reminded of the important truths that I constantly need to remember every day of my life. To me, all of the Scriptures are simply a book of remembrance of the most important truths ever revealed to mankind.
The word "remember," or a derivative of it, is used 240 times in the Book of Mormon alone. My life is extremely blessed as I remember through searching the Scriptures each day that which is worth remembering the most. And of course the most important thing to remember was taught by Helaman to his son's Nephi and Lehi: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." [Helaman 5:12]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friends
I have just finished reading 325 pages of birthday greetings from my family and friends thanks to the efforts of Sharli Cartwright. I am overwhelmed with your expressions of love and the many kind things you have said. My obituary and eulogy have been eloquently expressed in your e-mails and I am now ready to be planted.
Truthfully though, I have shed many tears as memories of past relationships and experiences have been rekindled in my mind and heart. I also have a yearning to see you all, but in many cases I am afraid that will have to wait until we are reunited in the happy hunting ground.
Several weeks ago I was lying in bed waiting for Jo Anne to come down and choose the "outfit" for the day. BYU TV was on and I was privileged to hear a talk delivered by Marvin J. Ashton at a BYU devotional in 1982. (The full text can be found in the September 1982 Ensign) The title of his talk was "It's No Fun Being Poor!" I was immediately reeled in by his opening statement and thought to myself that I could write a book about the truthfulness of that statement.
I thought his talk would be about money and material goods but he immediately dispelled that idea by asking the question, "What is meant by the terms poor and rich? Do they have to do only with material goods?" He then proceeded to give his 10 Commandments that, if followed, would make us rich indeed and help us avoid having to experience the misery of being poor. Interestingly enough, only one of his commandments had anything to do with the acquisition, management and wise use of material goods.
His first commandment was: Thou shalt not lose a friend or cease being one. He then went on to tell us why: "A person is poor when he has fewer and fewer friends. A person is poor when he is friendless...When we lose friends, our strength, as well as our desire, to do good is often totally drained from us...It was the American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” A person is poor when he is friendless, but even poorer when he ceases being a friend. No matter what others may do, we cannot afford to give up our sincere efforts to be a friend."
I consider myself to be a wealthy man beyond belief because of my friends. My only regret is that as I look back on my life I think that undoubtedly I could have been a much better friend in so many instances. Some of you have compared me to Job in the Old Testament. We are not even in the same ball game. When Joseph was pouring his heart out to the Lord in Liberty Jail regarding his trials and tribulations and that of the Saints, the Lord comforted him by saying: "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..." [D&C 121: 7-8] Now that is a wonderful message to anyone who is suffering any kind of affliction. However, over the years I had failed to read carefully the following: "Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee..." [121:9]
No, I am in no way like Job for many reasons but especially because my friends have been at my side supporting me and blessing me and helping me have the courage to go forward, knowing that this adversity, in the eternal scheme of things, is "... but a small moment."
I just don't think any of us can make it through this mortal probation without good friends. I also believe all of us can probably be better friends. We can be a little more sensitive to others, a little kinder, treat others with more lovingkindness, and be less self-centered.
I have often been touched as I read and reread Moroni's poignant words as he is about to finish his work after the last great battles:
"... I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not." [Mormon 8:5]
Oh how we need friends! And I suppose the ultimate friend we need is our Heavenly Father. Our challenge is to follow the example of our great progenitor Abraham.
"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God...and he was called the Friend of God." [James 2: 23]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Truthfully though, I have shed many tears as memories of past relationships and experiences have been rekindled in my mind and heart. I also have a yearning to see you all, but in many cases I am afraid that will have to wait until we are reunited in the happy hunting ground.
Several weeks ago I was lying in bed waiting for Jo Anne to come down and choose the "outfit" for the day. BYU TV was on and I was privileged to hear a talk delivered by Marvin J. Ashton at a BYU devotional in 1982. (The full text can be found in the September 1982 Ensign) The title of his talk was "It's No Fun Being Poor!" I was immediately reeled in by his opening statement and thought to myself that I could write a book about the truthfulness of that statement.
I thought his talk would be about money and material goods but he immediately dispelled that idea by asking the question, "What is meant by the terms poor and rich? Do they have to do only with material goods?" He then proceeded to give his 10 Commandments that, if followed, would make us rich indeed and help us avoid having to experience the misery of being poor. Interestingly enough, only one of his commandments had anything to do with the acquisition, management and wise use of material goods.
His first commandment was: Thou shalt not lose a friend or cease being one. He then went on to tell us why: "A person is poor when he has fewer and fewer friends. A person is poor when he is friendless...When we lose friends, our strength, as well as our desire, to do good is often totally drained from us...It was the American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” A person is poor when he is friendless, but even poorer when he ceases being a friend. No matter what others may do, we cannot afford to give up our sincere efforts to be a friend."
I consider myself to be a wealthy man beyond belief because of my friends. My only regret is that as I look back on my life I think that undoubtedly I could have been a much better friend in so many instances. Some of you have compared me to Job in the Old Testament. We are not even in the same ball game. When Joseph was pouring his heart out to the Lord in Liberty Jail regarding his trials and tribulations and that of the Saints, the Lord comforted him by saying: "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..." [D&C 121: 7-8] Now that is a wonderful message to anyone who is suffering any kind of affliction. However, over the years I had failed to read carefully the following: "Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee..." [121:9]
No, I am in no way like Job for many reasons but especially because my friends have been at my side supporting me and blessing me and helping me have the courage to go forward, knowing that this adversity, in the eternal scheme of things, is "... but a small moment."
I just don't think any of us can make it through this mortal probation without good friends. I also believe all of us can probably be better friends. We can be a little more sensitive to others, a little kinder, treat others with more lovingkindness, and be less self-centered.
I have often been touched as I read and reread Moroni's poignant words as he is about to finish his work after the last great battles:
"... I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not." [Mormon 8:5]
Oh how we need friends! And I suppose the ultimate friend we need is our Heavenly Father. Our challenge is to follow the example of our great progenitor Abraham.
"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God...and he was called the Friend of God." [James 2: 23]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Try and Do
August 1, 2008 marked the 19th year of my accident at Laguna Beach. At this time of the year I always seem to reflect on the accident and things I have learned because of it.
In the spring of 1990, approximately 9 months after my accident, Richard Holzapfel, who was the CES coordinator for the Irvine, California Stake asked me to be the keynote speaker at the Seminary Graduation. I immediately turned him down telling him that there was no way I could prepare a talk and deliver it in my condition. I also was very sensitive about how I would be perceived by these young people as I sat before them in my big power wheelchair and on life support. He said that was fine but that he was going to have my name printed on the program as the keynote speaker and whether I showed up or not was up to me.
Well, for the two weeks preceding the graduation I struggled mightily to prepare a little talk. I felt that my brain had atrophied during the many months I had spent in the rehabilitation Hospital. Jo Anne spent hours working with me each day and I am sure there were times she must have thought it was a lost cause. With no computer or voice recognition software at the time, it just seemed impossible to think creatively and prepare my remarks. Finally however, I had a little talk prepared and was absolutely amazed that the young people actually seemed to listen and enjoy what I had to say. It was such a good experience it inspired me to accept many other speaking and teaching opportunities over the years which has contributed to keeping my brain functioning at a fairly high level, despite rumors to the contrary.
President Thomas S. Monson is fond of quoting lines from movies, musicals, poetry, and great literature. He seems to have a photographic memory and doesn't forget anything. In two consecutive general conferences he quoted a line from the Civil War movie, "Shenandoah." He quoted the words spoken by James Stewart, the star of the movie, as follows: "If we don't try, we don't do, and if we don't do why are we here?" Based on my own experience I know how true that philosophy is. Without trying and doing why are we here?
I have great admiration and respect for people who try and do. One of President Kimball's often repeated sayings was, "Do It!" For years I had sitting on my desk a three-dimensional object made out of foam but looking like marble with those two words "Do It" engraved upon on it. It was a very important daily reminder to constantly try and do.
Several years ago one of my observations was given to a young mother in Texas by the name of Jennifer Lynn. I think her visiting teacher or home teacher received the observation from somebody -- you know how these e-mails get around.
As a 30-year-old, happily married mother of four beautiful children, unexpectedly and with no warning, she had a stroke that left her paralyzed from the eyes on down. The prognosis the doctors presented to her and the family was that there was no hope of recovery of any kind. Since then she has developed the ability to use her right arm and one finger a little bit, enough to write on the computer to a certain extent and drive a power wheelchair.
We have been corresponding from time to time and I am always humbled when I receive one of her messages that obviously has been so painstakingly written in her own unique way.
Jennifer could have given in to her situation and quit trying and doing. The opposite however has been the case. In the September 2008 Ensign she had published an article she has written entitled, "Primary Songs Helped Me!" It is a beautifully written and inspiring story from a wonderful young woman who refuses to give up. If you haven't read the article you surely should. I believe it is on page 55 of the magazine. If you read it and feel so inclined, you may want to write Jennifer an e-mail and give her some feedback. I know it would make her day. Her address is jenannlynn@aol.com.
I think of all the great things that have been accomplished because men and women were willing to try and do, in many cases, the seemingly impossible. The list is endless, of course, and each one of us, with a little pondering, could create our own list of heroes that have been an inspiration to us. We will find some of them in our own families and among our friends. Their examples are priceless.
We read in the Scriptures that nothing is impossible with God. However, we are commanded time after time to knock, ask, seek -- in other words to try -- and only then will He open the door to us and make the impossible possible.
It takes faith to try. This last dispensation came into being because a little boy had faith to try the counsel of James regarding prayer and then to do the will of the Father as it was revealed to him.
No great work was ever accomplished without trying and doing. As James so beautifully taught: "But be ye adoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a ahearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a bglass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner he of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect alaw of bliberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." [James 1: 22-25]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
In the spring of 1990, approximately 9 months after my accident, Richard Holzapfel, who was the CES coordinator for the Irvine, California Stake asked me to be the keynote speaker at the Seminary Graduation. I immediately turned him down telling him that there was no way I could prepare a talk and deliver it in my condition. I also was very sensitive about how I would be perceived by these young people as I sat before them in my big power wheelchair and on life support. He said that was fine but that he was going to have my name printed on the program as the keynote speaker and whether I showed up or not was up to me.
Well, for the two weeks preceding the graduation I struggled mightily to prepare a little talk. I felt that my brain had atrophied during the many months I had spent in the rehabilitation Hospital. Jo Anne spent hours working with me each day and I am sure there were times she must have thought it was a lost cause. With no computer or voice recognition software at the time, it just seemed impossible to think creatively and prepare my remarks. Finally however, I had a little talk prepared and was absolutely amazed that the young people actually seemed to listen and enjoy what I had to say. It was such a good experience it inspired me to accept many other speaking and teaching opportunities over the years which has contributed to keeping my brain functioning at a fairly high level, despite rumors to the contrary.
President Thomas S. Monson is fond of quoting lines from movies, musicals, poetry, and great literature. He seems to have a photographic memory and doesn't forget anything. In two consecutive general conferences he quoted a line from the Civil War movie, "Shenandoah." He quoted the words spoken by James Stewart, the star of the movie, as follows: "If we don't try, we don't do, and if we don't do why are we here?" Based on my own experience I know how true that philosophy is. Without trying and doing why are we here?
I have great admiration and respect for people who try and do. One of President Kimball's often repeated sayings was, "Do It!" For years I had sitting on my desk a three-dimensional object made out of foam but looking like marble with those two words "Do It" engraved upon on it. It was a very important daily reminder to constantly try and do.
Several years ago one of my observations was given to a young mother in Texas by the name of Jennifer Lynn. I think her visiting teacher or home teacher received the observation from somebody -- you know how these e-mails get around.
As a 30-year-old, happily married mother of four beautiful children, unexpectedly and with no warning, she had a stroke that left her paralyzed from the eyes on down. The prognosis the doctors presented to her and the family was that there was no hope of recovery of any kind. Since then she has developed the ability to use her right arm and one finger a little bit, enough to write on the computer to a certain extent and drive a power wheelchair.
We have been corresponding from time to time and I am always humbled when I receive one of her messages that obviously has been so painstakingly written in her own unique way.
Jennifer could have given in to her situation and quit trying and doing. The opposite however has been the case. In the September 2008 Ensign she had published an article she has written entitled, "Primary Songs Helped Me!" It is a beautifully written and inspiring story from a wonderful young woman who refuses to give up. If you haven't read the article you surely should. I believe it is on page 55 of the magazine. If you read it and feel so inclined, you may want to write Jennifer an e-mail and give her some feedback. I know it would make her day. Her address is jenannlynn@aol.com.
I think of all the great things that have been accomplished because men and women were willing to try and do, in many cases, the seemingly impossible. The list is endless, of course, and each one of us, with a little pondering, could create our own list of heroes that have been an inspiration to us. We will find some of them in our own families and among our friends. Their examples are priceless.
We read in the Scriptures that nothing is impossible with God. However, we are commanded time after time to knock, ask, seek -- in other words to try -- and only then will He open the door to us and make the impossible possible.
It takes faith to try. This last dispensation came into being because a little boy had faith to try the counsel of James regarding prayer and then to do the will of the Father as it was revealed to him.
No great work was ever accomplished without trying and doing. As James so beautifully taught: "But be ye adoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a ahearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a bglass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner he of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect alaw of bliberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." [James 1: 22-25]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Life is for Giving
One of my favorite musicals is "Les Miserables." I have read Victor Hugo's book, and seen several movie versions, as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical production. In fact Jo Anne and I went to see the play in Los Angeles as part of the celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary. Just a week after seeing the play I had my accident at Laguna Beach. The music always tugs at my heart because of the tender memories it rekindles.
A few weeks ago I had an unexpectedly sweet experience with Les Miserables. I am addicted to Turner Classic Movies and especially enjoy movies from the late 30s through the 50s. I noticed that a 1936 version of Les Miserables starring Frederic March as Jean Valjean and Charles Laughton as Javert was beginning soon. I was tempted not to watch it having seen so many Les Miserables productions through the years, but having nothing better to do -- no Dodgers games were on TV -- I decided to give it a try.
I immediately realized it was astonishingly well done. It was very true to Victor Hugo's book and I was caught and reeled into a couple of hours of absolutely mesmerizing entertainment.
There was one scene that had a greater impact on me in this 1936 production than any other of the many I have seen. It was when Jean Valjean had stolen the priest's silver dishes and silverware, had been captured by the police, and brought back to the priest's lodgings. Jean Valjean's life was changed forever when the priest assured the police that he had given the silver to him as a present. The police looked on in amazement as the priest walked over to the two beautiful silver candlesticks above the mantle and told Jean Valjean that he must have forgotten them. He proceeded to place them in the bag along with the other silver items. The priest then said to Jean Valjean in a soft but penetrating voice as he intensely looked into his eyes, "Whenever you look at these candlesticks remember that life is for giving and not taking!" The confused but humbled Jean Valjean stumbled out into the night a changed man. The priest's words that "... life is for giving and not taking" became the standard by which Jean Valjean governed his life from that moment on.
I have done a lot of thinking about that line for some time now. During my lifetime I have been the recipient of countless acts of kindness by many whose lives have been all about giving and not taking. The addition to our home was built by men and women who only wanted to give and give. A good friend of ours, a professional wallpaper hanger and very good friend, just spent the last three days in our home stripping off old wallpaper and hanging some new. Years ago he volunteered to wallpaper our home, which he did, and would not let us pay him. He is a master craftsman and it is a joy to watch him magically transfer a room in, what seems to me, a matter of a few minutes. Jo Anne tried to pay him for his work this time and he said he wouldn't do the job if she did. We will try to find other ways to make it up to him, but of course, that will be impossible. You know when somebody is doing something for you out of love and desire and not just out of duty. His example is always humbling to me. He is but the tip of the iceberg of so many others who have given so selflessly over the years to bless our lives.
The unsettling thought that is always lurking somewhere in the back of my mind is "Am I more of a taker then a giver?" Whenever I go see a doctor or have a nurse come to the home, the first thing they do is take my vital signs. They check my blood pressure and temperature (I always ask them if I am still alive) and if that is okay then they can begin to work on other problems with the realization that I am not in imminent danger of passing on to the other side. We probably ought to do a frequent check of our spiritual vital signs that give us a reading of where we are on the "giving or taking" continuum. If the "taking" is alarmingly greater than the "giving" we may be in imminent danger of spiritual death.
The parable of the Good Samaritan has been expounded by many over the years. My take on it, and it is not original with me, is that it is a macro view of human nature with regard to giving and taking. The thieves that beat the poor man almost to death and took all his possessions had the attitude, "What is yours is mine if I am strong enough or smart enough to take it from you." The mindset of the Priest and Levite was, "What is mine is mine and I intend to keep it and not give it away." The attitude of the innkeeper was, "What is mine is yours if you have enough money to pay for it." And finally the Good Samaritan felt that "What is mine is yours and you are welcome to it, and as much as you need, for as long as you need."
I think we would all like to be like the Good Samaritan, but truthfully at times, because of the natural man in us that is still alive and well, we probably are a composite of all these attitudes. Hopefully by the end of the day we will be more like the Good Samaritan than the other characters in the parable.
Of course, on the broad-spectrum of giving and taking, Christ is on one end and Satan on the other. One is the great "giver" and the other the great "taker." Satan only wanted to take everything from us as well as the glory from the Father. He is still trying to do that through evil people that follow his lead as "takers." What did Christ give? He gave us our agency, and the opportunity to inherit the greatest gift we can receive which is the gift of eternal life. In doing so he gave his life; "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." [John 15: 13]
I really do want to be more of a giver than a taker but I'm not there yet, I'm afraid. Hopefully we all might someday fully realize and implement in our daily lives the truth communicated by the priest to Jean Valjean, "Life is for giving not taking!"
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
A few weeks ago I had an unexpectedly sweet experience with Les Miserables. I am addicted to Turner Classic Movies and especially enjoy movies from the late 30s through the 50s. I noticed that a 1936 version of Les Miserables starring Frederic March as Jean Valjean and Charles Laughton as Javert was beginning soon. I was tempted not to watch it having seen so many Les Miserables productions through the years, but having nothing better to do -- no Dodgers games were on TV -- I decided to give it a try.
I immediately realized it was astonishingly well done. It was very true to Victor Hugo's book and I was caught and reeled into a couple of hours of absolutely mesmerizing entertainment.
There was one scene that had a greater impact on me in this 1936 production than any other of the many I have seen. It was when Jean Valjean had stolen the priest's silver dishes and silverware, had been captured by the police, and brought back to the priest's lodgings. Jean Valjean's life was changed forever when the priest assured the police that he had given the silver to him as a present. The police looked on in amazement as the priest walked over to the two beautiful silver candlesticks above the mantle and told Jean Valjean that he must have forgotten them. He proceeded to place them in the bag along with the other silver items. The priest then said to Jean Valjean in a soft but penetrating voice as he intensely looked into his eyes, "Whenever you look at these candlesticks remember that life is for giving and not taking!" The confused but humbled Jean Valjean stumbled out into the night a changed man. The priest's words that "... life is for giving and not taking" became the standard by which Jean Valjean governed his life from that moment on.
I have done a lot of thinking about that line for some time now. During my lifetime I have been the recipient of countless acts of kindness by many whose lives have been all about giving and not taking. The addition to our home was built by men and women who only wanted to give and give. A good friend of ours, a professional wallpaper hanger and very good friend, just spent the last three days in our home stripping off old wallpaper and hanging some new. Years ago he volunteered to wallpaper our home, which he did, and would not let us pay him. He is a master craftsman and it is a joy to watch him magically transfer a room in, what seems to me, a matter of a few minutes. Jo Anne tried to pay him for his work this time and he said he wouldn't do the job if she did. We will try to find other ways to make it up to him, but of course, that will be impossible. You know when somebody is doing something for you out of love and desire and not just out of duty. His example is always humbling to me. He is but the tip of the iceberg of so many others who have given so selflessly over the years to bless our lives.
The unsettling thought that is always lurking somewhere in the back of my mind is "Am I more of a taker then a giver?" Whenever I go see a doctor or have a nurse come to the home, the first thing they do is take my vital signs. They check my blood pressure and temperature (I always ask them if I am still alive) and if that is okay then they can begin to work on other problems with the realization that I am not in imminent danger of passing on to the other side. We probably ought to do a frequent check of our spiritual vital signs that give us a reading of where we are on the "giving or taking" continuum. If the "taking" is alarmingly greater than the "giving" we may be in imminent danger of spiritual death.
The parable of the Good Samaritan has been expounded by many over the years. My take on it, and it is not original with me, is that it is a macro view of human nature with regard to giving and taking. The thieves that beat the poor man almost to death and took all his possessions had the attitude, "What is yours is mine if I am strong enough or smart enough to take it from you." The mindset of the Priest and Levite was, "What is mine is mine and I intend to keep it and not give it away." The attitude of the innkeeper was, "What is mine is yours if you have enough money to pay for it." And finally the Good Samaritan felt that "What is mine is yours and you are welcome to it, and as much as you need, for as long as you need."
I think we would all like to be like the Good Samaritan, but truthfully at times, because of the natural man in us that is still alive and well, we probably are a composite of all these attitudes. Hopefully by the end of the day we will be more like the Good Samaritan than the other characters in the parable.
Of course, on the broad-spectrum of giving and taking, Christ is on one end and Satan on the other. One is the great "giver" and the other the great "taker." Satan only wanted to take everything from us as well as the glory from the Father. He is still trying to do that through evil people that follow his lead as "takers." What did Christ give? He gave us our agency, and the opportunity to inherit the greatest gift we can receive which is the gift of eternal life. In doing so he gave his life; "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." [John 15: 13]
I really do want to be more of a giver than a taker but I'm not there yet, I'm afraid. Hopefully we all might someday fully realize and implement in our daily lives the truth communicated by the priest to Jean Valjean, "Life is for giving not taking!"
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
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