The invisible ties that bind

For such a big world we live in, I find it fascinating how connected we all are. Everywhere I go I seem to meet people who are somehow connected to me. Like mutual friends/acquaintances and such. Last night I had three such experiences.

I went to a party with a friend, there I met many really great people. In the course of that party I discovered that one person actually had heard of the very small (as in a average of 80-140 on campus students at any given time) private college. Apparently his cousin is one of my classmates. In the course of another conversation I discovered that many of the people at that party know and are good friends with one of my childhood friends whom I haven't seen since I was 11 years old and my family moved out of state. Lastly while discussing missions, I discovered that I had not only served with a close friend of one of the party goers, but that that same person's brother is one of the members in the second to last area I served in on my mission.

Whenever such connections are discovered, I feel invisible cords binding me closer to that stranger. When this happens I see the hand of the Lord in my life. For I believe that He brings us together as one of His Tender Mercies to remind us of the fact that we are all connected in more ways then we could understand, and thus are never really alone.

The Influence of Women

"No matter what circumstances you sisters experience, your influence can be marvelously far-reaching. I believe some of you have a tendency to underestimate your profound capacity for blessing the lives of others. More often than not, it is not on the stage with some public pronouncement but in your example of righteousness and the countless gentle acts of love and kindness done so willingly, so often on a one-to-one basis."--James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation June 20, 1676

"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:

The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."

Voting such a neglected privalidge...

Sometimes it astounds me how we in America can live in a land where we actually have a voice, and yet do not use it except to complain...We have the ability to enact change, or to preserve things according to our conscious, and yet we don't exercise it. So many people around the world would give anything to have what we so carelessly throw away. It just saddens me to see such waste and neglect when it come to our freedom, and out children's freedom...I am reminded of a scripture in one of my core books which states that where much is given, much is required. IF we continue to not live up to the responsibility of such a privilege as freedom, we will wake up to discover that that privilege is no longer ours to claim...

Why do people love Halloween so very much?

I have asked myself this many times. What I have decided it that this unique Holiday appeals to people in two main areas (this is not to say that there are other aspects of the holiday that do not appeal...) : 1- Their sweet tooth. Even though the fad of today is to be heath conscious, deep down even if they pretend otherwise, everyone has a sweet tooth...And a licences to indulge one's sweet tooth to one's heart's content once a year is to some considered a necessity...2- Their love of dressing up. In this world where image means so much, people often feel trapped in how people see them. Thus the idea of putting on a costume and different persona for even one night appeals on so many levels. It is freeing, it is fun, and it is safe feeling.

Ode to a Spelling Checker

Eye halve a spelling check her;
It came with my pea sea.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye kin knot sea.

Eye ran this poem threw it
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished in it’s weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

A check her is a bless sing;
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule;
The checker pours o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore wee rote with checkers
Hour spelling was inn deck line,
Butt now when wee dew have a laps,
Wee are knot maid too wine.

Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know faults with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.

Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier;
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped words fare as hear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud;
And wee mussed dew da best wee can
Sew flaws are knot aloud.

That’s why eye brake in two averse
Cuz eye dew want too please.
Sow glad eye yam that aye did bye
This soft wear four pea seas.

How I finally taught the big guy a lesson

“I did not provoke the fight, so I feel no remorse for what I was forced to do. We were arguing, and since I was right and he was wrong, he decided to fight to cover his stupidity.

He swung at me first, but because I was in top physical condition, I was able to act quickly and block the punch neatly with my head.

I then jumped to the ground, knocking him down on top of me. I placed my ear in his mouth and poked his finger several times with my eye.

His teeth hurt so much from the strength of my ear that he became irate and tried to kick me, but I cleverly blocked the onslaught with my ribs and face.

I scrambled to my feet and ran to my car in hopes I would get away and save this man from my deadly hands. Before I could start the car he pulled me from the still open door. I then proceeded to swing at him, but only managed to hit myself in the head.

To this I said, “What’s this two against one?” That was the final straw—I lost all control. There will be no mercy!!

Taking him in my death grip, I pounded him in the knee with my stomach—then I hit him two or three times in the fist with my teeth! He had had it! I could tell. After that he didn’t even try to pick me up off the ground. He was too chicken!!

Perspective is everything!