What I'm going to write here, may be a little controversial. But what else is new?! My motive is only to be thought provoking. Im kinda going out on a limb here in sharing some random thoughts on God. My thoughts.
First off, I’ll have you think about this scripture: “I the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves. DC 104: 14,16
And we all are familiar with Genesis, where we learn of a God who is wonderful, and creative, artistic and loving!! I also know this about God because I can look around this glorious world with my own eyes. I think He went to considerable effort to make things incredibly beautiful for us!!! Not only beautiful but varied and detailed and diversified. He could have simplified things. Streamlining is a popular thing to do. There could be fewer types of shells and flowers and trees and snowflakes and animals and bugs. And thank heavens the same thing applies to people as well. We come in all varieties and enjoy fine details and uniqueness'es. -thank Heavens!!! Instead God choose to create for us all that we have before us, to enjoy, in all its multiplicity!!!. I don’t think He made this world grand and glorious and magnificent and diverse to make our life more difficult-but to make our life more joyful!!
We have also learned from a sacred scripture that “men are that they might have joy.” Without getting too much into where word emphasis is placed; I'll ask-what do we believe? Is “MIGHT HAVE” conditional? I guess it is in a way. We mustn’t forget the ever helpful commandments. We all know in our heart of hearts the things we need to do to bring us closer to God and thus be happier overall. We also know what causes us or brings us pain and sorrow. Im just here to say that I think we are here to have joy, to find joy, to make joy-NOW. Heavenly Father brought us to this earth so that we might experience the best this life has to offer!!! I suppose you can choose to see it the other way, that we have to earn the joy. But I think back to the scriptures I opened with. God is good, kind, creative, loving and even generous!! I believe we are supposed to be joyful, right here, right now, not in some future life or time. (though we do of course also expect our ‘reward’ in the end too. IF we have done all that we can do.)
So…Im guessing Im already making some people uncomfortable , -- There is no denying that there is a great deal of pain and suffering in the world!! I know!!!??? So how does a loving Heavenly Father expect us to accomplish this joyfulness when we are surrounded by a world that is full of trials and tribulations and grief and imperfections. And, sometimes this despair hits us square in our own backyard!!! But I think many of us have been taught since we were very young tikes, and still now believe that the “best” path to our Father In Heaven is through trials, and suffering or tribulations. There in truth in the idea that when bad things do happen to us we tend to draw closer to the Lord. This in fact may be very true. Think of all the talks we hear in church about the refiners fire, about growing through our trials. I hear all the time about how people even feel blessed by their trials. Im sure the strong ones are---but Im so, so weak!!) Some have courage enough to wave their arms and shout,”Bring it on Lord!!” (gulp-not me!!!)
But Im going to surmise, and hope and believe that there is another way to have God as part of my life. Not just through the suffering, sadness and trials that do seem inevitable.
Everyday of my life, I feel gratitude for the joy and happiness that my life contains. I sometimes struggle to push away the guilt I feel because my life isn’t full of trials and tribulations. (QUICK,,knock on wood-before I jinx myself!!!.... See what I mean???) I will never be one to LOOK for trouble. Why seek for difficulties in my life so that I might feel stronger?!?! I find strength in my gratitude and acknowledgement of where it all comes from. Instead I take the ‘easy’ route, and be darn grateful each and every day. I try to celebrate how good-and even easy- life can be. (may I not be stuck my lightening now) I do know Im in the hands of a loving, creative, generous Father in Heaven. I don’t see God as a punishing God. I see Him as a generous, kind Creator. I believe He is only waiting for us to ask Him to be in our life. That He would have us enjoy it with Him!! He would be our companion in life, to help us along the way, to share these experiences with Him, and in so doing, making them all the more blissful. All we must do is ask. I am blessed enough that I get to cry out to God because Im happy, not because Im in despair or in sorrow. I call upon my Lord when Im hiking the highest peaks or when my grandson gives me a kiss, or when my missionaries write home, or Im walking to my car with a cart full of groceries. I draw nearer to my God when my Builder and I are in the temple or when Im seeking His divine companionship or when I see our nations flag blowing in the wind.
The times Im feeling blissful, or Im sharing with Him my little bitty needs-not just the big ones, is also a great way to enjoy the here and now!!
Im just saying that I don’t believe that Life is meant to be suffered through. Martyrdom is not appropriate for children of God. If we each knew where we were headed--toward God-- we could relax more, enjoy ourselves more, celebrate ourselves and one another more!!! If we could do this I think we’d find a wonderful sense of peace and calm and even an easefulness to our lives. (why oh why does even saying this out loud bring such a twinge of guilt?? It’s ridicules!!! We have been conditioned so well in our culture and society to push away from a HAPPY, Joyful, more easeful life. )Who's heard the Eastern spiritual concept of flowing with the movement of God? I've heard it many a time- "Dont push the River, It flows by itself." This is the bone Im picking here. Suffering, hardship, (think of the pioneer stories we have so fully ingrained in our minds.) control and self discipline are preached so routinely. These qualities seem to have become the virtues we strive for.
ENOUGH OF THAT!!! (please note that Im not disqualifying the virtue of self discipline, but I do wish that more of us could let our hair down and BE who we want to be. To many of us bottle up our inner joyful spirits for a more subdued, ‘accepted ‘being.)
Lets try to retrain our brains, into remembering who God really is. Is he a task master, test giving, vengeful God? Is He someone to be feared??!! Are those truly His characteristics? Or…is He the creative, loving, generous, joyful God that I have come to know that He is!?
“…the fullness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbed upon the trees and walketh upon the earth; Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, of for vineyards;
Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart. …for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.”
DC 59:16-20
What else I know:
I intend to spread the joy as best I can!!
I am also prepared for an onslaught of rebuffs to this editorial.
I’ve been accused of naiveté before!!
Im sure I'll have more to say on pain and suffering at a further date...just hold out for it.
First off, I’ll have you think about this scripture: “I the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves. DC 104: 14,16
And we all are familiar with Genesis, where we learn of a God who is wonderful, and creative, artistic and loving!! I also know this about God because I can look around this glorious world with my own eyes. I think He went to considerable effort to make things incredibly beautiful for us!!! Not only beautiful but varied and detailed and diversified. He could have simplified things. Streamlining is a popular thing to do. There could be fewer types of shells and flowers and trees and snowflakes and animals and bugs. And thank heavens the same thing applies to people as well. We come in all varieties and enjoy fine details and uniqueness'es. -thank Heavens!!! Instead God choose to create for us all that we have before us, to enjoy, in all its multiplicity!!!. I don’t think He made this world grand and glorious and magnificent and diverse to make our life more difficult-but to make our life more joyful!!
We have also learned from a sacred scripture that “men are that they might have joy.” Without getting too much into where word emphasis is placed; I'll ask-what do we believe? Is “MIGHT HAVE” conditional? I guess it is in a way. We mustn’t forget the ever helpful commandments. We all know in our heart of hearts the things we need to do to bring us closer to God and thus be happier overall. We also know what causes us or brings us pain and sorrow. Im just here to say that I think we are here to have joy, to find joy, to make joy-NOW. Heavenly Father brought us to this earth so that we might experience the best this life has to offer!!! I suppose you can choose to see it the other way, that we have to earn the joy. But I think back to the scriptures I opened with. God is good, kind, creative, loving and even generous!! I believe we are supposed to be joyful, right here, right now, not in some future life or time. (though we do of course also expect our ‘reward’ in the end too. IF we have done all that we can do.)
So…Im guessing Im already making some people uncomfortable , -- There is no denying that there is a great deal of pain and suffering in the world!! I know!!!??? So how does a loving Heavenly Father expect us to accomplish this joyfulness when we are surrounded by a world that is full of trials and tribulations and grief and imperfections. And, sometimes this despair hits us square in our own backyard!!! But I think many of us have been taught since we were very young tikes, and still now believe that the “best” path to our Father In Heaven is through trials, and suffering or tribulations. There in truth in the idea that when bad things do happen to us we tend to draw closer to the Lord. This in fact may be very true. Think of all the talks we hear in church about the refiners fire, about growing through our trials. I hear all the time about how people even feel blessed by their trials. Im sure the strong ones are---but Im so, so weak!!) Some have courage enough to wave their arms and shout,”Bring it on Lord!!” (gulp-not me!!!)
But Im going to surmise, and hope and believe that there is another way to have God as part of my life. Not just through the suffering, sadness and trials that do seem inevitable.
Everyday of my life, I feel gratitude for the joy and happiness that my life contains. I sometimes struggle to push away the guilt I feel because my life isn’t full of trials and tribulations. (QUICK,,knock on wood-before I jinx myself!!!.... See what I mean???) I will never be one to LOOK for trouble. Why seek for difficulties in my life so that I might feel stronger?!?! I find strength in my gratitude and acknowledgement of where it all comes from. Instead I take the ‘easy’ route, and be darn grateful each and every day. I try to celebrate how good-and even easy- life can be. (may I not be stuck my lightening now) I do know Im in the hands of a loving, creative, generous Father in Heaven. I don’t see God as a punishing God. I see Him as a generous, kind Creator. I believe He is only waiting for us to ask Him to be in our life. That He would have us enjoy it with Him!! He would be our companion in life, to help us along the way, to share these experiences with Him, and in so doing, making them all the more blissful. All we must do is ask. I am blessed enough that I get to cry out to God because Im happy, not because Im in despair or in sorrow. I call upon my Lord when Im hiking the highest peaks or when my grandson gives me a kiss, or when my missionaries write home, or Im walking to my car with a cart full of groceries. I draw nearer to my God when my Builder and I are in the temple or when Im seeking His divine companionship or when I see our nations flag blowing in the wind.
The times Im feeling blissful, or Im sharing with Him my little bitty needs-not just the big ones, is also a great way to enjoy the here and now!!
Im just saying that I don’t believe that Life is meant to be suffered through. Martyrdom is not appropriate for children of God. If we each knew where we were headed--toward God-- we could relax more, enjoy ourselves more, celebrate ourselves and one another more!!! If we could do this I think we’d find a wonderful sense of peace and calm and even an easefulness to our lives. (why oh why does even saying this out loud bring such a twinge of guilt?? It’s ridicules!!! We have been conditioned so well in our culture and society to push away from a HAPPY, Joyful, more easeful life. )Who's heard the Eastern spiritual concept of flowing with the movement of God? I've heard it many a time- "Dont push the River, It flows by itself." This is the bone Im picking here. Suffering, hardship, (think of the pioneer stories we have so fully ingrained in our minds.) control and self discipline are preached so routinely. These qualities seem to have become the virtues we strive for.
ENOUGH OF THAT!!! (please note that Im not disqualifying the virtue of self discipline, but I do wish that more of us could let our hair down and BE who we want to be. To many of us bottle up our inner joyful spirits for a more subdued, ‘accepted ‘being.)
Lets try to retrain our brains, into remembering who God really is. Is he a task master, test giving, vengeful God? Is He someone to be feared??!! Are those truly His characteristics? Or…is He the creative, loving, generous, joyful God that I have come to know that He is!?
“…the fullness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbed upon the trees and walketh upon the earth; Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, of for vineyards;
Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart. …for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.”
DC 59:16-20
What else I know:
I intend to spread the joy as best I can!!
I am also prepared for an onslaught of rebuffs to this editorial.
I’ve been accused of naiveté before!!
Im sure I'll have more to say on pain and suffering at a further date...just hold out for it.
image from flickr
3 comments:
I could't agree more with your insights Cindy, expressed so well. Thanks for explaining the truth, "men (and women) are that they may have joy". I too look for the joy in each and every day and feel graitude for a very full and happy life. This past week while grieving for the tragedy of losing a nephew (Michael Ehlert) to a senseless moment of rage, and while attending the viewing and funeral yesterday, joy was felt. There was joy that comes from bringing family together, joy in the belief of the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, and joy in the hope that comes from His Gospel. Life is good and the joy is there if we look for it!
life is good. even when it's on a track that we never, ever thought it would happen upon. who EVER would have thought that i would have come to utah?!? who would have thought that i would have worked in some retail job forever? (or so it seems...)
anyhow, i'm grateful to be here. i'm grateful every morning and night especially for this opportunity and for the wonderful family, even though far from perfect, that my heavenly father has provided for me, that's you guys, too, you know. i'm glad that i get to EXPERIENCE things, and i think more than anything, that's what i don't want to lose, the ability to experience life and surroundings and people and, well, good food. :O) thanks again
You didn't shake me a bit because I agree with you. As I was reading the first part I was just champing at the bit waiting to respond that GRATITUDE is the key, and then you said it yourself. Of course God wants us to be happy now. I feel joy in my life all the time and recognize that it is always entwined with feeling grateful to God for all He has done for me and my family. Thanks for putting it down so nicely and reminding us of an eternal truth.
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