Am I My Brother's Keeper?

As we prepare to live and learn from the feasting of the Lords words which we have witnessed and heard over this weekend I think of the words spoken about service to others and the celebration of 75 years of the church welfare programs. The answer to that question “Am I my Brother’s Keeper?” is written in those teachings from the Lord. And the blessings of that answer flood my heart every time I accept an opportunity to serve for the works of the Lord. Many of you know the blessings of service in the Lords Temples- Blessings that I can not even begin to explain or describe. But it is service in other parts of the Lords kingdom that I would like to Blog to you about— Have you ever served on a Saturday morning with your family to clean the Ward House? The blessing seen on Sunday of your teenagers not leaving their programs on the bench, their gum wrapper in the hymnbook holder, or little Clair not opening the glass door with her little hands but pushing on the bar because she spent great care to clean that glass yesterday… Have you ever served on a hot summer’s day at the stake farm? The blessing of the blisters left by the fencing repair lesson— the knowledge that the Lord not only has flocks of sheep but herds of cattle. Have you ever sat in the shade with the young men and young women after an afternoon of neighborhood weed pulling? The blessing of knowing that Sister Lizenbee or Brother Hawker will still be able to have that beautiful garden and knowing that when they have more zucchini then they can handle you will reap the reward and the YM/YW with enjoy your wonderful zucchini brownies. Have you ever taken a friend to the church cannery? Learned of the wonderful blessings of service to those we will never know. Saw the great love the Lord has for those in need? Or seen the quality and care that is shipped all over the world? Have you ever been a volunteer at the Bishops Storehouse? Looked into the eyes of young sister who just can’t make the two ends meet after the loss of her dear husband. Seen the Blessings of the Lord work though you, as you hold her sweet baby while she shops for her other three children. Knowing that her Sunday roast would be from one of the Lords cattle. And seeing the circle of service to the Lord continue as she takes her children to the Ward House on Saturday to clean all the little finger prints off the glass. Many of my greatest blessings have come though serving the Lord in His house, on His land, in His flocks, to His children. As the celebration of the greatest act of service, our great blessing of the Atonement comes I would say to you – Go and Do the things the Lord commands… The blessing you will receive will be more than you can count.

Is There An Easier Way?

I recall now what seems like a life time ago the meeting held in the Durfee Street chapel in which the first of many to come "ward splits" was to take place. Now having had an in with some of the muckady mucks I knew just where my house would fall in that split and I had no need to fear. I remember my father leaning over to me and asking me what I was going to do if I didn’t like the change. And the words of Nephi rang clear “I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands.” The opening song was sung, “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go” -- … But if, by a still, small voice he calls To paths that I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: I’ll go where you want me to go. I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what you want me to be.” The story of the events that would take place over the course of the next 4 years and our 6 wards (yes 6 not The 6th) will have a chapter in my book but for now I will say, the muckady mucks that I thought I had an in with knew nothing and my world was now in a strange ward. But I had said it out loud “I will go and do the thing the Lord commands”. The Lord has a plan for us and to us it does not always seem like the clear and easy way, but it the Lords way. Like a baby chick we sometimes have to peck our way out of the shell we’re in today in order to have the strength to wear the feathers we need for tomorrow. Those changes in my life have given me strength; they have given me friends to lean on, and service to give. It does not always look to us like the clear and easy path, but it is the best way; the Lord knows how to give us the strength we need- strength to stand up for what is right, strength to lift others, and the strength to put it all in the Lords hands when we know we cannot do it on our own. The Lord knew there was an easier way, - Laban could have had a heart attack, but that would not have given Nephi the strength he would need to pull from later. You and I could have been rich but it may have made us foolish. I Lord knows us as he knew Nephi and he is blessing us with trials everyday. It is my pray that we can all learn the lessons the Lord has sent for us as quickly as we can. But if it is that your trial will last for a time may you walk all those days in the arms of the Lord. This is my pray for you: Brother Knight, Brother Orgill, Brother Miller, Sister Hamatake, Monty, Gramma D., and to both my mom and my dad--The road may seem long that is ahead but if you ask you will have great company along your path.

The Blessings of Night Shift

I have worked the night shift for years- in fact there was a time when I only worked night shift and call me crazy but it worked for me. Those days have come and gone and now the straight night shift can be a little hard on me but there are some blessings.

With the new school start time I am home before Brue leaves for class- he may say that is a blessing because having just come off a 12 hours shift I have no right to drive anywhere so he can take the car to school.

Weekend night shift gives me all kinds of extra time for the things I want, like lunch with my friends. I think one of the best blessing of this shift is having my weekly lunch with friends- be it Rosie, my mom, or maybe even Felicity - I have the time.

Some may not find the next thing as a blessing but it is one of the best- being on night shift I work mostly alone which means I drive back and forth by myself, this gives me lots of time to think, to ponder, to pray, and to listen for the answers to those prayers. I know I don't always take the time I need to listen to what the Lord has to say to me. Mostly at the end of the day I just pore my heart out then quickly pore myself into bed and don't take the time to hear the words I have been praying for.

With all that extra quiet time I see more. I see the Lords hand in the world around us- in the mountains, in the snow, in the sunsets and in the sunrise.

I am grateful for my job and some days more then others I am thankful for my night shifts.