Blog #13
This week I attended the funeral of a family friend. Annie Schmidt's story caught the attention of many news stations across the United States, and as the story came to a close Monday morning I couldn't help but see God's hand in her story's outcome.
Although Annie was raised in a very conservative community, Annie was known for her free thinking and open minded response to life. Anybody that knew Annie will tell you she was the most caring individual and that she blessed the lives of anybody to cross her path.
During her funeral service, her brother Spencer shared a quote from Annie's journal that has stuck with me ever since. The quote reads, "Nature is where Christians, Muslims, Agnostics, and Atheists can go to something beautiful and something bigger than themselves." I love this quote and her purposeful use of incorporating the most contrast belief systems, and still show that with God's creation we can look past differences to find the beauty in the big picture.
Living in Provo, Utah comes with many pros and many cons. The pros of living in Provo include: living in a clean city, being surrounded by peers that your same values and beliefs, the opportunity to pursue a great education, and having family close to home. The cons of living in Provo are few, but one of the biggest cons being the lack in diversity we have in Provo, Utah. With so many peers sharing the same beliefs and values, inclusivity becomes a norm amongst groups that don't share the same beliefs and values. Annie's message in this quote is a message of hope in the individual, looking past the individual's beliefs.
I love this. Being raised in a non-member home, I often find myself stuck between life back home, and life as an active member of the church. Annie's quote shows that this stuck position that I sometimes experience, comes as a result of my lack in efforts to bridge the gap between the two contrast lifestyles and beliefs. Both of which are filled with some of the best people to enter my life.
Although Annie Schmidt has since moved on to the next life, her story and her sweet message has caused me to wake up, and make the changes necessary to be the person that bridges the gap between belief systems. Her message is one that motivates spirit to spirit connection, rather than religion to religion connection. And that spirit to spirit connection is what Christ has been asking of us since the beginning of time.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Blog Post #12
This week I have been thinking a lot about character and what it means to society. When I think of the word character, I think of the quiet heroes that live in our world's limelight. I think of people like Russell Westbrook, who although is one of the NBA's best players in the league, continues to keep a good presence in the media and in his family life.
Often, I find that I have the utmost respect for a spouse who only sings praises about their significant other. Hearing people pour their love and admiration out for their family is something that I feel is a quality everybody needs.
Service workers, and those individuals that devote their careers and lives to improving the community are also the behind-the-scenes heroes that show great character.
I have found in my own life that character is a human trait that cannot be given a dollar price on it's importance in an individuals life. Striving to become someone who is known by the vast majority to have great character and integrity, is a goal worth all of us pursuing.
I believe that if we as a society could focus more on becoming men and women of character, and focus less on becoming men and women of solidified opinion, we would begin to see many of the socialistic trends change for the better part of society.
This week I have been thinking a lot about character and what it means to society. When I think of the word character, I think of the quiet heroes that live in our world's limelight. I think of people like Russell Westbrook, who although is one of the NBA's best players in the league, continues to keep a good presence in the media and in his family life.
Often, I find that I have the utmost respect for a spouse who only sings praises about their significant other. Hearing people pour their love and admiration out for their family is something that I feel is a quality everybody needs.
Service workers, and those individuals that devote their careers and lives to improving the community are also the behind-the-scenes heroes that show great character.
I have found in my own life that character is a human trait that cannot be given a dollar price on it's importance in an individuals life. Striving to become someone who is known by the vast majority to have great character and integrity, is a goal worth all of us pursuing.
I believe that if we as a society could focus more on becoming men and women of character, and focus less on becoming men and women of solidified opinion, we would begin to see many of the socialistic trends change for the better part of society.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Week #11
This week I have thought a lot about optimism. With the chaotic presidential election coming to an end, I feel that optimism is a critical focal point for both myself and society. What I mean by optimism, is actively choosing to see the good in the future; rather than focusing on the possible negatives that may come in the future.
Rather than discussing the election results, I'd like to focus more on the topic of optimism. Optimism is a choice. I believe that choosing to look out through "rose-colored glasses". I don't believe this is a state of ignorance, or choosing to bat a blind eye. I feel that in a world changing day-to-day, actively looking for good is the better alternative to focusing on the coming negatives.
I have had a feeling that somewhere I've lacked personally, is in seeing the good in others--in all aspects of life. I do not believe that more than just a small fraction of ill-willed people exist in this world. Doing good is a natural human motive. As such, I choose to be optimistic in seeing the good in the world and the people that inhabitant the world in which we live in.
This week I have thought a lot about optimism. With the chaotic presidential election coming to an end, I feel that optimism is a critical focal point for both myself and society. What I mean by optimism, is actively choosing to see the good in the future; rather than focusing on the possible negatives that may come in the future.
Rather than discussing the election results, I'd like to focus more on the topic of optimism. Optimism is a choice. I believe that choosing to look out through "rose-colored glasses". I don't believe this is a state of ignorance, or choosing to bat a blind eye. I feel that in a world changing day-to-day, actively looking for good is the better alternative to focusing on the coming negatives.
I have had a feeling that somewhere I've lacked personally, is in seeing the good in others--in all aspects of life. I do not believe that more than just a small fraction of ill-willed people exist in this world. Doing good is a natural human motive. As such, I choose to be optimistic in seeing the good in the world and the people that inhabitant the world in which we live in.
Week #10
Today, I woke up and went about my regular morning routine: (1) Roll out of bed (2) Grab a glass of water, (3) Scroll through social media. I
I believe that at the core of every person is the desire to do good. Being a benefit to those around us is a need in all humans. Because of this, I find it hard to believe that because you may have voted for Hilary Clinton, you directly believe that the life of a fetus doesn't matter. And, if you do feel pro abortion, there is a good-willed reason as to why you feel the way you do.
Likewise, I expect you to give me the same decency. I didn't vote for Trump because I don't care for illegal immigrants; I have illegal immigrants in my life that I would say have shaped my life and opened my eyes to the most important things in life. I didn't vote for Trump because I don't care for the LGBT community; in fact, I have childhood friends and mother-figure women that are active parts of the LGBT community. I didn't vote for trump because I don't care for African Americans; I don't feel like I need to explain myself on such an ignorant statement.
To be honest, I failed to register in time and didn't actually vote. But, these are some of the issues our country faces going forward. If we can not give others the benefit of the doubt, how will we grow as a country?
Today, I woke up and went about my regular morning routine: (1) Roll out of bed (2) Grab a glass of water, (3) Scroll through social media. I
I believe that at the core of every person is the desire to do good. Being a benefit to those around us is a need in all humans. Because of this, I find it hard to believe that because you may have voted for Hilary Clinton, you directly believe that the life of a fetus doesn't matter. And, if you do feel pro abortion, there is a good-willed reason as to why you feel the way you do.
Likewise, I expect you to give me the same decency. I didn't vote for Trump because I don't care for illegal immigrants; I have illegal immigrants in my life that I would say have shaped my life and opened my eyes to the most important things in life. I didn't vote for Trump because I don't care for the LGBT community; in fact, I have childhood friends and mother-figure women that are active parts of the LGBT community. I didn't vote for trump because I don't care for African Americans; I don't feel like I need to explain myself on such an ignorant statement.
To be honest, I failed to register in time and didn't actually vote. But, these are some of the issues our country faces going forward. If we can not give others the benefit of the doubt, how will we grow as a country?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)