#52 Stories--Story #50

Do you feel your beliefs and values are shared by most people you are surrounded with each day? Or do your beliefs set you apart from those around you? What is that like?

Generally I feel like most people around me each day believe in a similar vein as I do.  For the most part, many are members of my faith--coworkers are also fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--that is just a fact of where I live at the moment.  But not everyone is as converted as I feel I am to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

 At my new job at the dealership there are many who no longer practice our faith in their daily lives.  But I think they generally believe it--it is just too much work to live it. That is okay.  I try to live in a way that is accepting of those around me but I try to live what I believe and in that attempt I try to be an example of happiness that comes from living the restore gospel of Jesus Christ. I never want to have other feel I am pressuring them to live as I believe, but I certainly encourage other to live what they believe.  There is room for all of us.

I hope those around me feel the love I know our Heavenly Father has for them.  That by my acceptance and support they will feel His love and acceptance. That is the hope, though I may not live it perfectly yet.

#52 Stories--Story # 6

What were the faith and religious traditions of your ancestors?

The only formal religious affiliation I know of it that my maternal grandmother and her family before her were Lutherans.  The Finnish side of the family was baptized in the Lutheran church--in Frederick, South Dakota, it was the Savo Lutheran community.  They worshiped in this church:

Salvo Community - Lutheran Church destroyed by tornado in 1921

Even when I knew her, my grandmother--by this time living in Kelso, Washington was a religious person, and worshiped with friends in a local church in their town.  Grandma Bernice was an avid pianist and more than once I remember her telling me that she had played the piano at their Bible study or women's meeting. Knowing her, I am sure her devotion to the faith community was as much a social one as it was a religious one.

My paternal side had no long standing affiliation but were Christians of one denomination or another.  My paternal grandparents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when my dad was 8 years --1950.

Upon their decision to marry, my parents attended both the local Lutheran and LDS congregations to see which they could get along together in as a family. I recall my dad telling me that there was no way he could have been a Lutheran as there was too much formality and recitation in their service. My mom, meanwhile, had a dear friend who had introduced her the LDS faith, and once my grandfather--her dad--allowed it when she turned 18, she was baptized into the LDS church. I don't believe she ever looked back.

I do love her little Lutheran Bible though.  I remember being enchanted by the colored cover and the picture of Christ at the beginning of it. She primarily used the LDS scriptures in her personal and our family study, but I remember seeing it on occasion and loving that little book of scripture.

Signs of Age

This past week was one of gaining personal recognition and gratitude for miracles given by priesthood blessing.  You may not know but I work at a place that does medical equipment for hospice patients--a hospice nurse calls us and orders a hospital bed, wheelchair, etc. and our drivers deliver it to the patient.  But this week, I felt like the tables got turned and I was nearly the patient.

Tuesday I went to work like normal but sometime that morning I saw a wheelchair in the warehouse that wasn't where it was supposed to be.  So I bent over it and had every intention of lifting it up tot he shelf where it belonged.  Just as I began to lift, I heard/felt a ripping--much like when you tear paper towels apart.  It instantly caused me to drop the chair where it was before.  I felt horrible.  I have told the drivers to be careful how they lift things all the time--use your legs!--and here I did exactly the opposite of my own advice.  I thought "how dumb?!" and figured I would have to tough it out.  But the longer I stayed at work--I had two weeks of embroidery I was hoping to catch up on--the worse I felt.  It wasn't just tenderness.  It was really sore and the pain started shooting down my left leg. I began to worry that I had bulged a disc out of my spine, or worse --whatever might be worse?! I had texted my husband to come straight to my office to give me a blessing--thinking he would be home sooner than I'd be done.  But by 3:00 he hadn't responded yet, so in desperation, I asked my boss and a co-worker to give me a blessing before I went home. 

Luckily, for me, I do work with a bunch of returned missionaries and these two men were available and ready to do this for me.  One did the anointing and then my boss gave me a blessing.  It wasn't a blessing for instant healing, but one that promised me no major damage had occurred, but that I had to do what I could to make things better for myself too. In the blessing he told met hat I would be able to find relief as I took myself out of situations that caused me stress.  That I would be able to find relief from mediation and help from resting my body.  It was a comfortable feeling as he finished.  I knew it wasn't going to be well instantly, but that I would eventually be fine.

By the time I got home, I was hurting SO bad that I couldn't take my own shoes off.  I laid myself over the yoga ball in the family room.  I was relieved by stretching my back around the ball, but then I couldn't get up by myself once I was done laying over it.  I finally took a big ibuprofen and an old generic a pain killer left over from a  dental visit or something years ago--and went to bed very early.  The next morning I couldn't get out of bed. My husband told me to get into the doctor, maybe he cold prescribe a muscle relaxer and something for the pain.  I called the office about 9 AM but the scheduling secretary wasn't available--so I left a message.  My doctor was the Urgent Care guy that day, so the scheduler for the office told me to come on in.  I did as quickly as I could and once there, I had to wait for about 30 minutes.  I was standing then tried sitting, but either position was horrendously painful.  I was close to tear as I felt the muscle in my back spazaming and causing pain down my leg.  Finally I got in to see the Doctor and laid myself across the exam table to relieve the pressure on my lower back. When he finally came in, he tried applying pressure in a couple of spots on my back and sent me through the ceiling a couple times.  He quickly prescribed a muscle relaxer, a steroid, a pain killer and double checked that I had a 800 mg Ibuprofan to take.  He also gave me a referral to a physical therapist.

I got home after dropping off the prescriptions and immediately laid on the bed.  I called the physical therapist's office and they had a cancellation that afternoon, so I took it.  The therapist ended up being the same guy that worked on my shoulder after I did that surgery back in 2006, Chad. He started me off with some STEM and heat.  15 minutes of that was the best I'd felt for nearly 2 days.  Then he came in and did some stretching and massaged on the area.  Then put me on a ice pack and sent me home with some small exercises I need to do to not only heal my hurting back, but to strengthen the lower interior ab muscles that support my back too. 

I took the meds that my hubz had picked up for me and went to bed. I slept through the night and then most of Thursday too.  I was in bed nearly all the day--only moving to do the exercises and go to the bathroom.  I haven't slept that long--or that well--in ages.  I was careful to take the meds are prescribed and I started to believe that I might live. 

I woke up Friday feeling better than I had all week. I went to work, on the meds, but I knew I couldn't lift or man-handle things in the warehouse, or the UPS or FedEx shipments, etc.  I was even very careful how I was sitting at my desk, or getting up and down from the chair or the embroidery machines.  I worked a full day and went hoe about 4:30 or so.  I did have to ask for help a few times, but I know that it is OK to ask for help when you need it.

Now, I know that some of the relief I have felt comes directly from the medications the doctor ordered, and other relief may have come from the electrical impulses from the STEM, or the heat and ice.  While I do think those were all helpful, I have a strong feeling that the priesthood blessings was what has helped me get back to "nearly normal" this fast.  I know the Lord cares about my health and the functionality of my body as it is necessary to my work.  I know that He can bless me to be healed in an instant.  But this time I needed to feel some understanding for people who do live in pain.  Luckily for me, He also knows me enough to know that too much demanded patience would put me over the top.  He has begun this process of healing for me, but is giving me the time to learn to be more compassionate to others and to my own self--where my body isn't doing things as fast as I'd like.

This healing process will be steady and over a longer period of time that just a few days, but I'm on the mend and getting back to what I do every day.  Simply getting out of bed without help is a plus.  Being able to tie my shoes or pick up something on the floor is a big deal after how badly I hurt last week.  So that was the extent of my story this week.  I wish we could arrange a few days of bed rest to just catchup on sleep every couple of months or so, but that isn't real life.  I am grateful for the rest I've had and for the relief the meds and the therapy have given me.  Now to do the hard work of remembering these little exercises and condition my back muscles and core muscles to avoid this again.

 

Getting older really sucks.

Polite To a Fault?

I have a Jehovah's Witness attachment disorder. This woman came to my door randomly, probably a year ago, and I engaged in a polite, but disinterested (I thought) conversation. Now she returns with some regularity to have another religious discussion, though it is generally one sided.

How do I politely refuse these continuing ambush chats on my porch, and yet be firm enough to help her realize that I am a hopeless option for her proselytizing???

You may remember she came ON CHRISTMAS DAY, and wanted to chat. I was in such a holiday spirit that I did chat, and I testified to her that today we were celebrating the birth our our Savior, Jesus Christ as a family. I even tried to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon, telling her that within it's pages she could draw even closer to our Savior and would feel His Holy Spirit. She refused my offer, saying that if she should read "that book" she could not longer believe what she believes.

That was exactly my point of offering it to her. But I digress.

Several weeks ago she came again, but I saw her approaching with yet another friend, and chickened out from answering the door and sorted things in my basement instead. I really didn't hear the doorbell.

I am such a wuss.

So, today she shared a scripture with me that actually used the Savior's name and told me about the article she was sure I'd be interested in from her magazine that taught the truth about the "twisted lies the world" gives that Christ was once married and had a family. This article taught her that he died in the exact manner that the Bible tell us.

So, standing on my porch again, I agreed that the Bible's account of the Crucifixion was how it had happened, but that I knew in my heart that as the Savior atoned for not only the sins of the world, but also the hurts, pains, and heartaches that any of us can feel in this mortal life that He might know completely how to heal us, He had to have a family in order to know the joy and pain that only come from truly loving your family completely.

Still, she didn't back off.

I really do not what to be rude to this woman. I am sure our our Church's missionaries find enough rudeness in the world not to commit that same rudeness on a missionary of another faith. In essentials, we believe in the same God, worship the same Savior. The differences are in the details. My convictions that the details I know we have been given are the truth aren't going to change with her sharing a message from the Watch Tower.

Any ideas how I can end this peculiar relationship and not be rude? Am I asking too much? Maybe I just need to nap. And to eat. And to finish the laundry. Without any more missionary door approaches.

Lessons from Columbine

Yesterday I gave in and was listening to talk radio again, and the topic that hour was the anniversary of the Columbine massacre in Littleton, Colorado ten years ago. 13 people were killed by two students and the entire country held its breath as we watched the TV coverage in terror in 1999.Columbine was not the first, and it certainly hasn't been the last tragedy at a school, but it definitely put into place some new thinking about safety at public schools.

What caught my ear was this: The talk show host asked, Do you feel safer now than 10 years ago? Do you feel your children are safer than 10 years ago?

Do I feel safer? I think so. I like to think most things are good, but I also recognize my need to do my part--whether that is being better aware of my surroundings or in being more proactive in diffusing trouble when I see it with kids or at school in general.

Do I feel my kids are safer? I feel that our teachers and administrators take things much more seriously than before, and act appropriately and will choose to err on the side of caution. "Better safe than sorry" was never more applicable. Sadly, I do feel that there are more evils in the world that my kids will have to face--directly or indirectly.

In fact, when I finally sat down to veg out and watch some TV last night, I pulled up yesterday's Oprah episode and it was some members of a state Task Force against cyber-crime against children. I listened only long enough to hear that the assistant attorney general, who was legally unable to show some of the photos that their group had recently confiscated from a child predator's computer, was going to describe them to the audience and the discussion will continue from there.

I didn't need to see them and I didn't need to hear about them. I am disgusted by just what is allowed to be reported by the media when these kind of lowlifes are apprehended. I also know that God will not allow those kind of evils to go unnoticed. His vengeance is far greater than whatever I would come up with , and longer lasting too. I didn't even watch or listen to more. I deleted the episode.

Am I hiding my head in the sand, wishing it would just go away? I don't think so. I am not denying that kind of hurt and evil is out there, but seeing it or hearing the description of it won't help me think better or people or given them the benefit of the doubt. Just the opposite, more likely.

I already have a highly reactive and quick "creepy sensor" that goes off more often than not. Maybe it is a bit cynical or suspicious of me to think that as often as I do, but I see enough kids and have known of enough hurt in the world I live in to know that these things are more and more prevalent.

As parents, teachers, and adults who care about children we have to step up and not be afraid to make waves. We have to stand up for those things that will help families and strengthen healthy relationships and protect innocence.

Do I feel safer?

I feel a lot more responsible for my own safety. I feel more cautious. I feel that I need to do everything I can to help my family and those around me. I don't think the "system"--whatever it may be at that moment--is going to be able to save us. We must do that ourselves, with faith in God and hope in the Savior.

Do I feel my kids are safer?

Sometimes, but I also feel the childhood they are having is radically different from the one I had. It has to be different. The world is not the same. Pervasive and damaging things can be brought into our home via the Internet or computer, TV or music, and no "bad" person is ever seen or noted. They need to be stronger in their own convictions to live the Gospel and do what is right. They have to be deliberate about choosing good friends and making good choices, far more than I ever was.

A lot of lessons were learned from the Columbine tragedy, but the world is still not a kind, loving, gentle place to be. And sadly, it probably never will be again. We are each responsible to do our part to make it better, and to protect ourselves from the less favorable bits. And it is only going to get worse, before it ever gets better.

But, as the times are more and more perilous, that is a good sign too. It shows the end is nearing and Christ will come again. We will survive whatever is thrown at us, in the end, if we can endure it in faith.

Exactly

This morning in my personal study time, I was reading on 'obedience' and noticed something new about the Stripling Warriors that Helaman led into battle with such success. Not only did they trust what their mothers had taught them, but this time I noticed that their faith was so complete it caused them to be exactly obedient. The verse reads "...they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them...."

It made me think about what I do to "exactness". I am afraid there isn't much. I'm more of a "good enough" girl. But if those warriors were blessed according to their obedience, maybe I should rethink my plans.

No one, seemingly at least, is "exact" anymore. Most of us just get by. We are generally trying to do our best, but it sure feels like we have a lot of outside influences we must deal with simultaneously that nudge us off course from being "exact".

Certainly there are some professions that demand exactness in those who undertake them. Brain or heart surgeons come immediately to mind. Bankers and other financial professionals--one would hope--but the news has proven that only a theory of late, am I right? But for the most part, there is a lot of leeway for most of us.

Maybe that is the real trick here. The "exactness" of the 2000 Stripling Warriors came by their complete faith, but more importantly that faith drove them to desire exactness. If we want to do what is right, we will find a way to do it completely. I suppose the "wanting to" is the harder point for us, simply because we like to think we can do what we want. We cannot expect blessings like they received without relinquishing our will to the Lord's. If we shift to wanting what He wants for us, then our desire to be exact will follow. Only then we can be blessed "according to our faith".

While I recognize that strength comes from making personal strides to become better each day, there are times when waving a wand and leaving it to magic would just be easier. But that is not the plan we signed on for, now, is it? Dangit. Easy wasn't part of the deal. Exactly.