Church Today

A thought provoking speaker today. Edd Kennington. He talked about how we don't usually understand God's ways. His ways are not our ways. He said, "We only have a smattering of ideas" but we need to listen to the Spirit and follow the guidance of our Father in Heaven. To "keep listening to the Spirit."

Interestingly when we were all singing the opening song, Hymn #100 "Nearer My God, to Thee," Merrily, our chorister had kept on leading even after the 3 verses were over. People were closing their books, yet the song kept going on as she had us sing verses 4 and 5 at the bottom of the page.

So of course we were scrambling to open our hymn books back up so we could keep singing.

Brother Kennington ended his talk with, "Don't close the book before the song is over." To me, that means don't pass judgment on your trials before they are over.

Made me think back to trials I have had in my life. Some made absolutely NO SENSE at the time. I could see no good coming from them, and they seemed useless. Many years later, yes, I do have a different perspective. I still don't understand them, but at least now, I can grasp some things that I have learned from them. I also came to the conclusion years ago that it's the trials, the very hard times, the ones that go on and on and on, that have actually changed some of my thinking, that have given me perhaps character attributes that I wouldn't have had otherwise.

I also sat there today thinking of a quote I recently heard, and I don't even know who said it:
"I've had a wonderful life. I only wish I had realized it sooner."

The days go by, we actually lose them as they pass. Then the years fly by. Den and I were remarking yesterday on our way to our hotel adventure, as we passed by the high school. I could almost "see" McKay and Tyler walking home from school, or us picking them up after a play practice, even though they graduated from there in 2002 and 2004. Dennis helped me raise those last 2 sons being they were just 13 and 14 when we got married. We both have very fond memories of their high school/teenage years, and I said, "Didn't those years just all fly by like this?" and I snapped my fingers. Poof, they were gone.

That's how life seems to be. We are all here for just a very brief moment in time. We are here to learn, to progress, to become more like our Father in Heaven. I had never heard the analogy until today of "don't close the book till the song is finished". God sees the end from the beginning. We can only see the road we are on at the moment. To me, that's where faith comes in. A fragile concept, to be sure.

After Sacrament meeting was over, I went up to thank Brother Kennington for his talk. I told him how meaningful it was to me. He said I would love the book he just read titled, "The Lord's Way" by Dallin Oaks. I will try to order that tomorrow.

I keep thinking of Brother Kennington's words today, "we only have a smattering of ideas."

On a shelf next to this desk that I am sitting at now, is a framed scripture given to me by a very close friend of mine.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path."