How Forgiveness Helps Heal the Painful "Burns" in Life

Today as I sat down in the pew at Church and we began to prepare to sing the opening hymn, a thought, or message popped into my head. suddenly other thoughts along with it started flowing, and i knew I needed to write them down. I spent most of the service typing bullet points into my phone as the thoughts flowed.

The phrase that entered my head was:

  Pain Prevents us from Forgiving.

Before I write any more about forgiveness, let me start by saying everyone has things in their backgrounds or their day to day life that are painful to them. What seems small to one person was a huge event to another. Whether you have big life altering events happen to you that thrust you into the path of needing to forgive someone for hurting you or someone you love, or you are struggling with forgiving yourself for mistakes you feel you just can't overcome, the pain you are feeling is real, and to some degree is holding you back from growing spiritually and emotionally letting you live up to your fullest potential.

I had a lot of trauma happen to me during my growing up years. Caused by and allowed by someone with whom I could not protect myself completely. Once I got old enough, I limited my exposure to that person, and then as an adult I've chosen to have no contact for many years. So please know, that when I speak on this subject, I am still on this journey myself! I am a work in progress!

• The pain we feel from being hurt or wronged in some way, often gets in the way of  us forgiving those that have wronged us. or worse, forgiving ourselves for things we've done wrong. We often say, they don't deserve our forgiveness, and we have a right to remain bitter and angry about the pain that was caused.  But Forgiveness is not just about releasing the offender from their consequences or being ok with what happened, it's about releasing you from being tied  forever in that moment in time, just in anger, pain and anguish. Going through the forgiveness process allows you to  begin to move yourself forward beyond that moment, not forgetting it, but releasing the pain and anger. It helps you to continue on your life journey in a positive direction.
• Pain can feel so great we are waiting for it to be gone, or the thing that happened to us suddenly be undone before we feel we can forgive, and so.. we never start the process. Time goes by and we find ourselves closing ourselves off from happiness with  our family, friends, and other opportunities because we have allowed anger, bitterness, and hurt to fester. 

The Sunburn Effect:

We really need the sting of our pain to be reprieved, we'll never forget, or not be hurt by the event. we'll forever be different and changed by it as well. This is a lot like a sunburn.

How we treat that burn determines a lot about our own future and happiness.

• Sunburns burn our skin causing damage and result in redness and pain. We can do things to relieve the sting of the burn and soothe it. The sunburn redness and initial signs of pain may soon disappear, but the damage caused continues to simmer in the layers of tissue below our top layers of skin. Changing the DNA at the cellular level. Forever damaged from their original state. Long after the initial redness and pain are gone. Even causing further pain and problems down the road, like slow growing skin cancers that start below the surface and soon show up on top of your skin. Even then you don't always notice or go see a Dr about a new suspicious lesion in the area of the sunburn, but none the less, that original damage, gone untreated all those years was left to develop into something far more damaging to you than the original trauma.
• Pain from trauma, either by someone else, or self induced, is like that sunburn. and not working on forgiveness is like not treating the symptoms of the burn, but letting it do it's deepest damage to yourself, all while you say to yourself: " I won't or can't forgive the sun for burning me.' the Sun goes on, not worrying one bit, or probably not changing because you did or did not forgive. But you are letting the burns  go untreated in yourself, pain stinging longer and damage penetrating deeper.  All while you become more bitter, angry, and unable to think about anything other than your own pain and how to numb it, or worse revenge, rather than see how you can help others thru their pain or continue growing in your own life purpose.

Healing the Burn/ Beginning the Process of Forgiveness:

How do we start to heal this "burn"? How do we start down this path toward forgiveness? On one hand we do not condone the choices that were made, (or they continue to make in some cases) so you worry that by forgiving them it sends a signal that you are ok with their choices. Please know that is not what this is!

On the other hand we want to be healed from the trauma that was caused. Forgiveness is simply releasing yourself from the connection to the continuing pain and damage that is being caused. refusing to be further held down by the event or the person. and willing to move forward in a positive way. It doesn't mean you'll forget what happened. You'll never forget it! But forgiveness will start the healing process!

Let's get that soothing Aloe Vera Gel going! Or as in the Bible.. the Balm of Gilead.

You're going to need some help. If it's a huge trauma, like mine were, the pain, and anger, and even the confusion on the messages I had to untangle in my head from my childhood where going to take years of work, and a loving Heavenly Father to guide me through. 

Prayer. Daily, or more often!! Ask for help! Share your thoughts, and hurts. Ask for Gods help in increasing your strength and faith in letting go of the pain that you're holding onto. I promise you, He will generously share some of his strength and faith with you, if you ask Him! He won't force it upon us, but once we ask with real intent, and belief to receive the gift?? Oh just wait and see!!

Scriptures. Read Daily. You will hear the voice of the Lord whisper strength to your soul, and wisdom to your heart.  Their is an actual power, I believe, from the act of reading them. You gain a bit of extra spiritual intuition for the day when you read them. It's like you're spirit is "tuning in" on a radio dial for the day to the messages of a Heavenly Nature, a you just seem to be more in tune with promptings and intuitions. Try it out and see for your self! 90 day trial and see if you don't feel a slight difference in your days when you look back on them.

Serve Others. Find a way to start helping others. Either people in similar circumstances as yourself, or anywhere you can share your talents! Service will bring a new perspective! It will help remind you that you are not alone, as well as remind you of your life purpose, and help you move forward! I spent a lot of time working with the youth in my church ,as well as my children's friends. I made sure to build up their self confidence, remind them of their Divine Nature, as Daughters and Sons of God, (of Noble and royal birth), point out their hidden talents, and make sure they knew they were always welcome not only in my home, but in conversation with me, a listening ear. any time they needed it. It was my way of helping the child who didn't feel any of those things, or feel she had anyone she could talk to. Find your way to serve!

Gratitude Journal. I firmly believe the way to combat all the negative you're trying to get out of your head is to fill it up with positive! So grab a journal and write down 5 things you're thankful for every day! You can also just write down things you saw that were beautiful, or funny, or thoughtful. Anything uplifting! Doodle, draw, as long as it's your Positivity Journal, make it yours! 

Forgiveness for most of us won't be this sudden miraculous event. It will be gradual, as we work at it, with intention. But we must continue to work at it. Peace to our hearts, minds, and souls will take work, but it is worth it! The forgiveness an overcoming the trauma is literally the hardest thing I've ever done, and keep doing. Keep going! You deserve the freedom it brings you!

Try reading : Why Did God Let This Happen. It shares my thoughts on why Our Heavenly Father doesn't step in and prevent all these bad things from happening to us or to our loved ones.

What my Choir Teacher Taught Me About the Sweet Harmonies of Life

Harmony in music is considered the supporting notes for the melody of a song. It is the harmony that adds context, depth, and sets the story of the song. Melody with out accompanying Harmonies would often feel flat and empty.

 

The Beginning: I've always loved to sing. I've been singing since I was born I guess. Despite the fact that I endured extreme teasing from my older brothers, who made it so difficult to try new things without having to withstand their mocking, still, my soul sang. my heart sang. and I just kept singing.

When I was about 12 years old, I asked if I could join the church choir, and of course they gladly said yes. I had been singing already in an early morning before school elementary school choir and wanted to keep singing. This was my first experience with being divided into Sopranos or Altos. They put me as a soprano, which was good, as it was the melody of the music and i was just learning to read music, so no matter my where my voice was, I was in the right group to begin to learn and grow.

Meeting Mr. Commerford: When our family moved from Colorado to a small town in Kansas, first thing.. I joined the choir. Easy decision. I sat with the sopranos and made friends quickly. Best friends, whom I still have to this day.

Mr. Dan Commerford

My voice: OK, lets stop for a moment and talk about my voice. There are singers that have beautiful voices that are unique and capable of carrying a solo, and there are singers with beautiful blending voices, which are needed to help make all the beautiful layers in a song without sounding too distinct, so as not to take away from the piece as a whole.

I am a blending voice, but at age 14 I just didn't quite know it yet. But. Mr Commerford did, and with that knowledge he changed my life.

THE question:  One day he pulled me aside and said, "Janice, I've been listening to you and your tone and your range is much more suited for an alto. Would you consider singing Alto?"

Lesson #1: Life Harmonies: Listen to the People Around You. Watch and bring out their hidden talents, things they don't recognize in themselves. This lesson may not have been obvious to me at 14, but it became a light bulb moment later in life that has carried with me all through my life.

As I've raised my own children and sought to help them find and bring out their God given talents, or working with the youth  at church, or leaving kind messages for my friends on social media,or any one I encounter, I strive to help lift them up, help them see themselves as God sees them, help them see the not so obvious gifts they have. I make it a point to just tell them what I see in them:  such as the gift of friendship, the gift of believing, the gift of positive attitude, the gift of  perseverance, the gift of writing, etc. all these wonderful types of gifts don't always seem like "gifts from God" and not so obvious but they are amazing and worth helping others discover them inside themselves!

Lesson #2: Don't tell--- Ask!  Mr. Commerford didn't tell me he was moving me to the altos section, although he could have. He simply pointed out his confidence in my abilities, and then asked me if I would.

Lesson: Whether in a personal setting or business setting if you are wanting to help someone make a change in their life or circumstances, build confidence, point out abilities, encourage, and then invite change.
Most of the time, when I use Mr. Commerford's method, I have found that most people will rise to the occasion and make changes in their life. Even if they don't, right then, you have planted a seed in their mind and heart for them to ponder on to let grow. Keep encouraging, you never know when that seed will take root and change will happen at another point in time because of your courage!
Inspire change and they will!

Changing Sides: I did move over to the altos, and began the task of learning how to read the harmony parts instead of the melody. It can be harder to read the harmonies as it is a compliment to it, it is usually lower than the melody, and can be done by adding chords or counter melodies, it can be at a different rhythm than the melody as well, so it can be a bit complicated to learn.

I immediately fell in love. Found my home, found my heart. My soul had always been a "harmony" heart, I just didn't know it until a wise and loving teacher introduced me to my gift.

I began to actually hear harmonies all around me. They had always been there, but I had been listening for the melodies. Now, with a more trained ear, I could hear the counter melodies everywhere: In nature, people, life.  Life began to have more depth, more variety, more context. Less about me, and more about "us".

Lesson #3: Life is full of Harmonies, but you'll miss them if you don't stop to listen:   Life can get so busy and so self focused that we end up running around from point A to point B just trying to get through the day.  That is kind of like the melody, and it reminds me of the piece Flight of the Bumble Bee.

You have to make a conscience effort to slow down and look out for, listen for the people, the sounds, and the needs around you that make up the depth, the context, the story of life. Those people and needs have always been there, but if you don't take the time to slow down and listen for them, look for them you won't realize they are there. You'll only see and hear the melody, and without the accompanying depth that others bring into our lives, our lives will feel a bit flat, just like melodies can without adding in more chords or rhythms.

Lesson #4:Don't Be Afraid to Change Direction, Let Go or Move! Be Brave! Dive in and start swimming! When I moved over to sing alto I moved  away from my best friends in the soprano section. (of course it was just across the room, but at 14 it feels like across the entire world!) But  of course I made new friends! great friends!  These girls  were welcoming, funny, great listeners, gave great advice, and became cherished friends, yet I know that we never would have become such good friends if I hadn't been willing to reach outside my own comfortable circle of friends!

A whole new world of friends and experiences await you if you are just willing to take a chance on change! When life offers you a different viewpoint, don't be afraid of the view!

Final Lesson: My lessons were there all along, but I didn't realize them right away, but a good teacher is like that. The lessons sink in, and they just marinate in you for a while and before you realize it, you find the deeper meanings behind all the things that teacher tried to instill. You thought they were just teaching you to sing, Jabberwocky (our all time favorite, song), but it turns out, it wasn't really that at all.

Thank you, Mr. Commerford, and all the "Mr.Commerfords" out there, for giving us so much more than the melody.

Finding Your True Colors When Life Hits You With an Autumn

For a few years I've been contemplating on the comparison of Autumn: the withdrawal of photosynthesis from leaves, and how in that one action, the "real' colors that have always been there all along are finally able to show through in all their brilliance, and compare that to our lives.

 I don't quite have the perfect comparison, because there are so many. In one way, I love that it shows that near the end of it's life cycle, the leaves still have so much of it's self to show, to give, to share with the world! So do we! 

How often do we take the time to share our gifts with the world as we get older? 

How often do we ASK the older people we encounter to share their gifts, talents, wisdom, memories? 

Another perspective on Autumn leaves changing to their "real" hidden colors, is when you have to grow up with challenges of some kind. Either due to your family circumstances, or bad things that happened that you have to overcome, but you have kind of a "covering" of issues that is overshadowing some of your hidden joy, talents, direction in life, choices, etc. and you, struggle, work, search, pray and finally get to a place where you find YOUR path. where you shake off that covering and your colors start to show through.. You don't label yourself as the person you were told you were, you overcome and even forgive the hurts that caused the scars, You turn weakness into strength, you discover hidden talents and come out of a shell... what a joy that is! 

May the beauty of your "autumn" be full of the deepest joys, peace, and feelings of being on the path of YOUR purpose!

Taking On the Name of Christ

I was recently asked to speak in our Church's Sabbath Worship, called Sacrament Meeting. This is the talk I gave. 

Sunday July 24, 2016

There I was, 8 years old, getting ready for my baptism, watching them fill up the baptismal font and watching the steam rise as it filled. Thinking of the warmth I would soon feel as I entered the waters of baptism.

Soon I was shaking a bit. Nerves? Yes, I was nervous, but also because that steam wasn’t because the water was warm… it was because the room was warm and the water was … FREEZING!

No, the warmth I felt at my baptism may not have come from the water, but it did come from the joy I felt at partaking of this most precious ordinance of the gospel.

Once baptized, we take on Christ’s name and with it the responsibility to act in his name, on his behalf. That seems like such a daunting task at times. But he has provided us ways to know how to do this.

One of the most beautifully written is The Living Christ. Written in April 2000 by the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 Apostles, it is a declaration of the life and ministry of our living Christ.

Let me share with you the first paragraphs.

The Living Christ:

"As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come."
Click here to read the entire document

1.)"He went about doing good

                Not only did Christ go about doing good works, he did good works that were hard and were NOT popular, or were tiring, or probably inconvenient! The story in St. John chapter 8 comes to mind of the woman that was brought before him who was caught in sin and the punishment was to be to stone her.

In his very loving way, he asked for those without sin to cast the first stone. But what I love besides that,  is the very next verse. It isn’t talked about much, but it’s the verse I need to hear the most!

 What did Christ do?
Vs: 8  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Now the reason this means so much to me, is that I know myself, that when I am in the mode of  protective “mama bear” and stepping in to stop someone from being stoned, I can tell you I am not usually just going to quietly sit down. No, an eye to eye stare down with my arms crossed  and a “don’t mess with me” look on my face is more my style.

Christ just left them to quietly contemplate  what he said, not judgement and accusations.  he  acted with peace and goodwill  towards them, even  the accusers.

For me, it’s this tiny little action, of how he treated the accusers, the stone throwers,  that is such a bigger, deeper faith building lesson on the true divinity of Christ. It truly shows his true nature, and mission. He truly treated ALL men with peace and goodwill.

 Many of us are willing to step in front of stones, but how do we treat the stone throwers?
I need to work on this one.

As I've gotten more experienced with my responsibilities of acting on Christs behalf, I've learned to better recognize the promptings or whisperings of the Holy Ghost nudging me to do things that are out of my planned things for the day.

 A wise Christian will learn to heed those promptings right away without questioning them or delay. I usually tell my children when they were growing up. "If you get the idea to do something for someone, if it is a kind and good thing... then just do it. Don't stop to question whether it is a prompting or not. Just go and don't delay doing it." You'll be amazed at the blessings that will come to you and to others when you just make this a practice in your life.

My husband is such a great example of this.  Our next door neighbor, Bob, has passed away now, but we were very close and miss him dearly. One day while we were driving home from running errands we were literally just a mile or so from home when Jay felt the need to call Bob and just check on him. Although to me, I thought it could wait till we got home.. in like 1 minute, Jay proceeded to call him. It turned out Bob was in the parking lot of the grocery store   and was having such a low blood sugar he was nearly in a coma. We were just pulling off of the highway right where the grocery store is when we called, and Jay had some glucose with him and we were able to get him treated literally within a minute or so. Our beloved Bob had a few more years to bless our lives, and I am forever grateful for the lesson I learned from my husband that day to not delay a simple prompting as to pick up the phone and check on someone. "Even though I am almost home.... I will go and do the thing the Lord commands".

2) His message was of Peace and Goodwill:

In a BYU Devotional: Julie Franklin spoke of this:

When Christ was in situations where He was challenged, confronted, or pestered, we read of a man who stood firm and unshaken. When He rebuked individuals who needed correction, His words were measured and delivered with the precise level of emotion to bring about the desired result. During the events leading to the Crucifixion, Jesus Christ did not shrink. I love the account where Christ was taken into custody and Peter, the loyal Apostle, drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus did not use the opportunity to run, nor to feel smug that someone else might suffer a fraction of what He had and would endure. He also did not criticize Peter. With a few of what I would characterize gentle words to Peter, He simply touched the servant’s ear and healed him.¹¹We have no evidence Jesus was ever out of control; instead, in all things He displayed peace.

As for finding evidence of a person who possessed good will, there has never been another person whose entire life reflected benevolence more completely than Jesus Christ. At the lowest level of good will, I believe we simply think kindly or hope the best for others. At the highest level of good will, I believe we have charity. At some point in the middle I think we are service oriented. It appears Jesus never acted without considering the impact of His behavior on others. He comforted, gave hope, taught, healed the sick, and raised the dead. We know the Savior possessed charity; He provided us with the Atonement. In fact, He possessed charity so perfectly that when Mormon defined the wordcharity as “the pure love of Christ,”

• Simply put, we just need more kindness in the world today.
• We need to treat others that are different than us without fear or judgment but with a kindness for a brother /sister in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom.
  
  
• Spread more joy, kindness, tolerance, goodwill, peace,
• Use uplifting words-language-and thoughts.
• Stand up for people who are not being treated well, even if they are outside of your comfort zone.

 The church has asked us all to reach out to refugees. We all can do more to lift up and bless the lives of  others and spread goodwill!

You may have seen the story on social media of the LDS scout troop that took this challenge to heart and teamed up with the international rescue committee and built/put together some donated bikes and then taught the refugees how to ride them. What a blessing! They may not have money yet to own their own cars to get around, but to now own a bike, and know how to ride it. What a blessing for them! And what a wonderful experience for the scouts as well on serving God’s children.

Since I shared a story about my husband I’ll share a story about  one of my children, and how easy it can be to make a difference in the lives of  those in need.

Our oldest son Joshua had a student move into his class in first grade that had come as a refugee from another country. He’s 26 years old now, so this was quite a few years ago, but the student spoke no English at the time.  Joshua buddied up with him instantly to help him learn English and make sure he knew what to do in class and around school.  I remember the teacher telling me how impressed she was that Josh would do that, but the part that made us chuckle a bit, but was so sweet was at that time, if you did something good, you could earn  “bobcat” bucks. Then at certain times of the year you could go redeem those earned “dollars” at the school office for certain prizes. Well, Josh was very concerned that his new friend did not have a proper understanding of the value of the good old American bobcat buck so he insisted on being allowed to accompany his friend to redeem his dollars to make sure he got his money’s worth and wasn’t  “ripped off  and given  junk” by some cunning office secretary! They became life long friends all the way through high school and each was such a good influence on the other. (and his grandmother made the BEST spring rolls ever! )

Helping others can be as simple as helping those in our neighborhoods and communities know what we know. Share what we have, the smallest things really do mean the most, and can bring about the biggest changes in their lives and in ours.

Let me close with the words of Ezra Taft Benson:

"Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.

Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Like Paul they will be asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6.) Peter stated, they will “follow his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21.) John said they will “walk, even as he walked.” (1 Jn. 2:6.)

Finally, men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. To paraphrase President Harold B. Lee, they set fire in others because they are on fire. (Stand Ye in Holy Places, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 192.)

Their will is swallowed up in His will. (See John 5:30.)

They do always those things that please the Lord. (See John 8:29.)

Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to live for Him".

The Bigger Picture: Why I Force Myself To Be In Photos

Gramma, Pawpaw, and our 2 grandbabies

If you know me at all, you know I detest (Hate with a capital H) my picture being taken.

 I'd rather be behind the camera, thank you very much.

The Flaws:
When I look at photos of myself I just cringe. ugghh!  I dislike the way  I look, the double chin, glasses slightly askew, my hair.. always looks messy.. I could go on and on. 

What They See:
 BUT I learned along time ago that when the day comes that you are gone. Your children and grandchildren won't look at your photos and see all your flaws.

 They only see you, their mama, their gramma. The woman they love. The woman they miss.

•  They see the twinkle in your eye from the funny joke you just cracked, not your glasses. 
• They notice  that your hair was always "messy" because you never stopped moving, cooking, cleaning, helping with homework, etc to bother looking in the mirror at yourself.
•  Seeing you in your apron in the kitchen with flour all over yourself reminds them of the homemade pizza (or insert your famous recipe here).  They can almost smell it when the see the photo. 

Me (Gramma) and my granddaughter making her first pizza.

So you stop and smile: 

We Stop the negativity: Women, especially us women. We are so hard on ourselves. (me too!) We just avoid having our photos taken.
What message are we sending our daughters? What are we telling our sons to expect from their wives?  We teach our children about life, themselves, and how they should be by our actions even more than our words. What are we teaching them when we say: I hate my picture. I am so this, and so that.  We may never grow to like having our photos taken (I won't) but we can learn to suppress our angst over them. Stop sending out negative messages.

We Smile: We have all lost people we love suddenly with no warnings. What if that is you. How many precious pictures have you left for them? seriously..how many? 

You do not know when the last time to document those precious memories will be, so please, please, do it for them. sit for the pictures. Smile and hug, and laugh in them.

My children with their Great Nana Kelley. many years ago. It was probably the last one they all got with her.

Our Divine Nature and the Tigger Effect!

Many years ago I saw an episode of Winnie the Pooh. In this particular show, Tigger had lost his stripes. WIthout his stripes he thought he was no longer tigger. He went around trying to figure out what he was now... a rabbit?...no.  A Kanga?... no, on and on it went. His friends tried to convince him he was still a tigger, He still could bounce like tigger, he sounded like tigger....but without the visable stripes he couldn't be convinced.  Tigger had to  Iearn all by himself, that he had never stopped being tigger.

 I  walked away from watching that show with 2 questions for myself:

 1) How many times do I let myself feel less than what I am: "A beautiful daughter of a loving God" because of my appearance, or my obvious failures, of lack of any obvious talents, etc.  and yet all our friends and family can't convince us we are still a beautiful daughter of a loving God. We can spend time putting our selves down, spinning our wheels, getting in our own way.. and it changes NOTHING about the fact that you are STILL a beautiful child  of a loving God. No one else can make you believe this. Only each of us can do the work to figure that out. DON"T SPEND  ONE MORE DAY trying to be something you are not, or  treating yourself in a way you would NEVER let yourself treat someone else! Do as I say.. not as I do.. this one is a work in progress...

2) How often do I see others for less than they are: A beautiful son or daughter of a loving God? Maybe based on their appearance, lifestyle, religion, life choices.. sometimes we overlook people, judge them without knowledge of their true circumstances (Social media sure makes this easy).. I still don't know exactly how to spot the ways in which I may be dismissing people in my mind and heart as one that surely God loves less than the "rest" of us.. but I have a desire and prayer to know. I strive every day to do acts of small kindnesses ,even a smile to everyone I see.  This one will be a work in progress too.

I must run.. my stripes are missing  and I must go find them!

That Moment of Panic in the Dark and Keeping to God's Path

I deliver an early morning paper route. I always start in the dark and end in the dark. On the way home there is a slight curve in the road right as you are going through an intersection.

No big deal, there are a lot of those out there, right?

Well like most intersections, the middle dividing line between the lanes is not there. It picks back up as you get on the other side of the intersection.  The problem is that when they painted that line, they didn't start it immediately on the other side. Due to the curve in the road, the line being set further away, and the dark there is a moment nearly every morning where I feel like I've lost site of where the lane on the other side is.

If I don't adjust to the curve, I'll be in the oncoming lane, but with no edge lines on either side of the road, and no daylight to help you really need that middle line to help remind you of where you need to be.

You would think that after 20 years of driving on that road in the dark I'd have it down pat,but over and over again I have a moment of panic that I've lost sight of the lane.

It reminded me of the gospel, and holding on to the iron rod. (the word of god and his plan for how we should live.)

The commandments and all of the words of God that guide us as to how we should stay on the path that will lead us back to our Heavenly Father are right in front of us and available, but sometimes we lose sight of the path. Mostly due to our own choices and mistakes, but sometimes due to unforseen trials that mar our path.

Just like my moment of panic in the dark, when we lose sight of our Heavenly Father and the path he has laid out for us, we often have a moment of panic. Where do I go? Where did God go? How do I find Him? How do I get back on the path?

I have driven that road now long enough to know that the line is just a foot or two ahead and to hold steady till I see it. I do not need to veer too far one way or the other, When we lose sight of the gospel path we have a way back:

Lets just start with Prayer.  No mistake, no amount of anger or lonliness will stop Him from hearing you. The moment you turn away from prayer is the very moment you need it the most! Give him your sorrows, your pain, even your anger.. He will take it and help you find your way back.

Turn to His words through scripture as well as our modern day Church leaders. There is a saying.. If you want to speak to God, pray. If you want to hear from God, read your scriptures. It is so true! Put it to the test! Pick them up and try.

Talk with trusted church leaders.family and friends. Isolation will only keep the path to happiness further in the dark. Trust them to guide you back to the path of the gospel.

Don't stay off of the path to God any longer than you have to. Use the atonement to be forgiven if you need it, forgive others yourself, speak wtih God and Listen to him. Then take action.... actually move your feet back to the lane you know he wants you to be in!