If your grandfather is old enough, he'll tell you what a dashing. handsome young man Sargent Preston was. Your grandpa might also tell you the name of the sargent's lead dog, I can't.
I cite that great Canadian Mounted policeman because based on how we visitors to the north country feel, it is miraculous that those two dog-sledders could even get out of bed! I say that because I'm learning the best way to behold this cold northland is behind closed eyelids. (At least while still warm and comfortable in bed, if one is resourceful enough he can conjure up some landscape that is not snow covered, and bare of leaves for the trees. And cloudy. And drab.)
Now you can compare that dreary paragraph with one we wrote three months ago and you'll see a marked contrast. Back then, I/we were enthralled with Michigan. And in love with it, and reluctant to go home. Things have now changed. Plus, there is the added feature of our being released three months hence, and you can sense our feelings just now.
But did I recently read a phrase that said, "There must needs be an opposition in all things." (II Nephi 2:11)? That being so, you'll probably hear me say in a few more weeks that this Michigan country is truly all that I have imagined it to be in the past, and I shall forever cherish the privilege I/we have had of living here.
If only we can get past the wintertime.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
One Year Ago This Very Day
This very day one year ago, into Sunday School class bursts Paticia (not her real name) seeking her friend, Frances. Reason: just seconds before, Patricia's boyfriend had hung up on her saying, "if you're in church again, forget it!"
Instant choice to be made. We have not seen Patricia since.
Then last night Sister O'Dell and I witnessed a variation of the same drama. Different setting; different lines; different cast; but same, same old theme, "is it worth it?" Or, "is this really the Lord's true church?" Or, "is Eternal Life really worth all this sacrifice and effort?" The event: a young single adult activity consisting of hetereo-personalities. The intent was homogeneuity, hoping that all present were enjoying themselves equally. Some were; all tried.
Which brings to mind a song as old as the hills (older, even, than me): "If a body meet a body coming through the rye; if a body kiss a body, need a body cry." It all boils down to this: WE ARE LONELY--each of us. The feeling is at times desperate. And yet prudence dictates we cannot kiss everybody coming through the rye. As Elder Marion D. Hanks used to say, "Each of us is saying 'speak to me; listen to me; confirm to me that I am alive, that I matter....'" (or expanding that, "court me; marry me; make me a parent; give me a home, a family.")
Youth activities--imperfect substitutes.
Returning to that vexing question "is it worth it?," my mind reverts to the December, 1833 letter written by W.W. Phelps to the prophet Joseph Smith. After seven months of vicious whippings, murderings, rapings, horse and cattle stealings, and house burnings, and derision, in early winter while huddled beneath bed blankets serving as "shelter" from snow and freezing rain, many, many Latter-day Saints remained faithful and true. They were, in the words of Brother Phelps, "as immovable as the everlasting hills." Others, having less vision, had by then lost sight of the faith and had fallen behind. Boiled down, it takes grit not only to become a Saint, but also to remain one--lots and LOTS of "guts" and determination.
So last night while watching our beloved "children" socializing while wearing happy faces, I sensed some might be tempted to entertain that same question, "is it worth it?"
Knowing that no one merely falls into Eternal Life, I shout, "It is worth it! It is, it is, IT IS!"
Instant choice to be made. We have not seen Patricia since.
Then last night Sister O'Dell and I witnessed a variation of the same drama. Different setting; different lines; different cast; but same, same old theme, "is it worth it?" Or, "is this really the Lord's true church?" Or, "is Eternal Life really worth all this sacrifice and effort?" The event: a young single adult activity consisting of hetereo-personalities. The intent was homogeneuity, hoping that all present were enjoying themselves equally. Some were; all tried.
Which brings to mind a song as old as the hills (older, even, than me): "If a body meet a body coming through the rye; if a body kiss a body, need a body cry." It all boils down to this: WE ARE LONELY--each of us. The feeling is at times desperate. And yet prudence dictates we cannot kiss everybody coming through the rye. As Elder Marion D. Hanks used to say, "Each of us is saying 'speak to me; listen to me; confirm to me that I am alive, that I matter....'" (or expanding that, "court me; marry me; make me a parent; give me a home, a family.")
Youth activities--imperfect substitutes.
Returning to that vexing question "is it worth it?," my mind reverts to the December, 1833 letter written by W.W. Phelps to the prophet Joseph Smith. After seven months of vicious whippings, murderings, rapings, horse and cattle stealings, and house burnings, and derision, in early winter while huddled beneath bed blankets serving as "shelter" from snow and freezing rain, many, many Latter-day Saints remained faithful and true. They were, in the words of Brother Phelps, "as immovable as the everlasting hills." Others, having less vision, had by then lost sight of the faith and had fallen behind. Boiled down, it takes grit not only to become a Saint, but also to remain one--lots and LOTS of "guts" and determination.
So last night while watching our beloved "children" socializing while wearing happy faces, I sensed some might be tempted to entertain that same question, "is it worth it?"
Knowing that no one merely falls into Eternal Life, I shout, "It is worth it! It is, it is, IT IS!"
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
One Year Ago Right This Minute
Just as I write, it is 5 o'clock p.m., January 6, 2010. Exactly one year ago at this precise same time of day, Elder and Sister O'Dell parked in the parking lot of East Lansing, Michigan's Stoddard Student Living Center. Momentous moment!
What a fine year it has been! Not that our eighteen months wasn't good that we spent in Muncie, Indiana, but in many ways this second experience has eclipsed any other chapter of our marriage.
Originally, we signed up for a one-year-long mission. Then sometime last summer we "shipped over" (that is, extended our mission) somewhat cautiously. But the months following have brought confirmation upon confirmation that we did the right thing.
So here we are, exactly one year hence, very, very happy, with four months left before returning home.
Yet in the sagacious words of Sister O'Dell--"I'm glad it's not one year ago!"
What a fine year it has been! Not that our eighteen months wasn't good that we spent in Muncie, Indiana, but in many ways this second experience has eclipsed any other chapter of our marriage.
Originally, we signed up for a one-year-long mission. Then sometime last summer we "shipped over" (that is, extended our mission) somewhat cautiously. But the months following have brought confirmation upon confirmation that we did the right thing.
So here we are, exactly one year hence, very, very happy, with four months left before returning home.
Yet in the sagacious words of Sister O'Dell--"I'm glad it's not one year ago!"
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Cold Days; Warm Friends
On one Christmas card from tropical California was an envious note saying, "You'll probably have a white Christmas." To which Ranelle quickly replied, "We will, but we'll trade you."
Christmas is now past, and in its wake many warm memories. Like Ranelle suggested in her last blog: "overall, the Lansing, Michigan people are some of the most kind and courteous we have ever known." The most overt kindnesses are of course, individual and personal, but even the kind acceptance of so many who were until recently but strangers is most humbling. Example: just today Ranelle and I spoke in the St. Johns [Michigan] branch. They are thirty miles to the north but as we watched the crowd arrive we were thrilled to see perhaps fifteen very good friends. We waved back and forth as they spotted us, and felt affirmation of the Savior's admonition to "love one another."
Christmas is now past, and in its wake many warm memories. Like Ranelle suggested in her last blog: "overall, the Lansing, Michigan people are some of the most kind and courteous we have ever known." The most overt kindnesses are of course, individual and personal, but even the kind acceptance of so many who were until recently but strangers is most humbling. Example: just today Ranelle and I spoke in the St. Johns [Michigan] branch. They are thirty miles to the north but as we watched the crowd arrive we were thrilled to see perhaps fifteen very good friends. We waved back and forth as they spotted us, and felt affirmation of the Savior's admonition to "love one another."
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
December 15, 2009 - Taking Joy in our Homes and the Season
As we were enjoying these pictures, John commented on how our Father in Heaven has blessed us so richly--beyond our wildest dreams. All our needs are met. We recognize the privilege of living in comfort--to have such a lovely place of retreat from the varities of the world, to be warm when it is cold outside and cool when it is hot, to retreat from the brazen ugliness of the world and the harshness of some of today's societies. It is the time of year to take stock of such things.
How quickly the fall semester has passed. We've shared the "ups-and-downs of romance, engagements and weddings, new students moving in, and other moving out and on to something else. We've seen growth in these wonderful young people, especially the beginning college-students who arrived in the fall. We've taken special joy as we've shared experiences with those who have come to a knowledge of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been baptized into His true Church.
We've finished another semester. In a few days the students will complete their finals and leave us all alone for the holidays. Still, our social calendar seems to fill up. Local members of the Church are concerned that we are not alone at such a "family time of the year." And there are projects we've anticipated we might be able to accomplish during this time with fewer scheduled obligations. And though we are without our children and grandchildren, our brothers and sisters and their families, we have each other--this great blessing we value! WHERE WE ARE TOGETHER, THERE IS HOME!
How quickly the fall semester has passed. We've shared the "ups-and-downs of romance, engagements and weddings, new students moving in, and other moving out and on to something else. We've seen growth in these wonderful young people, especially the beginning college-students who arrived in the fall. We've taken special joy as we've shared experiences with those who have come to a knowledge of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been baptized into His true Church.
We've finished another semester. In a few days the students will complete their finals and leave us all alone for the holidays. Still, our social calendar seems to fill up. Local members of the Church are concerned that we are not alone at such a "family time of the year." And there are projects we've anticipated we might be able to accomplish during this time with fewer scheduled obligations. And though we are without our children and grandchildren, our brothers and sisters and their families, we have each other--this great blessing we value! WHERE WE ARE TOGETHER, THERE IS HOME!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)