The "Limits" of Love

The Limits of Love

Years ago when I lived in Utah, I was heading home from a home health physical therapy visit and driving through the town of Lehi.  I will admit that I was in a hurry to finish my day and get back home to my family, a nice dinner, some comfortable sweat pants and my easy chair.  So I was probably going about 5 miles-(ish) over the speed limit, but nothing major, right?

Suddenly, another motorist came up from behind, sped past me going about 10 miles per hour faster than I was, and the next thing I knew flashing police lights were appearing in my rear view mirror.  Thinking for sure the officer was going after the man who had just raced past me, I slowed down and began to pull over to the side, while the speeding car who passed me was now a few blocks ahead, had turned and was racing up the freeway on-ramp.  But to my surprise the patrol car pulled off the road behind me.

As the officer got out of his vehicle and approached I was somewhat stunned by this situation.  When I rolled down my window to address him and he asked if I knew how fast I had been driving, I replied, “Officer, surely you must have my speed confused with the other car who just passed me and raced up onto the freeway?”

He replied, “No, I know that man was going faster than you.  I saw the whole thing.  But by the time I could catch up, he was already getting on the freeway and was beyond my reach.  His time will come.  But that doesn’t change the fact that you were also driving in excess of the speed limit.”

I was shocked, and started to get a little bit angry about this situation.  It appeared as if I was just being singled out for my lesser violation while someone who had done far worse was getting away with it.  Where was the justice in that?  But then he said something that changed my train of thought about the situation.

He said, “I know it might not seem fair at the moment, but the fact is, I actually care.  If you had seen the things I have seen, you would know that I only want EVERYONE to be safe and to be able to return home to their loved ones.  That’s why the rules are in place, even for you.”

This comment struck me.  This officer wasn’t to blame.  I had been speeding and in violation of the law which was in place to protect me and everyone else.  The fact that someone else wasn’t following the law didn’t excuse me from doing so.    And yes, I got a ticket, which was later waived because I went to a 20 minute traffic safety class.

But this experience taught me a valuable life lesson - Most rules (at least justly made rules) are in place to help us, not to hinder us.  And there is an important lesson to learn from such a concept.  But first, let me expound upon my driving analogy just a bit further.

The distance between where I live and where I work each day results in about a 20 minute commute.  But it is through rural farm country and is a pleasant drive for the most part, and it gives me time to ponder and pray or listen to a nice audio book or uplifting podcast so I don’t really mind all that much.

But I am surprised that despite the leisurely nature of the drive, there are so many people in such a hurry to get where they are going.  Despite the fact that I am driving the speed limit (which I try to do, but am definitely not perfect at it), there always seems to be one or two people who are right on my bumper and waiting to pass, and then whipping past me in a speedy frenzy to be on their way.  I try to accommodate their intent and wish them well and safety on their way.  But what is often comical about this is that despite their passing me and speeding ahead, by the time I reach town I have often caught up to them or passed them again as they sit waiting at a stop light or waiting to turn left at a corner.  So all the rush really didn’t help them get there any faster anyway.  And sadly, it may have put themselves and others at risk along the way.

So what is the purpose of a speed limit?

A speed limit is the maximum speed which you are allowed to drive under “optimal” road conditions.  Those conditions can be varied by time of day, lighting and visibility issues, snow or rainy roads, potholes or other unexpected obstructions, other motorists or pedestrians, school zones, no passing zones because the potential for encountering oncoming traffic is extremely high, etc.

Just because your vehicle has the ability to drive faster doesn’t mean that you should or that you can without consequences.  Now don’t get me wrong, you have the ability to choose to drive as fast as you want, BUT not without potential consequences.

You might say, “Well, it’s my choice?  I am in a hurry!  What I have to do and where I have to go is more important than what the limits allow?”

Yes, you can say all of those things and drive how you desire.  But the potential consequences can be life changing in ways both large and small.  Just consider some of those possibilities:

• ·     Speeding tickets – which have never brightened anyone’s day or made them feel better.
• ·        Accidents – sometimes small and minor and sometimes major with loss of life and permanent disabilities or death or loss of the use of your vehicle and ability to get around.
• ·       Increased insurance costs for which you pay for long periods of time until improved behavior is demonstrated.
• ·       Potential medical costs and prolonged rehabilitation needs.
• ·       Potential guilt if you injured someone else along the way.
• ·       And the list could go on, but you get the idea

Those things that seemed so important and why you needed to get there a few moments faster suddenly disappear when the potential consequences become a reality.

And sometimes we may want to shift the blame for such things onto others around us:

·         “It’s the other stupid drivers on the road who are going to slow!”

·         “That mean police officer is being a jerk and just wanted to ruin my day!”

·         “This insurance racket is rigged to make me pay!”

The problem with this train of thought is that it shifts the blame to someone else, and doesn’t take accountability for our own actions, nor the fact that we were not driving according to the defined and posted law or according to the conditions around us.

The simple fact is, the laws and limits are there to provide for our safety, not as a restriction or punishment.  They allow us to travel about with other motorists who all have their own destinations and motivations.

So what is the purpose behind all this traffic talk anyway?  Well, let’s “shift gears” and extend these thoughts in to other arenas.

“Just because your vehicle has the ability to drive faster doesn’t mean that you should or that you can without consequences.”

Now let’s change that slightly to an example of something like …let’s say sexual immorality – “Just because you have the physical ability to participate in acts of physical intimacy doesn’t mean you should whenever and however you want.”  You might feel the “need for speed” in this desire, but that doesn’t give you the right to force that desire upon someone else against their will or outside of appropriate marriage relationships without some kind of consequences.

Just as violation of traffic laws is likely to eventually result in some kind of ticket, accident, injury, broken cars and broken lives, inappropriate and unsafe sexual relations and tendencies outside the bounds of marriage is likely to result in potential STDs, broken hearts of family by a cheating spouse, broken homes, unwanted pregnancies and the ripple effects can go on and on.

And with something like this, there is the basic speed limit of “Thou shalt not commit adultery” which is based on “optimal road conditions” so to speak, and then there is the finer point of personal control and safety according to “any possible varying road conditions” of “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matt 5:27-28)

Can you see how the observance of not only the basic law, but the higher law would protect you, your family and those you love from potential spiritual injury?  In fact, you probably don’t have to look very far to know someone personally who has suffered the devastating effects of these kinds of violations, or perhaps have suffered from them yourself.

The same things are true for all moral laws which govern society.   You could apply them to Honesty, Theft (no matter who small it might be), gossiping or backbiting, bearing false witness, or any other moral law.

Now imagine that while driving about, if everyone, instead of being so focused on just where they were going and how best it will serve them to get where they desire as quickly as possible, everyone's primary concern was to show respect for the givers of the laws and the safety of the other drivers around them to help them along their way.  This shift from selfish to selfLESS would then require far less enforcement of all the other varied traffic rules.

The same is true for moral law and commandments.  On our journey down the road of life, if instead of being motivated  by our own selfish desires and "what's in it for me", our motivations were to "Love the Lord thy God, and to Love our neighbors and fellow travelers", then the all of the lesser laws just seem to fall naturally into place without much need for enforcement. 

It does no good to point the blame at others or try to justify our own violations because of the inappropriate actions of others.  Safety begins with learning to better observe the laws individually ourselves first and foremost, and then being kind and considerate of others and helping them along their way safely.

But sometimes accidents do happen which are beyond our control.  You might be a perfectly attentive and safe driver, but someone else around you may be operating distracted, intoxicated or otherwise impaired… or just selfishly trying to put their own desires ahead of everyone else around them.  Yes, there can be innocent victims involved, and in fact our actions tend to always have some kind of effect upon other around us, whether we want it to or not.

And, it is important to remember that unless we are in the field of law enforcement, our responsibility is to simply be a law abiding citizen.  Those who are given proper authority are the ones who have the actual power to enforce the laws and rules, along with the potential fines or punishments.  There have to be police officers and judges to properly determine intent, where the fault lies and what the appropriate repercussions are in each individual case.

The same is true with spiritual or moral matters.  We are best to simply focus on learning to be “law abiding” citizens ourselves first and foremost, and leave the judging and enforcing of the laws to those who are in positions of authority.

And because we are all imperfect and all violate the law to some degree at some time or another, what a blessing it is that we can turn to the Master Physician, and Master Mechanic, Jesus Christ, to help mend that which is broken and make us whole once again so we can continue on our journey.  There will likely be a cost involved for those repairs, but His work is actually very inexpensive and absolutely complete and guaranteed if we accept His terms and conditions of repentance.  And absolutely nothing is beyond His ability to repair completely, no matter how significant the damage might be.

And His laws and rules and moral speed limits are in place, because just like that police officer told me all those years ago, Christ would say to us - “I know it might not seem fair at the moment, but the fact is, I actually care.  If you had seen the things I have seen, you would know that I only want EVERYONE to be safe and to be able to return home to Me and those they love.  That’s why the rules are in place, even for you.”

And no matter how the world or others may treat us,  the “Limits” of His love and forgiveness are truly limitless in our behalf!

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

“And a Little Child Shall Lead Them”

Today in sacrament meeting at church we had our ward Primary program, where all the children from ages 3-11 performed the speaking and musical numbers for the remainder of the meeting after the conclusion of the passing of the sacrament.

(Please note the following images are not taken from today's program - they are only visual examples)

 

As I watched all of those young children, in a “mostly” organized fashion sing their songs and speak there little lines and parts (all of which they had written themselves – with their help of their parents in some cases), I was impressed with several spiritual lessons.

The scriptures teach that to inherit the Kingdom of God, “ye must become as a little child” (Matt. 18:3-4, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:16-17, 3 Nephi 11:37-38).  So I thought I would share a few of the things these little children taught me today.

As they each performed their parts, I noticed:

·         Some were timid and quiet

·         Some were loud and animated

·         Some were subdued and reserved

·         Some radiated joy and energy

·         They each had different things they were thankful for

·         They were of different heights, ages, manner of dress, hair color, etc…

And they each expressed their love for the Lord in their own unique way.

But no matter their differences, the parents and grandparents watching them ALL visibly beamed with loving adoration as they performed their parts in the program!

Seen, but quietly leading and assisting these young children were carefully placed adult leaders and teachers who helped provide cues, support, and guidance when a child got confused or temporarily forgot their lines or the words of a song.

I was somewhat amazed as I watched the fairly large group of little children, at how the leaders had carefully planned where each child was seated or standing and how they orchestrated moving them around during the different parts of the program.  It was perfectly performed, but it was inspired in its organization and planning.

Our lives are not much different from that of what I witnessed in the program.  We all come from different backgrounds, and are of different shapes, size and appearance.  Some of us are timid and quiet and others are more boisterous and outspoken.  Some have struggles communicating, while others have the gift to speak and sing their life’s song so others can hear.  In essence we are ALL different, and it is divinely orchestrated that way.

But our Heavenly Parents look down upon our imperfect performances, beaming with hearts full of love and adoration as we strive to do our best to perform our individual parts in life’s program.

They know we are spiritually young and inexperienced, so they have taken great care to organize where we are and how we are placed to better interact and complete our parts in the events of mortality.

They have placed experienced leaders, parents, mentors and teachers around us, and I would go so much as to say even angels, both seen and unseen to guide us and help us along in times when we forget our part or become overwhelmed by our part in the performance.

They know we will perform our parts imperfectly and make mistakes, but they are overjoyed when we are putting forth our best efforts and doing our part.  And while they could send others to perform the part more perfectly, they let us be involved in the performance to allow US the experience of participating and feeling their joy, along with our joy as we do our best.

And it is all divinely and perfectly organized and overseen with love, joy, happiness.  And they are able to overlook our imperfect performances, because there was ONE PERFORMER, another Child of our Father who came and performed HIS part perfectly, not only to show us the way to do it, but also to compensate for our mistakes with His masterful performance which fills in all the gaps and is able to lift the entire show to heavenly heights because of His involvement right along with us.

So I came away grateful for the lessons these little children taught me today, and how they lead and show me the way to have more confidence in performing my imperfect little part in the big show of life.  And these simple concepts helped to more firmly strengthen my testimony of the fact that “WE” are the Lord’s work and His glory (Moses 1:39), and that His focus is to bring about “OUR” individual immortality and eternal life… each and every imperfect one of us!

Becoming As A Little Child

Becoming As A Little Child

In many places throughout the scriptures the Lord not only invites, but commands that we must “Become as a little child” to inherit his kingdom. I often ponder and wonder about this in my own life and spiritual standing, and this past Sunday at church He gave me a few answers in the form of the little children surrounding me during sacrament meeting.

Around me sat my three little grandchildren. Each of them was unique in their own beautiful way and full of wonder about what was going on around them. Yet at the same time they were desirous to be noticed by their parents or grandparents, to be held, to be cherished, and to be nurtured and fed. My three-year-old grandson was sharing fruit snacks with his one-year-old sister and giving her kisses on the face. My other 4 month old grandson gazed into his mother’s and father’s faces with smiles and coos and little baby sounds of delight. In front of me in the arms of her mother was another small child no more than a year old. As she gazed over her mother's shoulder at me her face brightened into a beautiful smile and her eyes were bright with light. I couldn't help but smile back at her and my grandchildren around me! They simply filled the area with joy and happiness.

As I witnessed these things going on around me, I couldn't help but feel I was learning some very important lessons. While recognizing their complete dependence upon their parents for support, protection and sustenance, these children were still sharing Joy, smiles, and Light with all of those around them. They were not distracted by so many of the “adult cares” of life such we are encumbered with such as work, finances or worries and concerns about their future. They were simply consumed in the moment and aware of those around them. They were sharing love, smiles, and bringing happiness to that portion of the world in which they were existing at that moment. Without Judgement they were seeing the good in people around them and let others know of that goodness through their smiles, through sharing and through modes of affection.

Far too often in life I think we get too concerned with other cares of the world around us, things such as Financial concerns, worries about employment or education, wondering about what the future will really hold, or simply worrying about our own imperfections. And while we need to be mindful of these things and be productive citizens in society, etc., I wonder if perhaps we are too distracted by them. The Lord used the example of the Lilies in the field to help us learn to trust in Him more fully and be less concerned over the “temporary” temporal things.

So perhaps, at least in some portion, what “becoming as a little child” means is to simply BE
PRESENT in the moment, BE AWARE of those around us, and BE WILLING TO SHARE a portion of God's light through our acts of kindness, sharing, and even spreading a smile to others as a reflection of God’s goodness and mercy.

The perfect child of course was Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! He perfectly showed us how to be submissive to His Father's will. He showed us how to be present in each moment and be aware of those around us and how to love and lift them through acts of kindness and compassion.

So as I think about these things and I ponder about what it means to become spiritually mature, perhaps it is nothing more than becoming as a little child as these tender Souls taught me this past Sunday. I don't think I even remember anything which the speakers said during the meeting, but I am grateful to the Lord and these small children who taught me perhaps the greatest lesson I could have learned that day.

VICTORY THROUGH SURRENDER

In the farcical sci-fi comedy movie “Galaxy Quest” the main character, played by comedian Tim Allen, has a signature line which he repeats often throughout the show: “NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER!”

Through much of my life, I have heard and been taught such a philosophy.  Whether it was on the football gridiron back in the glory days, when our coach would holler, “Never stop blocking until the whistle blows!”  Or while running conditioning drills I would hear, “don’t loaf it in, sprint to the finish!”  Or “The game isn’t over until the last second has run off the clock.”  Even in our work, educational pursuits, or simple life challenges we often have ingrained into our brains that we need to keep persevering and never give in.

Now while there is great merit in being a hard worker who never succumbs to sloth and slacking, and the above stated movie is great for some good laughs, there is a lot of merit in never giving up in certain aspects of life, especially when things get tough.  But there is a different kind of victory which only comes with complete surrender – Spiritual Victory.

So why would it be different in spiritual matters compared to all other aspects of life?  Why would we be expected to work, strive, persist, overcome, subdue and conquer in all other life areas, but be expected to surrender when it comes to things of a spiritual nature?

We might find ourselves asking “How can this be?  In spiritual warfare against the adversary, we can "never surrender.”  And this is true.  To the adversary we should never surrender, but to the King of Kings, surrender is our only option if we want to found on His winning side of the battlefield.

The answer may be found in the following quotes and thoughts:

THE DEFINITION OF SURRENDER = MOVING TO THE WINNING SIDE

“He who seeketh to save his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.” – (Matthew 10:39)

“Growing closer to God is not the result of trying harder, but surrendering more fully.” - Unknown

“The greatness of our spiritual strength equals the measure of our surrender.” – Anonymous

“There is only one things God wants, and that is our unconditional surrender.” – Oswald Chambers

There are a few examples in the scriptures of how this concept actually applies in real life situations.  One of them is found in Alma chapter 24 where we find the story of a group of people who had spent their lives involved in plunder and warfare against their fellow countrymen, who had converted to the Lord and his gospel.  As a sign and covenant with God, that in exchange for forgiveness of their sins, they literally dug a deep pit and buried their weapons of war and rebellion in the earth.  They surrendered their lives to Christ!

Not long after this conversion and commitment, some of their countrymen came to battle against them.  But even in this dire circumstance, “there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded then that they should not.”   And when their enemies fell upon them, “they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them on the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord.”

The story continues that when their enemies fell upon them, many of them were slain, but in this act, we assume they were taken home to God in their righteous condition.  And when their enemies “saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praise God in the very act of perishing under the sword… they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.  And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and would not take them again…  And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved.”

A complete surrender, which brought salvation not only to them, but also to many of their enemies!

And of course, the ultimate example of complete surrender, which brought about total victory over both temporal and spiritual sin and death, was that of Jesus, when He humbly partook of the bitter cup and proclaimed, “Father, not my will, but thine be done!”

In fact, it might be restated to say that Christ’s victory in Gethsemane, upon the cross and over the tomb was because of His total surrender to the Father’s will.

C.S. Lewis stated, “The full acting out of the self’s surrender to God, therefore, demands pain.  This action, to be perfect must be done from the pure will to obey.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said – “Spiritual submissiveness is not blind faith, but deliberate obedience.” (Not My Will, but Thine, pg. 108)

In today’s fast paced world, where we seem to have to fight tooth and nail in order to stay alive, relevant or to get ahead, such submission seems to fly in the face of mortal reasoning.  In fact, the voices of the world and its great and spacious building justify and proclaim that there is no harm in trying to get ahead.  “And there shall also be many which shall say; Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God – He will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.  Yea, and there shall be many which teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.” (2 Nephi 28:8-9)

And even if our intentions are not malicious or with intent to get ahead of another, we often still tend to want to be selective in how much we surrender to the Lord.  We find it convenient and easy to surrender those parts of our lives which we don’t really like anyway, but we still want to believe and cling to other aspects of our own will and desires, instead of submitting to what God desires for us.  With pride we think that we know better in some regards, what is best for us, and only partially surrender.

This is the equivalent of being on the field of battle in a war which the Lord has already won.  But as the final skirmishes are still being fought, despite the Lord’s open invitation to come and join Him in His victorious kingdom, we decide to remain in the midst of the battlefield and submit ourselves to the flying bullets and missiles from the rebellious but already conquered forces of the adversary – and thinking that is somehow a better position of safety than coming into the protective fold of the Lord.  It makes absolutely no sense!

To these thoughts, Elder Neal A. Maxwell said – “If instead of surrendering to Him we surrender to ourselves, we are surely bowing before an unjust and unwise emperor.  There can be no conditions attached to unconditional surrender to God.  Unconditional surrender means we cannot keep our obsessions, possessions, or cheering constituencies.  Even our customized security blankets must go.  Does this sound too severe and too sacrificing?  If so, it is only until we realize that if we yield to Him, He will give us everything He has.”  (Not My Will, but Thine, pg. 99)

In my career, I have worked for the past 23 years with elderly people near the final stages of their lives.  As I visit with them and hear their life stories, I have come to realize certain truths:  Financial wealth can disappear very quickly, and even if you hold on to it through your life, you can’t take it with you when you die.   Health and vitality deteriorate and eventually end in death.   Knowledge and intellect can fail and be replaced by dementia.  In essence, all worldly accolades and achievement will fade and eventually fall by the wayside.  But our relationship with Christ will endure!

I have visited with many during their final days before passing through deaths door.  Some are filled with fears and regrets, which even if they had hidden such feelings their entire lives, when faced with death and the great unknown beyond, they worry about what their future will hold.  Yet I have met many others, who through lives of faithful obedience, submission and surrender, approach the gates of death with excitement, peace and longer for the blessings they already know await them.

So as we walk through the spiritual battlefield of life, let’s remember to take time to stop, and realize what side we are fighting for.  Because the reality is, we are always surrendering to someone or something, there is no middle ground.  We either surrender to the Christ, or we surrender to the persuasions of the adversary who wants to prevent us from giving ourselves to the Lord.

So why not surrender to Christ?  Let us submit ourselves fully and unconditionally to His royal army and kingdom.  For in that complete surrender to Him, Victory is obtained!

THE DIVINE FINGERPRINT OF GOD'S LOVE

THE DIVINE FINGERPRINT OF GOD'S LOVE

Recently while making the long drive from our home in Idaho to our son's in Oregon, my wife and I were having a spiritual discussion. She was relating to me how she had been praying for increased discernment to be able to better hear the voice of the Lord and the Spirit so she would know His will and how to more effectively serve Him and others.

Just the day before she had been in a store where she encountered a woman who seemed a bit out of sorts. They began to converse and this lady began to relate a long and rather bizarre tale of woe. As they were talking, my wife said she was silently praying to know what the Lord wanted her to do to help this woman. Was her story real or was it just a ruse to con her out of some money? And what should she do to help? But the heavens were completely silent.

She ended up being moved with compassion and giving the woman the cash she had on hand which she had planned to spend on a new shirt. As my wife was relating this to me, she was feeling confused and somewhat discouraged. She wondered why after all her prayers and pleadings, the Lord wouldn't guide her or why she couldn't hear His voice. And why in general she doesn't feel like she receives divine guidance more clearly in her life?

Now I should clarify here that my wife is perhaps the most naturally charitable person I have ever met. She just simply has a loving and serving heart in ways that continue to amaze and inspire me. Yet like many, she still doubts her worth at times and feels like she doesn't receive clear spiritual guidance in her life.  She is wonderful and spiritual in so many ways, but at this moment, she was experiencing a moment of discouragement.

I tried to explain that perhaps the Lord had answered her prayers, but not in the way she was expecting. He had provided her an opportunity to serve by meeting this woman in the store, but remained silent, so that SHE could make the choice as to what should be done. It was left up to her to determine the appropriate choice of action. Sometimes the Lord does this so that we can learn to become like Him without leading us by the hand and telling us everything we should do. And in my opinion, she had passed the test with flying, straight A+, colors!

As we continued our drive, my wife was pondering on this, but in her heart was still silently lamenting and wondering why the Lord didn't speak to her more clearly in her life as an indication of His love for her.

At the very moment these thoughts of doubt about God's love were going through her mind, we came around a bend in the road and she looked up behold a giant Heart in the side of the mountain in front of her! The Spirit flooded over her and she very literally burst into tears!

I hadn't seen the heart, but felt the increased Spirit, and noticed her reaction, so wondered what had happened. She related this divine sign and we had to stop and get a picture. We marveled together at the Lord's wonderful and masterful, and uniquely personal way in which He had answered her question of His love for her! She has collected heart shaped rocks for years, and here she was with an entire mountain testifying to her in a very personal and intimate way.

We were amazed how the Lord in His perfect way could have caused, beginning many years ago, the elements to shape and change the side of that mountain to form a heart shaped anomaly, and placed it right there in that bend of the road where He knew that my wife would see it in that exact moment she was having doubts about His love for her! And He accompanied that sign with a testimony of His love with a flood of His Spirit.

Oh how amazing and perfect is our Lord and Savior! He knows us! He loves us! And He speaks to us in very personal ways which may be different than He does with others, but are just what we need in our unique circumstances!

But there can be no doubt that if we have hearts to feel and eyes to see, that we will witness the divine stamp and fingerprints of His love for us, all across the landscape of our lives... even if it takes an entire mountain to do so!

THE BREATH OF LIFE

THE BREATH OF LIFE

About 24 years ago, my family was enjoying a day at a popular water park in Utah.  My wife and our two young sons were relishing a day splashing in the water, going down slides and soaking up the warmth of the summer sun, as part of a much needed break from undergraduate studies and work.

One of the popular attractions was one of those artificial wave pools, which starts out very shallow and then gets progressively deeper as you get closer to the big wall where massive pump engines suck and push the water in and out to create cycles of man-made waves.  It looked like tons of fun and I had been out in the deeper areas with a float tube on previous visits and found it quite exhilarating.

But my then youngest son, Tyler, who was only 2 years old also found it interesting and kept wanted to wander over there, so while the waters were still and calm, I decided to wade out with him in my arms in the shallow area to feel the splashing waves at our legs and the cheering and screams of joy of the other occupants of the pool.  Not wanting to get into any danger I waded out about thigh-high or just below waist deep, no more than 3 or so feet, where I felt comfortable holding him in my arms.

The signal bell rang and the water began to ebb and flow.  At first it was harmless, as the small waves began to slosh back and forth around us.  But as the massive pumps began to operate at full force, I found to my dismay that I was standing in an area where the smaller waves on either side of me were converging into a large wave which was cresting right in front of where we were located.  And they kept getting bigger and bigger with each succession.  Very soon, this larger combined wave was sloshing me back and forth and I realized I needed to retreat to even shallower depth.

As I turned to work my way back to the shallows, one of the growing, cresting waves, struck me in the back and I fell forward onto my face, with my young toddler in my arms.  I panicked as the wave pushed me down onto the floor of the pool and then sucked backwards, trying to pull me back towards the depths behind me.  Realizing my young son was underwater I frantically lifted him up with my right hand in attempt to get him above water, as I scrambled to get up onto my knees and to try to stand.  But before I could get my feet underneath me, another wave hit my back and slammed me back downward again.  As several of these attempts repeated themselves, I realized to my horror that I was only getting very small moments in which I could take a brief, partial, gasping breath, before I was slammed back down and inhaling small bits of water, which made my throat spasm and want to cough.  And all of this was compounded by the fact that I was still struggling to keep my son above water as much as possible, but unsure if he was still breathing or what state he was in.

I thought about trying to scream for help when my head briefly came above water, but the entire pool was full of people screaming and yelling in delight, and no one even knew of the struggle I was experiencing.

And the waves just kept coming, and coming, and coming.  No matter how desperately I struggled with my left hand and two feet, I could not get to my knees or feet sufficiently long enough to either stand up above the waterline, or progress further toward the shallows.  And with each wave, I feared I was being pulled back into the deeper abyss.

My desperation quickly turned to panic, and then transformed into absolute terror and despair, and I became convinced that I may likely drown in a mere 3 feet of surging water.  And all the while I was terrified for the fate of my small son, who I was desperately trying to raise up above my head with one arm, but unsure if he was actually any better off than I was.

It is amazing how in such instances, time seems to change and how a thousand thoughts can compress themselves into a mere fraction of a moment.  I actually considered my options.  I could let go of my son, and use my second hand to help raise me from the bottom, and then try to locate and lift my son.  But this would consign him to dropping below the water where he would surely be washed away from me and I may not be able to retrieve him, and would increase his likelihood of drowning.  No, I could never let him go!

As I grew frantic for air and the impulse to breath was screaming for relief, I began to see sparks in my head and I realized that I would soon lose control and either impulsively take a breath and inhale water, or I may pass out and then would lose all ability to recover.  And I suddenly knew with complete certainty that I was going to die!

As I resigned myself to this fate, and accepted it, I suddenly quit thinking about myself and my own predicament.  I knew that I would die, so I instead, in one of those compressed nano-second moments, prayed silently from the depths of my soul, “If I must die, please save my son!”  I didn’t care what happened to me anymore.  I was willing to accept my fate and embrace it, and I was fine with that if it meant my son could somehow live, and so this was where all my energy and heart was pleading to the Lord to take me if He needed, but please save my son.  All of my effort was focused on keeping him above water as much as possible, so that he could breathe, so that he might somehow live.

It was in this very moment of submission and when I forgot myself and was totally focused on the welfare of my son, and all of my desire was only for his safety, that the waves began to slow and lessen in intensity.  The water receded and was suddenly able lift my head and take a gasping breath of air.  It was the breath of life!

I was finally able to get up onto my knees and raise my trunk upward and with certainty lift my son completely out of the water.  And as the water continued to calm behind and around me, I was utterly spent and exhausted.  Gasping for air and coughing and spitting water from my lungs, I heard the most joyous sound I could have heard in that moment – my son crying!

I was completely overjoyed that he was alive and breathing enough to be wailing in tears!  And as I crawled forward on my knees (because I literally didn’t have the strength to stand at that moment), I was simply overcome with gratitude.  Just being able to breathe and knowing that my son was alright was worth more than any worldly treasure or accomplishment, and I poured out silent thanks to my Father in Heaven for His mercy in delivering us from our terrible predicament.

I have to admit, that I have never once entered a wave pool again since that day.  But I have been able to draw several comparisons and insights about it and from it.  And while this list is not exhaustive, it may be informative to you as well:

1.      In life, we often think we can control our circumstances and feel we are safe to wander off the solid footing of the straight and narrow path, thinking that we can enjoy a few thrills and handle things alright without any risk.  But in reality, things can and usually do escalate quickly beyond our control when we leave spiritually solid ground behind.  We may have our moments of thrill and delight, but they come at great risk and potentially deadly cost.

2.      When the waves of life come crashing down around us, we are pretty much helpless to deliver ourselves.  We cannot stop the forces of mortality around us, and must suffer the consequences of our actions, and are powerless to change them.  We fall victim to their merciless and crushing forces… UNLESS we seek help from a Lifeguard who walks on water and has the power to calm the stormy seas around us, and is able to reach down as He did to Peter and lift him from the waves and cold depths of life’s deadly tides.

3.      I realize that my experience cannot even begin to compare in any significant degree, but I feel gained an ever-so-small, fractional experience of what kind of desperation the Savior might have suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane.   As I think of how the scriptures describe Him being sore amazed and astonished to the point He fell down upon His face (Matt. 26:36-39), I am humbled to tears to consider how the massive waves of sins, suffering and sorrows of all mankind beat down upon Him with their eternal weight for nearly 3 agonizing hours.  This was so great that even our Lord cried out, “Please, if there is any other way, please take this cup away from me!”  But He willingly submitted, accepted and partook of the bitter cup.

4.      It was when I submitted and lost all thought or concern of myself, and instead focused upon the welfare and salvation of another that relief and salvation finally came.  In similar manner, the power of the Atonement was wrought when the Savior submitted, accepted and let His will be completely swallowed up in the will of the Father that the miracle was able to be accomplished, and deliverance and salvation was finally extended to all of us.  He was willing to, and did in fact, offer Himself a sacrifice and gave up His life so that we all might live!  His love and concern for us and our eternal welfare is the definition of what Love truly is.  “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life, for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:25)   And “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”(John 15:13)    We too will find ourselves and the blessings we seek, when we begin to lose ourselves in the Lord’s service and in service to our fellow men and women.  CHARITY never faileth, and is the pure love of Christ, and if we want to become like Him and be worthy to dwell with Him again someday, this will be “THE” essential quality we will need to possess!

5.      When I was drowning, I could not bring myself to let my son go, and give up his life.  I was desperate to save him no matter what the cost, just so that he could live and be safe.  As I consider what our Heavenly Father must have experienced as He witnessed His “Beloved Son”, Jesus Christ, suffering, being mocked, beaten, smitten and nailed to a cross…. Somehow He was able to let His Son go, and sacrifice Him so that ALL of us could have a chance to live.

I stand all amazed at the love that They offer me!  And you!  And all of us!

The reality and amazing grace of it all, is the fact that when the storms and waves of life are beating us down, the Lord is right there in the midst of it all, with us, reaching down to lift us, if we will but turn to Him and reach up for His help.  He doesn’t cause the suffering which comes as the result of our bad choices or because of the nature of opposition this mortal life offers.  He also doesn’t cause the trauma and waves of abuse or unjust suffering and punishment that come because of the wickedness of others which affects us.  But even in these situations, which are no fault of our own, He is willing and able to help lift us above the waves, put our feet back on solid group, heal us both body and soul, and beckon us onward along the path which leads back to Him.

The waves are sure to come and beat upon us.  He mercifully grants us times of peace and placid waters to regain our bearings and make strides forward, but he also allows the waves to return so that we can remember that He is the one that allows us to stand and grants us one truly remarkable “breath of life” to the next.  These experiences serve to keep us humble and remind us to cry out to Him with greater conviction and focus and to be more grateful for the peaceful moments when they come.  And it is during those moments of desperate desire and reaching for Him, when we truly find Him.

“When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.  When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you.” – (Pres. Russell M. Nelson, April 2017 General Conference)

As we do so, He will be there, with open arms to lift us, raise us up, heal us, restore us and bring us ever closer to Him!