tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57821550467499284922024-03-05T05:41:19.421-08:00Reflecting without mirrorsVague reflections of truthMcKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-6137339826450087872017-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:002017-07-01T11:37:33.190-07:00The Pursuit is Happiness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Vivere militare est" - To live is to fight - Seneca<br />
<br />
<br />
There is an important difference between being comfortable and being happy. Unfortunately, most of us make the mistake of using the word "happy" to describe comfort and convenience rather than fulfillment. We believe that a nicer house, a different job, a bigger closet, better weather, a better car, or nicer clothes would help us be happier. In reality, most of our wants only help us be more comfortable or add a little more convenience to our daily routine.<br />
<br />
Many people have convinced themselves that they are happiest when things are easiest. If you believe this you are heading for disaster! Expecting life to get easier and happier as time goes on or as you achieve X, Y, and Z will inevitably disappoint you!<br />
<br />
This is because our lives will ALWAYS be filled with struggle no matter how "comfortable" we believe we are or will one day be. Once you get that brand new house, your dishwasher might break or the roof will leak. If you win the lottery your relationships may fall apart. By focusing on comfort and convenience you are simply replacing your old problems with newer, shinier ones. Comfort is never satisfied. We can always be more comfortable. We can always work to have more: bigger yards, luxury cars, faster smart phones. If we are focused only on how comfortable we are or how convenient our life is, we will always want something we don't have. Therefore, we will always be unhappy.<br />
<br />
In today's struggle for existence, wellbeing, and satisfaction remember this difference. Are you working towards comfort or happiness? Happiness is always satisfied. Happiness does not want what it doesn't have, it has all that it needs. Happiness accepts problems and discomfort because growth is made possible by today's difficulty. Strive for quality, not convenience. Accept the problems you face as part of the fight that gives you life. They are part of what will make you into the better person you are striving to become.<br />
<br />
It's time to stop believing the future holds some secret piece of your life that you need to be happy. All the pieces of feeling fulfilled through relationships, accomplishments, meaning, growth, and engagement surround you and they require little more than your time and energy. Instead of constantly pursuing happiness through a life that is ever more comfortable and convenient, recognize that the pursuit itself, with every struggle and obstacle, is happiness.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEJL6iUze6dFANg1XzxyzIH01WozlbIraCzeurRH_1d_LzOfaac6e5c4vwcXn51FnCQkxGgRYixdxmPXLy9UXB0Q82niFSz9AjVyJPD8sbFYd-yeuDQXMtTY8vR9RXdyIm8_U2xdU67ez/s1600/IMG_1378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEJL6iUze6dFANg1XzxyzIH01WozlbIraCzeurRH_1d_LzOfaac6e5c4vwcXn51FnCQkxGgRYixdxmPXLy9UXB0Q82niFSz9AjVyJPD8sbFYd-yeuDQXMtTY8vR9RXdyIm8_U2xdU67ez/s320/IMG_1378.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
My family and I took a three week camping trip up the West Coast and this picture is from one of our stops. I felt like this trip was so good for us because we were often uncomfortable by our regular standard and we were forced to adapt. The daily struggle helped us grow closer together. The "vacation" was full of struggle, and that made the experience full of life.<br />
<br /></div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-77149936229212296732015-10-18T21:00:00.000-07:002017-06-30T16:59:46.178-07:00The Weekend Miracle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">This weekend I experienced a miracle.</span> As with most miracles, you probably would need to see it to believe it.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Recall the new star that announced the birth at Bethlehem? It was in its precise orbit long before it so shone. We are likewise placed in human orbits to illuminate."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Neil A. Maxwell</div>
<br />
<br />
Katelyn, Ridge, and I went to City Creek, Gateway, and Temple Square on Saturday. After a few hours of roaming and enjoying our time together we decided it was time to head back to our car.<br />
<br />
We approached the crosswalk and as the numbers counted down "6, 5, 4, 3" and we started to run. When we got to the corner we decided to wait until the next light since we weren't really in a hurry. After a short wait, the walking signal reappeared and we crossed the street casually as the familiar, timed chirp of the crosswalk accompanied us. We were carried away in a pointless conversation speculating the origin of jay walking when the miracle happened.<br />
<br />
It wasn't a paraplegic who jumped out of their wheelchair and walked for the first time. No mountains moved. No lives were saved. In fact, nothing unexpected happened at all.<br />
<br />
I miraculously ran into an old friend.<br />
<br />
We could have left earlier. We could have decided not to go, or delayed our trip downtown. We could have stayed longer and walked through one more store. We could have walked slower or faster. We could have rushed to cross the street. We could have taken a different route to the parking lot. My friend could have decided not to go out or he could have walked down a different street.<br />
<br />
Our hundreds of small decisions allowed two independent creatures in perpendicular, uncoordinated motion to cross paths.<br />
<br />
It took <i>precise</i> timing in order for us to experience that miracle. Precise timing that began long before the moment of our illumination.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Of seven billion people on this Earth, there is a small handful of people that are in your orbit daily. You wake up and make hundreds of small decisions which affect every interaction you will have that day. If you consider the odds, every connection you make with another person is miraculous. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
What will you do today to show those people miraculously place in your path that they are a miracle? How will you show them that you are grateful that out of all seven billion humans it was THEM you were able to spend time with<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-29511972177787646912014-05-08T07:48:00.000-07:002017-06-30T14:18:25.554-07:00Shooting Through a Sky of Fallen Stars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666;">"We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity."</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">Paulo Coelho - <i>The Alchemist</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666;">When a large piece of space-matter comes into contact with the Earth's atmosphere there is a streak of light that flashes in the night sky. The matter burns as it falls and from below we see a trail of dissolving, blazing, burning mass above us. As the mass disintegrates its remnants are spread through the sky in a dark and delicate descent. It's former life as a glorious flying rock has been forgotten as it has transformed into nothing more than dust. That flying piece of space-matter did not cease to exist, it simply changed form. It changed from a large piece of celestial brightness to invisible, falling dust. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Today, on May 8th, I will be married</span><span style="color: #666666;">. The most beautiful girl in the world, both inside and out, has agreed to be a permanent part of my eternal life. I met Katelyn Jones in Moab on June 8th, 2013. There weren't any immediate sparks and our conversation was very brief. It wasn't until I kept running into her between June and August that I finally got the guts to ask her on a date.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">On our first date we spent a late August night talking and watching the Perseid Meteor Shower. This was a perfect beginning to what has become the story of Katelyn and McKinley Withers.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666;">There were hundreds of meteors that August night. Any person could have seen some of them if they were out watching. No two people saw the same show. Katelyn and I saw some meteors together when we pointed our fingers into the night sky asking, "did you see that!?" But the burning collision with the Earth's atmosphere was so fast that one of us often missed it. By the time Katelyn or I had searched through the scattered stars at the tip of the other's finger the celestial matter had already dissolved.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">When a star falls we see a burning mix of mortality and immortality, a twisting collision of the celestial and the gravity-bound. We are all fallen stars. We all have celestial, eternal, everlasting potential which has been dissolved into mortal weakness.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">In the story of McKinley and Katelyn Withers there have been times where we have been exposed to each other in our most fallen, mortal, and imperfect states. I anticipate many more of these times in the future. This does not concern me. I've realized that it is in those very moments of greatest weakness that we have seen the brightest flares of celestial light. In those moments of vivid imperfection we have dug the deepest into our true eternal character to forgive, to love, to dream, and to look forward not backward. Our constant collision with mortality is inseparably connected to immortality.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">We also call this celestial collision a shooting star. These two names tell two different stories. A falling star is weakness, the eternal falling into the mortal. Yet a shooting star is hope. The eternal shining through the mortal. A shooting star is a dream and a wish.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">We are all kept alive by dreams and wishes. We are all shooting stars. A Master Creator knows our potential and wishes that we will reach it. We are, in a sense, an eternal wish. This creator wishes for us to be happy. He wishes for us to become perfected through the mercy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wishes this because He knew us when we were stars. He knew us <i>before</i> we collided with this Earth's atmosphere and turned into specs of dust that are constantly pulled towards the Earth. He knew us before we were gravity-bound and fallen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">He sees all of us fallen stars and waits for our collisions with his celestial sky. He wants to see us as shooting stars dancing through the infinity.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">A shooting stars in His sky is a moment. Sometimes they come and go just as quickly as a meteor dissolves in the Earth's atmosphere. So fast that we might exclaim "did you see that?!" only to find it had already dissolved. It is so fast that we often forget what we've seen only a few minutes, days, or years later. Too many of us have forgotten these moments. A shootings star is a moment when we reach above our mortality. We get a glimpse of celestial light. It is when we, a gravity-bound and fallen star, feel like we can jump into the infinity and escape our mortal weakness. This is when we have collided with his sky. Then, our creator points his finger in the sky and says "did you see that?" and makes a wish.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">In my relationship with Katelyn I have felt my creator is watching His sky of fallen stars. There have been moments when we have shot through his sky, reaching above our mortal weakness, and he has made a wish. There have been moments that I've seen a beautiful glimpse of Katelyn's eternal potential, and there have been moments that she has seen mine.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">Today we have collided with the celestial sky. We have reached above this gravity-bound weakness. We have promised love, forgiveness, kindness, selflessness, and a willingness to always move forward.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">Now, just as we were able to sit side by side talking and watching the meteor shower on our first date, we will be side by side forever. We will watch for all of the flashing, burning, bright collisions with immortality that are to come. We will do our best not to miss these opportunities to see celestial brightness in ourselves, our lives, and in others. One of us will point and say "did you see that?!" and we will search through the sky of fallen stars under the other's finger and see a shining glimpse of eternity.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666;">Today Katelyn and McKinley are shooting through a sky of fallen stars. We are more than just dust and weakness; we are stardust, dancing and swirling in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is, in fact, eternal, and this moment, May 8th, 2014, is but a little parenthesis in eternity.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID2wy7Pg9MMo6XqOPNNP75AXVgMwyQkkwTKZSEgp-Om8FJ7c92n-1-FuVRMXHlhg8wEt0qc1gYOKhaabGeSQNGo6jeIAe2RMdDavVoUIqRGV7DjO_0wgbThXo0cfek57i1A5pu8Ol275z/s1600/engagements-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID2wy7Pg9MMo6XqOPNNP75AXVgMwyQkkwTKZSEgp-Om8FJ7c92n-1-FuVRMXHlhg8wEt0qc1gYOKhaabGeSQNGo6jeIAe2RMdDavVoUIqRGV7DjO_0wgbThXo0cfek57i1A5pu8Ol275z/s1600/engagements-16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-50732581523899603992013-11-28T18:31:00.001-08:002013-11-28T18:31:19.111-08:00Humility, Gratitude, and the Danger of Expectation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor. I<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">t is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look,</span> which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Henry David Thoreau, <i>Walden</i></div>
<br />
A few weeks ago a friend of mine called me from college. She had just moved to a new city, chosen a new major, and was trying to make new friends. This is an unsettling (and exciting) experience for anyone. She began to tell me about her frustrations. Needless to say, she was having a hard time. I noticed that the word "should" was used in almost every sentence. "I should be more social." "I should feel better about my major." "I should be dating more." "I should be married." Though these are not direct quotes from my friend, they represent the daily, detrimental thoughts and habits of many people: to compare ourselves to others and think first of what we "should" be.<br />
<br />
Too often we look at everyone else's life, make an irrational assumption that everything is so much better for them, and then tell ourselves why we should be more like them. An expectation is created from a false assumption and the reality of our beautiful life remains unappreciated. Under these circumstances we make the mistake of focusing on what we should be instead of truly acknowledging what we are. We must first <i>accurately</i> see who we are. Then, we can make plans for who we will become. All the while, "should" is irrelevant.<br />
<br />
"Should" is irrelevant because it is present-tense. It means that we wish the present were different. This is a very problematic point of view. These thoughts rob us of the ability to appreciate ourselves and our situation in that moment. Should expresses an expectation for the present and presupposes that it cannot be met. "Should" is an unfulfilled expectation and can only represent feelings of disappointment in the present.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ea9999;">Gratitude (or appreciation) and expectation cannot coexist</span>. To expect can never be to appreciate. To appreciate can never be to expect. They <i>are</i> mutually exclusive. The moment we expect something to be different we cease to appreciate it for what it is. In order to be truly grateful and appreciative we must disregard expectations. In order to appreciate ourselves we must become truly humble.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
Humility is acknowledging the full truth of who we are. That includes <span style="color: #ffe599;">strengths <i>and</i> weaknesses</span>. Often, people with an exaggerated sense of self-worth are told that they need to be more humble. However, there are many with a <i>diminished</i> sense of self-worth that also need to be humble. If you are not truthfully acknowledging your <i>strengths</i> as well as your weaknesses you are not yet humble.<br />
We cannot be defined by what we <i>aren't. </i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">How can measuring what you haven’t yet done or what you haven't yet become tell you anything about what you are now? What do you <i>really</i> see in yourself? Do you completely acknowledge the whole of who you are? Are you avoiding comparisons to others that taint your self-worth?</span><br />
<br />
Thoreau's quote at the top of the page is about changing the "medium through which we look." <span style="color: #ffe599;">Though we may not be able to change what we look at, we can always change what we see. </span>When you look in the mirror you can feel tall enough, smart enough, spiritual enough, and beautiful enough. If your first thought is about what should change or what you "should be, " then you are not humble. You are not grateful, you are unappreciative. If this is the case, you have not yet acknowledged the full truth of who you are. You are distracted by an expectation for the present that cannot be met. You have let "should" stand in the way of seeing your greatness.<br />
<br />
A mirror will never accurately depict your greatness. If a mirror were a true reflection of the self then we would all be much taller, much more beautiful, more sure, and more intelligent. It's important to see your reflection without mirrors, because it is much more accurate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-58727042219329399912013-08-30T20:55:00.000-07:002013-08-31T07:13:31.050-07:00The Earth is Crammed With Heaven<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
</h1>
<div>
"The Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees, takes off his shoes. The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EoRVFudeY7NGdnwpY1qE7vhWb0S0Oiy2PYt9kmE-n4TQsTL7nxQPbyKESs1d8crS88OOaix56dXNpufaHmFSzZf0Sy1rdJSUcaf6ELw5UOC5aNwiV_feXSI0GqfipT7KlyAWAFj-moVI/s1600/IMGP1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EoRVFudeY7NGdnwpY1qE7vhWb0S0Oiy2PYt9kmE-n4TQsTL7nxQPbyKESs1d8crS88OOaix56dXNpufaHmFSzZf0Sy1rdJSUcaf6ELw5UOC5aNwiV_feXSI0GqfipT7KlyAWAFj-moVI/s320/IMGP1631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">If you believe in God, you believe in a creator.</span> A being so intelligent that He was able to organize this Earth. An Earth in which every piece is beyond any one person's understanding. People spend their entire lives becoming an expert on one piece of this creation and they still have unanswered questions. If you believe in God, you believe in a being <i>that</i> intelligent. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> then, do the believers often question God's ability to make their life beautiful? If he can create a world as complex as this, then <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">why</span> do we hesitate to put our trust in him? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> do we wonder why something happened? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> do we wonder when something different will come? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> do we think that our expectations and plans must always be fulfilled according to our own will? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> do we question a being <i>that </i>intelligent? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="color: #ea9999;">He created this universe, do you believe He can make something of you?</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">If you believe in God, you also believe in love.</span> A being with infinite love for you and every other child he has placed on the Earth. A being that longs to see you (and everyone else) progress and be fully and completely happy. A being that loves you and lets you struggle <i>just</i> enough to progress eternally. He lets you struggle <i>just</i> enough to help you reach complete, full happiness.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> then, do the believers often question God's ability to make their life beautiful? If he loves us infinitely, <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">why</span> do we hesitate to put our trust in him? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> don't we trust a being that has infinite love and understanding? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> do we put ourselves first and other last? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> don't we let ourselves <i>be</i> evidence of his love? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> don't we let his love work within us? <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why</span> don't we work to become beings with <i>infinite</i> love for ourselves and all others, like Him?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
These may seem like accusations, but all of us need to continually remind ourselves what our beliefs <i>actually</i> mean. When you believe in God you believe in a whole lot more than a guy in a cloud waiting to curse every non-believer. I believe that God isn't waiting to curse anybody, but finding every possible way to love and bless us. I believe that he is giving us unique experiences that can help us progress if we choose to learn from them. As a master teacher, he will push us as hard as we are willing to go. He will help us progress and reach true, everlasting happiness through <i>every</i> experience because he loves us; because he loves us infinitely.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Earth is <span style="color: #ea9999;">CRAMMED</span>, <span style="color: #fff2cc;">jam-packed</span>, <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">full</span>, and <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">tearing-at-the-seams</span>, with heaven. Every <span style="color: #ea9999;">common</span>, <span style="color: #fff2cc;">ordinary</span>, <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">boring</span>, <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">plain</span> bush is afire with God. <span style="color: #ea9999;">But only he that sees, takes off his shoes.</span> What do you see in this Earth? Is your life crammed with heaven? I can promise you that it is, but only if you are willing to see it will you take off your shoes in gratitude for the sacred glory that has been made evident in your life. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you believe in God, then come and see this Earth for what it really is. See the meaning behind your beliefs.<span style="color: #f6b26b;"> Every common experience is afire</span> with God: but only if you see it. <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">What are you allowing to block yourself from this beautiful sight? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Whatever it is, train yourself to see this beautiful Earth, because once you do, you will take off your shoes as you recognize that your life is heaven. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-64665010277680750412013-08-11T23:28:00.000-07:002013-08-11T23:28:00.419-07:00One Step Enough, For Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a picture of a Cairn in the Uinta Mountains; I took
it on my way up King’s Peak this weekend.<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS1SOmRXNR3UHe_ncexDlByy1iZjae_Vq6uhb3wZyihRgV7_efqHiTQ-DDA36fMldTMgdod7gAxIqCSILwckoQA-KwLCTWo0imuDNZTi4Ts4Ke4-p79ep4zBR3dbTD3bafa4ujyqeCRDp/s1600/IMGP1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS1SOmRXNR3UHe_ncexDlByy1iZjae_Vq6uhb3wZyihRgV7_efqHiTQ-DDA36fMldTMgdod7gAxIqCSILwckoQA-KwLCTWo0imuDNZTi4Ts4Ke4-p79ep4zBR3dbTD3bafa4ujyqeCRDp/s320/IMGP1576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cairns are found along many different
types of trails to mark where to go. As I’ve climbed a number of mountains this
summer I’ve seen thousands of different Cairns along many trails. All have
guided me to the peak.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As does every college student, graduate, and aspiring adult,
I have wondered what my path is, and what direction I should head. I’ve made a
lot of decisions over the past year that I’ve felt right about, but most of
those decisions only led me to other decisions. Then my complete plan (which I
had felt good about) was quickly overthrown. With each decision I felt “this is
my destiny, this is the right thing.” Obviously, each of those things weren’t my "destiny." But really, when I look back, each decision was right enough to get me to the
next decision. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hikers rely on Cairns to guide them up mountains they
haven’t been to. The Cairns are usually spread apart just enough that you can
only see the next one from where you stand. You must go to one Cairn to get to
the next.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too often I’ve wanted to see the view from the top instead
of just looking for the next Cairn in my life. It can be frustrating not to
know exactly where the Cairns are taking me, but I know that the top is worth
it. I just need to take the next step without knowing exactly where it will lead. I have to remind myself that forward
is always the right direction. If a decision was enough to move me to a point where I can only see the next Cairn, then it <i>was</i> the right decision. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffd966;">Life isn’t about discovering some hidden personal meaning;
it’s about making meaning out of what you have and what you can see in front of
you</span>. You can’t see the view from the top, so make where you stand meaningful
and just look for the next Cairn to take you one more step forward.<span style="color: #93c47d;"> It will
guide you to a beautiful place; that I can promise</span>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvsPau4GYCFxjv-SUe9lw4r2iD4mZc4tJj9jODw0C1m9QEnn5JgDoknMXQqLeFTcGIOEAh6NxXIJJAUTSqXBEdeAxCdGlCnNL-jcMVJN1tYV4HsbmCdw7YHgfWjajvnvxk2iNYFv3NXk5/s1600/IMGP1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvsPau4GYCFxjv-SUe9lw4r2iD4mZc4tJj9jODw0C1m9QEnn5JgDoknMXQqLeFTcGIOEAh6NxXIJJAUTSqXBEdeAxCdGlCnNL-jcMVJN1tYV4HsbmCdw7YHgfWjajvnvxk2iNYFv3NXk5/s320/IMGP1595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg8bFFwlnj_G1kag3Xsx8xUvoWT_0gZLoP7BnLnSaKwsU5Ndsxx0DUy5EQQLa9NU98xguP-hWF1XlF0sSGtZ3t-B3ww4427uHypIh90P1XommLaCso6u-9qtO3f_FHhOBzM-FA6zuhhS1/s1600/IMGP1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg8bFFwlnj_G1kag3Xsx8xUvoWT_0gZLoP7BnLnSaKwsU5Ndsxx0DUy5EQQLa9NU98xguP-hWF1XlF0sSGtZ3t-B3ww4427uHypIh90P1XommLaCso6u-9qtO3f_FHhOBzM-FA6zuhhS1/s320/IMGP1596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is the view from the top, but that Cairn in the picture only led me to the next Cairn. I had no idea exactly how I would end up at the top. It was step by step that I arrived at my destination. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I do not ask to see the distant scene, one step enough, for
me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lead, Kindly Light<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-31837719381087907272013-06-22T19:54:00.003-07:002017-06-30T17:08:07.813-07:00Truly Valuing Life as a Single Adult<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too often we fall into the trap of seeing our experiences as
<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">all</span>-<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">or</span>-<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">nothing</span>. We might believe that if something doesn’t fulfill our full
expectations of what it should have been, could have been, or what other people
tell us it is was supposed to be; then it was worthless and shouldn’t have
happened. <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">This type of thinking causes a sobering devaluation of life’s
greatest experiences.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We owe it to ourselves to value our experiences (since they
are ALL a part of our unique and once-lived life). Thus, there is a desperate
need to eliminate all-or-nothing thinking patterns. If something was bad or
difficult it does not mean it was worthless. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure this is cliché advice, it’s advice that we give each
other all the time. Despite our understanding of this concept in the abstract,
I still see all-or-nothing thinking permeate our singles culture and damage our
ability to appreciate our experiences. <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Each of the topics listed below are
suggestions aimed at helping us truly value each other <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</b> the uniqueness of our lives.</span> Most of these thoughts are
specific to Mormons, but they can still apply to any person’s life. Regardless
of your religion, I hope you will eliminate all-or-nothing thinking in your
beautiful life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>* * *</o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span style="color: #f1c232; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Success In Dating/Relationships CANNOT Be How You Measure Meaning</span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was an RA during most of my time at BYU. There were times
that I questioned that decision because my social life wasn’t typical. Most
people react when they find out I was an RA by saying something like, “I could
never do that, how was the dating?” Honestly, it was no better or worse than
any other time I’ve been single. But when I think about the relationships I
formed with those in my building it was one of the most valuable experiences I
had at BYU. The value of that experience does not depend on how the dating was.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">If you made beautiful friendships with
people you would have never met otherwise, wasn’t that valuable enough?</span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your YSA Ward is NOT only for dating. You should not believe
that if you aren’t dating someone or wouldn’t date someone in your ward then you
are wasting your time there. <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Did you ever think about what you can contribute
instead of what you think you should receive?</span><span style="color: #ffe599;"> </span>God needs good singles too: try
serving instead of whining about the fact that you don’t walk into a sacrament
meeting full of marriage-crazy models every week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">If you were able to serve a member
of your singles ward while there, wasn’t that valuable enough?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Institute is NOT only for dating. As I attended an institute
class at great sacrifice a while back I had the thought “why am I doing this?
I’m not going on any dates because of it. There are no girls in my class and
it’s taking lot so time...(you guys know the thought pattern).” Then a powerful
question filled my mind. <span style="color: #ffe599;">“Are you here to find her, or are you here to find
me?” It was as if Christ himself was asking me this subtle, soul-searching
question.</span> Be at institute for what institute is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> for, if it was <u>only</u> for dating it could just as well
be a dance club. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">If you came closer to God and
understood the Savior’s role in your life, wasn’t that valuable enough?<span style="color: #e06666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>* * * </o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span style="color: #f1c232; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spending Time With People You Don’t Marry (or wouldn’t marry) is NOT a Waste of Time</span></h3>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate the word “interest.” It seems so callous to ask, “Are
you interested in her?” This common phrase mistakenly causes us to only value
people we would like to date. These are humans, not products in a market. These
are sons and daughters of God. Every person deserves our interest, regardless
of our sexual/romantic pursuits. Our time is not wasted if it is spent showing
interest in people that we don’t date, everyone needs people that care about
them and I would hope we don’t only care to get to know people we are attracted
to or want to date. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #e06666;"> If you met
someone and started a new friendship, wasn’t that valuable enough?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">If you gave your time to someone
who needed to feel cared about, wasn’t that valuable enough?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your relationships that don’t work out were not a waste of
time, even if it was a lot of time you invested in it. I’ve had a fair share of
girls tell me “I don’t want you to waste your time.” Considering failed relationships as a waste of time would completely undervalue
everything gained from getting to know those people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">If you learned about love,
yourself, and how that can work with another person: wasn’t that valuable enough?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> * * *</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Missions Are NEVER a Bad Thing</span></b></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the eternal time frame a year-and-a-half or two years is
nothing. <span style="color: #ffe599;">If the entire universe revolved around you</span> and nobody else mattered it
would be devastating when someone you were in love with left for a year or two.
I hear guys complain about girls that went on missions instead of marrying
them. So God, the all-knowing and all-loving being has put what you believed to
be “your” marriage on hold. If he really is all knowing and all loving, he’s
probably got something amazing ahead for you. You should thank him for the
growth you experienced by dating someone that puts the Savior first. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">A person you love has chosen to
serve God and lives will change because of their sacrifice, isn’t that valuable
enough?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">* * *</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span style="color: #f1c232; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NEVER Feel Under-Qualified For Someone Else</span></h3>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you didn’t go on a mission or complete your mission you
ARE datable. My father didn’t serve a mission and I will fight you (with words,
not fists) if you believe he didn’t deserve to marry my mother. He has been an
excellent father. Although other character traits should be considered when
dating, a mission alone measures absolutely nothing. No person’s goodness
should be measured by a few years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve already been through a marriage and are now single
for any reason, you ARE datable. If you’ve been married you have experience in
a long-term relationship; that will be a good thing to a person with the right
attitude. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have a “rough” past you can still date/marry someone that
doesn’t share those experiences. To deny someone because of a previous
lifestyle or previous mistakes is to deny the power of Christ and the atonement.
Then, the greater problem lies with you. We must accept people where they are
spiritually and let go of where they’ve been.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">All of us are made whole through
the atonement, which makes us all valuable regardless of how broken our past
may be. You are valuable enough.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>* * * </o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">When DOESN'T Matter</span></b></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This takes explaining, because, truthfully, timing is
everything. But we often forget that our lives are a part of an eternal clock. <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">There
is no right or wrong time for eternal things</span>.</span> Your life doesn’t need to be
anything like anybody else’s, especially regarding "when" things happen. If you are
single until 50 or get married at 19 it doesn’t matter. If you serve a mission
at 19 or 25 it doesn’t matter. Your unique experiences qualify you for unique
contributions. Only if you look through the lens of “my life was supposed to be
perfect like (insert person you envy here)” will you undervalue the unique
timing of your life’s experiences. There is no expiration date on eternal things.
Value the ones you have now and don’t worry about when something was “supposed
to” or “should” happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Consider an analogy of the movement of the planets around
the sun; they are in constant motion that is perfectly timed. Some people are
like Mercury, the years go fast: by 30 they have 4 kids, a master’s degree, and
served a mission. But some of us are like Pluto, still making our way around
the sun years after our peers. Does it matter that Mercury made it around
already? Does that change the fact that Pluto too will make it around the sun? All
the planets have a unique atmosphere because of their distance from the sun. Pluto’s
unique experiences qualify it for very different things. Consider what your
unique speed has given you and forget what others at different speeds have.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">If certain experiences take longer
than expected and you were able to gain experience and perspective that aids
you throughout your eternal life, isn’t that valuable enough?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>* * *</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Every Life Has Value BECAUSE it is Unique</span></b></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To think about what we “deserve” is to devalue what we have. In thinking about what we deserve we make the mistake of wanting what somebody else has, to deserve is to compare. <span style="color: #3d85c6;">To be truly grateful we must forget what we think we deserve. We should ignore
the “should haves” and “wish I would (or wouldn’t) haves.”</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have a lifetime of experiences unique
to us. We must never see our experiences as “bad” simply because they weren’t
exactly how we wanted them or were different from those around us. You are
valuable, even if you are like Pluto slowly making your way around the sun with
an exceptionally unique and beautiful life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">The reason something is beautiful
or valuable is because it is unique. Diamonds have value because each one is
different. Your experiences are remarkably different from everyone else’s.
Isn’t that valuable enough?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-23476860538876467382013-06-16T15:32:00.001-07:002013-06-16T15:32:25.917-07:00A Phrase I Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
There are some phrases that are universally good to hear
like, “I love you,” or “you look really good today.” Although these examples
are generally positive they have a different meaning for each person depending
on their experiences. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The phrase that I have realized I most like to hear isn’t
always, universally positive. But, based on my experiences, it is one of the
highest compliments anyone can give me. I am one of the lucky people who are
proud when they hear this phrase. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel taller and stronger, like the withers of a horse. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel more caring and sensitive to the needs of people I barely know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel capable of working tirelessly to make everything I touch better than it
was when I found it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel like I know how to fix anything whether that’s a person, situation, or
household item. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel grateful for the blood that is in my veins. B positive is my blood type
and it’s definitely inherited. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I can
tell that they too see it as a compliment. They often say it with a reminder of
what it means to be like McKell Withers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel like I understand what’s most important in life, that I’m not concerned
with frivolous and unnecessary things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
feel like I have the capacity to be a perfect father (and grandfather). The
kind that plays catch, teaches important lessons, wrestles occasionally, gives
advice, and loves unconditionally.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever somebody says, “you are a lot like your dad,” I
thank them; because there are few phrases that I like to hear more than that. To
be anything like McKell is to be great.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEBAv2eBUC4h2AHCMNvU7wSMqC4wBwLbVpW63QhSCYkmN1zQEFftvPAtQznESoaHy3CS7M5ZcHhiZFE-iJ3DCzVSb2VbRJm1qSokE01OjnCwUnTQXZJYQgNvqrl_10_lWMeiYSgO0Tr-_/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEBAv2eBUC4h2AHCMNvU7wSMqC4wBwLbVpW63QhSCYkmN1zQEFftvPAtQznESoaHy3CS7M5ZcHhiZFE-iJ3DCzVSb2VbRJm1qSokE01OjnCwUnTQXZJYQgNvqrl_10_lWMeiYSgO0Tr-_/s320/Image+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks Dad for everything you’ve taught me, most of it has
been taught by humble example. I love you. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-71073140975110309672013-01-12T19:12:00.000-08:002013-01-12T19:13:44.487-08:00An Untimely Death<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today I got my diploma in the mail. It was accompanied with an automated email from BYU. An impersonal goodbye to the most social experience of my life. Four-ish years of meaningful experiences wrapped into a cardboard envelope that symbolically said "it's officially over."<br />
<br />
I've heard of people sharing their regrets as they wait to die. I've heard of others that offer bits of advice to loved ones who gather around to hear them speak. Yet, most people have the misfortune of dying an untimely death. Not that death ever comes at a good time, but "untimely" is the type of death that nobody expects. One day a person is just gone. When that happens, the loved ones get to do the reflecting for them.<br />
<br />
The day I died as a student I wasn't in the library surrounded by a table of friends I had made along the way. There wasn't a long line of people waiting to tell me they loved me and appreciated the time we had together. There wasn't anyone asking "what would you have done differently?" It was just me and my thoughts. <br />
<br />
The day I died as a student was not untimely because it was unexpected. I knew it was coming.<br />
<br />
I died an untimely death because I never got to look each person that made the experience what it was in the eyes and tell them I was grateful for them. It was untimely because I never got to sit with friends from freshman year and laugh about we had done together. I didn't get to spend one more day with each mission companion working our hardest. I didn't get to relive a day in the life of an RA, with a large group of freshman trying to make friends and figure themselves out. I didn't get to see friends from the different wards and thank my bishops. I didn't get to sit with my roommates late into the night talking about things I've since forgotten. I didn't get to thank girls I dated for their contribution to who I am.<br />
<br />
It's because my time at BYU was so wonderful that it feels like an untimely death. There are no words that can express what I feel when I think about the different people I met. How I'd love to see you all again. But, then again, it wouldn't be the same. We would probably just talk about what we did then and what we're doing now. Nothing will ever be able to replace the moments that already passed. Nothing will ever be able to replace the simple memories that we share, even if we never see each other again. <span style="color: red;">Know that you are important to me and always will be</span>.<br />
<br />
A favorite book of mine, Life of Pi has an insightful quote on the matter. As Pi watches the tiger Richard Parker walk away into the wilderness he expresses how hard this moment was for him. It was the last time he saw Richard Parker, who he had learned to love deeply.<br />
<br />
“What a terrible thing to botch a farewell. I am a person who believes in form, in the harmony of order. Where we can, we must give things a meaningful shape...It’s important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse.”<br />
<br />
Tonight, I bid farewell to BYU. I gave my experience a meaningful shape by honoring each person and experience with a moment of reflective gratitude. I appreciated you with my memories tonight. I'm sorry, but it's the best I can do. I've decided that it's not about the way you say goodbye. It's not about the farewell. It's everything that builds up to a farewell that make it meaningful. I can let this untimely death go, as I await another.<br />
<br />
Since I was recently on my death bed, reflecting on my college experience, wouldn't you like to know what I would have done differently? Then gather round and listen closely as I push the words out in short, struggled breaths.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;">I would have remembered that every day I wasn't just living new experiences, I was continually bidding farewell.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-53869866465550771582012-09-08T11:14:00.001-07:002012-09-08T11:21:19.047-07:00My Head, the Pinball Machine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things said in passing often come back to teach me. When
they are spoken I just carry on with the conversation and almost forget their
meaning. Somehow, small pieces of the conversation stay alive in my
pinball-machine-head. The letters and words bounce around, almost falling into
the world of forgotten things. But my subconscious keeps pushing the button
that flips the flipper, and the words survive until I have time to understand
them. Those passing words bounce around until they have taught me what I need
to know. Then, they are never forgotten. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">“I’m just trying to focus on what I can give instead of what
I can get.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s what she said (that wasn’t a dirty joke, that really
is what my friend, Kelsey, said). Those were the words that bounced around.
Those were the words that kept flipping the flipper to stay alive. Those were
the words that took me time to understand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life is unfair, so it can seem like there is a lot to
complain about. But<span style="color: #ffe599;"> anytime we complain it’s because of an expectation. We
expect to be <i>getting. </i>Like the world
constantly owes us wonderful, perfect experiences. We forget that the world
never made a promise like that.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So if you feel lonely because you don’t know where to find
friends. If you give someone attention that doesn’t reciprocate it. If you are
surrounded by people you think should be cooler (awkward singles ward?). If you
don’t have attractive people constantly falling in love with you. If you have to work on weekends. If you are
sick of having too much to do and no free time. If you have nothing to do. If
you don’t feel attractive. If you are frustrated because someone else seems
better off than you. . . If you . . . If you . . . (enter your own personal
complaints here).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember that none of what you expect was ever promised. We
are entitled to almost nothing. This may seem sobering, but ultimately, if you
let the thought bounce around long enough, it’s freeing. All you have to worry
about is what you can give. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you give, you’ll find friends. As you give you’ll find
satisfaction in almost everything you do. As you give you will feel attractive.
As you give, you will be happy for everyone that is better off, because making
people better off will be your focus. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Give your time to those you care about. Give yourself to
callings, responsibilities, and jobs. Give as much as you can give and you’ll
probably lose the desire to complain. You’ll find that you will do a lot more
getting once giving is your focus. (Although getting more should not be your motive
for giving, it just happens naturally.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You will crucify the idea of fairness. You will tear down insignificant expectations for what you think you deserve.You will burn envy at the stake. You will cast stones at ingratitude until it slowly dies inside you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You’ve given everything you can. Isn’t that enough of a
reward?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Let these words bounce around in your
pinball-machine-head</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-53881651131449198352012-08-24T10:37:00.001-07:002012-08-24T10:45:34.883-07:00How to Make Someone's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not an expert on this subject. Making somebody's day is a very basic form of creative, artistic expression. It takes practice, thought, effort, and time. I am only a beginner at this point.<br />
<br />
All too often I've settled for smiling at a stranger as my way of making a difference. I don't mean to undercut the value of being nice and doing small things for people, but we shouldn't excuse ourselves from bigger things simply because we are already nice. There is so much more we can all do to brighten the lives of others. I realized that I was doing almost nothing in terms of EXTRA effort (yes, I am saying that smiling at strangers, holding doors, or other day to day nice things are essentially effortless).<br />
<br />
When I realized this, I took initiative. I set some goals and decided on some things that I was going to do that would take extra effort. I set weekly and daily goals that would require me to do more than just be friendly. They required time, thought, creativity, and diligence. Let your mind wander. Just because you can't draw or paint or write or sing does NOT mean you aren't a creative person. <span style="color: #ffe599;">When it comes to those you care about I believe that your capacity to do something creative and meaningful is limitless.</span><br />
<br />
I hope you let your mind wander. I hope you consider what you can do in terms of extra effort to uplift people you know and care about. I will share a few of my experiences with this. I don't do this to feel good about myself or toot my own horn; I do this because you can copy my ideas, alter them to fit your needs, or at the very least, you can see that it's not that difficult to make someone's day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Lists of 10</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This summer I decided that I would choose somebody each week that needed to hear 10 things. I would write 10 things down that I felt they needed to hear and get it to them somehow. Sometimes I remained anonymous and sometimes I didn't, it depended on what it was they needed to hear. I started with my family and left a disclaimer at the end. I told anyone who received it that they would have to think of 10 things to tell someone else and "pay it forward."<br />
<br />
This has made a difference in my relationships for many reasons. Every week I think about the needs of those I care about. I think about who might need the list the most. In doing so, I have been more mindful than any other time in my life of those around me. Even if I don't write them a list I am constantly on the lookout.<br />
<br />
I chose to always do 10 things because that really forced me to be creative. I wouldn't settle for a quick note, but I had to think of 10 different things that fit the theme of what I was writing. If you choose to set a goal, set one that stretches you a little bit like this does. I noticed that my <i>actual</i> appreciation of those I write about has grown as I think through 10 positive things. It's a good opportunity to sit and ponder on how much a person means and what they actually need. For me, there was something special about 10 things, for you it might be different, just be sure you aren't making it easier or effortless.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Expressing Appreciation</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Sometimes it takes guts to tell someone you appreciate them. If you write them a note or send them a message that is honest it can be scary. I received a very valuable message from an acquaintance a few weeks ago that I felt took a lot of courage. I will post it here as a good example. Although I'm sure this didn't take hours, it did take extra effort, it's valuable because this person went out of their way to make my day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 13.999999046325684px;">Hey McKinley! Sorry this is kind of random, but I just wanted to say thank you. I don't remember how I stumbled on your blog, but thank you so much for writing it. I read it occasionally and your optimism and hope and testmony have helped me on days when I have really needed help. Truly, thank you so much for your example. Thank you also for always having been so nice to me. You give me hope of good guys.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 13.999999046325684px;">I hope this is not weird, but I just really felt like I needed to let you know that I am grateful for you even not knowing you very well. I hope life is going well for you! I wish you the best! And have a good week!</span><br />
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
This came at a time when I was low on confidence. Those appreciative thoughts could have stayed with my friend and I would have never known that my writing was appreciated. This person could have thought, "I don't really know him very well so it would be weird." Instead, they took some initiative and made my day. It was the confidence boost I was in need of. I've found that we are more intuitive than we think, <span style="color: #ffe599;">if someone is on your mind they probably need to hear from you</span>. Don't pass that opportunity up.<br />
<br />
Please, don't think that if you are reading this blog you should feel pressured to tell me how much you love it and appreciate me haha. This is not a cry for appreciation from ME. This is a cry for more appreciation from those that surround you, care about you, uplift you, inspire you, and spend time with you. Go out of your way to show them that you appreciate them, you'd be surprised at how many people need that little bit of reassurance.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">The Ugly Side of Appreciation</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Unfortunately, in the modern world, caring can be creepy. I don't think it's ever wrong to appreciate someone, but it can give the wrong message. I have told some people I don't know very well some things I appreciate about them and a few times this hasn't gone very well. I'm sure that I've "freaked them out," which I think is very silly. Although silly, creeping out is a serious threat. Here is my advice if that's what you're worried about.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ea9999;">Do what you want.</span><br />
<br />
If anyone is creeped out then it's their loss for completely misunderstanding another human and assuming the worst of something good. You were honest, so you don't have anything to worry about. It's the other person that should feel uncomfortable for making good things negative.<br />
<br />
At the same time, never be obsessive with your appreciation. Don't spend it all in one place. It's good to care deeply about people, but spread your influence and spread your appreciation. That will usually keep you from the creepy side of caring.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">A Final Thought</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Think of what your strengths are. Think of what fits your personality. Set a goal and just decide to do it. Stretch yourself and you'll see immediate results.<br />
<br />
Although this wasn't a detailed instruction on "how to make someone's day;" <span style="color: #ffe599;">I hope that you finish reading this knowing how YOU will go out of YOUR way to make someone's day. </span><br />
<b><br /></b>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-74284233345088225502012-07-23T01:06:00.000-07:002012-07-23T12:36:38.924-07:00The Refiner's Fire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>For he is like a refiner’s fire… and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier… and he shall purify…that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Malachi 3:2-4<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every once in a while we can be given an opportunity to see the grace that surrounds us. There are moments where we feel deep appreciation and gratitude. There are other moments where we feel deep understanding and come to know undeniable truths. There are moments where our hearts fill up like a balloon that’s about to burst (American Beauty quote). There are moments where we understand our purpose, meaning, and most of all—our potential.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, sometimes we are lucky enough to have a moment where all of those feelings culminate into one experience. This post is about a moment where all of those feelings came together for me. It was with undeniable clarity that I came to see that God knew me and was directly involved in my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
* * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day, I thought my house was going to burn down. As I drove out of my neighborhood there was a large pillar of smoke just on the other side of the hill. I called my mom to let her know and kept driving. As I made my way down the mountain I considered what would change if my house burnt down. I thought to myself, “almost all of my belongings are practically worthless.” I was totally calm. I realized that I would have only kept what was important. I felt like it might actually be nice to start again. I wasn’t worried. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This fire was called the Quail Fire. It was one of an unusually high number of fires that started last month. The Quail Fire came close to Alpine and put my neighborhood in Draper (Suncrest) on alert. Luckily, it didn’t take any homes or people, but it burned a very large part of the mountain near American Fork Canyon. My family began to organize our belongings and prepare for other events like this. We sorted through the important things. We cleaned and detached ourselves from everything that didn’t hold any <i>real</i> value.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fires are destructive. With the wrong perspective a fire can be something inherently negative, unfair, or unwanted. Fires can take lives. Once they start they seem to take and take and take with no regard for what they use as fuel. Yet, somehow, amidst their taking they find a way to give. They offer a new beginning. Every piece of life that survives a fire feels like it was just born. Rising from the ashes must feel like the first day of life. Although everything around was lost, everything of real value remained for the new life. <span style="color: #ea9999;">Life begins in the ashes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
* * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never had a testimony of the power of the atonement until I felt completely healed by it. I never really understood it either. I struggled with the concept because it’s so abstract that it <i>requires</i> us to experiment with it. Once we experiment with it we can begin to understand it. Once we begin to understand it we can gain a testimony of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please be understanding as you read this because I promise I would be equally as understanding if I knew about your mistakes. I only share this because I feel like it is of worth to someone who reads it. You can hear about repentance as an abstract concept but when someone you know overcomes something similar it can be the difference in giving hope. That hope can inspire change if you let it. Like I said in my last post, I want hope to spread like wildfire.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used to have a problem. I originally planned on stating exactly what the problem was but then I realized that it creates a distance from people with other types of problems. Like all sin it attacked my self worth. Like all sin it caused me to miss opportunities to serve, progress, and grow. (If you are curious about what it was I am willing to talk about it openly, just email me or ask me in person sometime.) I don’t think any less of myself now and I’m not embarrassed by my past. This is because I have since lost every desire to act the way I did. It feels like I’m writing about a different person, and, essentially, it is a different person. There is the “Old man of Sin” and the “New Creature in Christ” (which is a concept from Brother Bott).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During those years I led a normal life as I wasted time stalling my personal and eternal progress. Yet, I continually prayed for anything that would help me leave it behind. There are so many things that contributed to the process of healing. Many bishops, friends, and experiences are a part of the complete path to full recovery. I owe all of them a great deal of gratitude. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the beginning of June I began to feel like it was time to put every effort into being better. I continually felt this desire before then and I acted upon it by trying a number of things. I had had times of strength and times of weakness, but in June I decided it was time to be consistently strong. I wanted to live up to my name; I wanted to be a rock, a large mountain like McKinley should be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started the process of change; then God stepped in and led me to exactly what was needed. It was a few weeks later that a great example of strength was placed in my life. On June 8, I called her for the first time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a great coincidence, which I now realize wasn’t a coincidence at all, we went on a date the next day. On that first date she told me something that had an immediate impact. It made me toss and turn that night (in a good way). She told me that she doesn't watch PG-13 movies. To some people that may seem fundamentalist and crazy, but it was just what I needed to hear. It was then that the lesson began: <span style="color: #ffe599;">there is no action that is too extreme if it means it will make you better</span>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I obviously can't include all the details of the relationship. Honestly, I didn't think I was <i>that</i> far off track before all of this happened. I have since seen the hundreds of ways that I needed improving. In June I caught fire, and she was specifically used to spread the flames into parts of my life that I didn't even realize needed fixing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was her and her only that could have caused this change. It was the specific feelings that I had, her personality, the timing, and even her hesitancy that caused my change of heart. I didn't change <i>for </i>her, I changed simply from getting to know her. An example of strength is the greatest missionary tool.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The relationship ended. It ended last week. You might feel a desire to console me because it seems like something really good is over. Please never tell me you are sorry for me. The end turned out to be so much more than just an end.<br />
<br />
When a movie ends we feel complete and satisfied because the story served its purpose. But when a relationship ends some of us tend to wait through the credits, sit in the theatre, and waste our time hoping for a sequel. It was in the end of the relationship that I had my most cherished experience. It's very personal to me and you probably won't feel the same way about it as I do; but similar experiences are within your reach if you'll open your heart to them.<br />
<br />
On Friday, as I was coming to terms with the end, I was suddenly given a spectacular perspective. It was undeniably clear why everything happened exactly how it did in that relationship. I felt like I was given a glimpse of God's perspective for a brief moment. Years of prayers were finally answered and I now know, with more certainty than ever, that God knows me very well. After this realization I broke down and felt the most happiness I have ever felt. July 20, 2012 was the first day of my life.<br />
<br />
This was one of those rare moments where every bit of grace around me was clear. My heart filled up like a balloon that was about to burst. I felt deep appreciation and gratitude. I came to know undeniable truths. I actually understood my purpose, the meaning of my experience, and most of all—my potential.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is clear to me that I’ve been forgiven. It’s clear to me that the doors of progress are back open. No more barriers to my capacity. It is clear that God doesn’t want me to waste any more time. I have been surrounded by opportunities to serve, to grow, to teach, and to <i>begin</i> to repay my debt for such a wonderful life. I can’t imagine how much good all of us are capable of if we will just accept our potential and let it seep out of us as we watch our beautiful, meaningful life unfold.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
* * *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the day I thought my house could burn down I ironically got my temple recommend renewed. I had already caught fire. After the interview I went to surprise the girl I was dating with a small gift at work in Provo. That small act of service kept me out just long enough for it to be dark as I drove home. I could see the flames glowing on the mountain from the freeway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7499328608_480c38641f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7499328608_480c38641f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I looked at the glowing embers I thought to myself, how could something so beautiful cause so much fear? I felt at peace as I saw the flames eat away the mountainside because I knew that <span style="color: #ffe599;">there is nothing to fear when it comes to change. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They say that the Quail Fire started with just a small spark at a construction site. It was just a worker whose hoe hit a rock. That’s all it takes is a spark—a desire to change. Once you let the fire start it quickly eats everything inside and around you. Then, out of the ashes, life can begin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Elder D. Todd Christofferson<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * *</div>
<br />
Epilogue?<br />
<br />
Yes that was the end of the story, but here is some stuff that has added to this great lesson. Not really an Epilogue but some additional thoughts about how God was involved in the experience. Also, how he can be involved in your life. The most miraculous part of what happened is that I saw everything line up perfectly. It was one of the few times I felt like I understood every bit of an experience.<br />
<br />
Even the media I have seen lately has contributed to this great lesson I’ve learned. I want to share with you two of my favorite movies and a favorite song that accompany my experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Movie One: On Friday, hours after my experience, a favorite movie, O Brother Where Art Thou, was on TV. I felt like I had just experienced exactly what that movie portrays. The three main characters begin a journey and don’t really understand the meaning of what is happening until the very end. It is clear that everything in their experience served some purpose to free them from captivity and bring them towards repentance. The best part is that it all just unfolds before them just like it did for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Movie Two: Last week I re-watched Forrest Gump for the first time since I was a kid. This time I understood it. I cried a lot, which has to mean something? Haha. Forrest was so humble but succeeded at everything he tried. This is because he had a pure heart. He just did good things for the sake of doing them, and he was led through a life of meaningful experiences. At the end, he offers some of the greatest wisdom that I want everyone to reflect on. (Watch an extended clip for full effect)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFvASiMTDz0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
“I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I know that if we are open to it we can lead a meaningful life. We can gain satisfaction in fulfilling our great potential. It’s also true that we can just float around accidental-like on a breeze. <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">If you feel like your life is accidental it means you have some pondering to do. Not just pondering but some correcting.</span> Don’t fear it, you can start now towards your own moment where every bit of grace that led you to full happiness will be as clear as sunlight through an open window: Shimmering, glimmering, and bright.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Song: This song represents what I have felt in the process of receiving the grace I described above. It’s in a made-up language that my favorite band sometimes sings in called “Hopelandic.” Their music <i>always</i> fills me with hope. I find this song fitting because it begins slow and delicate and culminates into a loud, beautiful, hopeful mess. Listen to it if you can and you will get a slight glimpse of my experience. It’s 10 minutes long and the loud parts are at about the 4 and 7 minute marks, so if you feel like listening you can have your own hopeful experience :). Apparently someone already made a video of this song to a fire, I just discovered it, I guess we had the same idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LanO2gdWOwA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-87058570268012202302012-07-19T14:44:00.000-07:002012-07-19T14:46:16.416-07:00To The Broken Hearted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is easy to be pessimistic about love and relationships.
Divorce surrounds us. Break ups and the woes of relationships seem to fill
conversations all around. It’s easy to lose hope; it’s easy to stop believing. I
write this so that you won’t lose hope, I write so that you won’t stop
believing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>This post is because one of my best relationships recently ended before it even had a chance to begin. I have every reason to feel broken hearted, earlier today I did, but then I thought for a while, then I prayed for a while. Now I am filled with light. I have promised myself that anytime I receive light that I would try to share those thoughts. I want hope to spread like wildfire. I want it to heal all those that are in need of healing. </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think about love and relationships a lot. Probably because
many of my friends are married, some divorced, and all have dated. At this
stage of my life it’s something very critical to consider. I have a lot of
thoughts about <i>why</i> we have gotten so
terrible at relationships. <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/10/agency-and-love-in-marriage?lang=eng" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffe599;">This talk</span></a> has a lot of wisdom regarding our
misconceptions of what love is. As long as you keep it straight for yourself,
and love in the right way (like Forrest Gump loves Jenny haha, he knows what love is), everything will work out for you. You will feel peace, you will feel incapable
of a broken heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are just some ideas in no particular order. These are
my thoughts about the value of broken hearts and how to find hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Give yourself an opportunity for light to come upon you. See it where you weren’t looking before. Light
is so easy to find if you look. No matter how thick the darkness may seem,
light always finds those that seek it. For more directions on feeling the light
that surrounds you, read <a href="http://mankinley.blogspot.com/2011/01/dont-close-your-blinds.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffe599;">this post</span></a> I wrote over a year ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Be sure that you’ve given every effort that the other
person deserves. They can choose to accept it or reciprocate it. But if they have
chosen not to, never believe it’s your fault. If you worry that you didn’t put
forth enough effort it’s never too late to let them know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Realize that no relationship has to end as a closed door
or a barrier. Broken hearts are either a bump in the road of something longer
lasting or a new doorway to something better. All good relationships require
great humility from both partners and the occasional broken heart helps us all
be more humble. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Stay away from chick-flicks, they're a bunch of bull and they'll pollute your ability to appreciate what has happened. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Trust in God. He is with you. That is your most important relationship;
if you put Him first everything else will fall into place. The best teachers
let their students learn by experience. This was an epiphany I had while at the
MTC today. God is a perfect teacher. Effective teaching lets the learner autonomously
choose to learn. You can never force a student to accept a lesson. I do believe
that God is there willing to help us and give us direction, but we have to
choose to learn from every experience that we are given. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* This one is just a logical series of sentences that you
can think about. I tried wording this in different ways but it wasn’t working.
It is not eloquent, but it is true. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Repentance is progress. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Repentance is the key to
fulfillment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Repentance is the key to happiness.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
A broken heart is the first step to
repentance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Thus, A broken heart is progress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
A broken heart is a part of fulfillment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
A broken heart is a step towards happiness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Realize that no progress is ever lost unless you chose to
lose it. If you are afraid of progressing in a relationship never forget that
progress is never lost. If you progressed together and now you are apart, you still
progressed. Progress is never lost individually nor as a couple. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Don’t let fear, jealousy, worry, or self-doubt anywhere
near you. It’s likely that those things are what ruined the relationship; so if
you want to learn from your broken heart, don’t keep repeating the same
mistakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Don’t turn down opportunities that are right in front of
you. Too often we think so much about what <i>could
have been</i> or <i>should have been</i>
that we don’t see what’s right under our noses. Focusing on what went wrong and
why it’s unfair will only blind you to the greater light that is ahead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*We all make mistakes. You are expected to. That’s a
powerful and hopeful truth if we want it to be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Don’t compromise your self worth simply because you feel
bad about how things worked out. As I once said, (this is from the post I
linked to above, it’s kind of silly to quote myself but I don’t feel like they
are my words) “You are of God, your light comes from within. Hope doesn’t
settle upon you, it is a unique part of your nature. Do not doubt your
potential. Light is always within reach.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-83014610057872642262012-03-17T11:28:00.000-07:002012-06-06T22:18:23.611-07:00Immanuel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This is my first attempt at fiction, it's a short story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Immanuel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your
heart’s desire. The other is to gain it.”</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: right; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">George
Bernard Shaw<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
didn’t like the way he looked at me from across the desk. We sat in silence as
he clicked his pen again and again, occasionally putting it between his teeth
and spinning it in his hand. My boss of 5 years was staring straight at the
papers in front of him as he casually flipped through them. He was avoiding eye
contact and trying to reassure me that this wasn’t personal. When he would
glance at me it felt more like relief than sympathy. I tried my best to give
him a confident smile; like I knew what was next after this conversation was
over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Okay,
that about does it. Jim, look, I’m really sorry but we’ll recommend you
wherever you go, this just isn’t the place for you. It’s a rough time for us
and we’ve had to let a lot of people go who’ve done nothing wrong. You’re one
of them.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Well,
I learned a lot being here. Is that it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That’s
it.” We shook hands, still avoiding eye contact, and I walked out of the
building, got in my car and headed home. My confident smile was gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
knew my family would understand. My two-year-old daughter wouldn’t know the
difference between today and any other day. My wife would probably tell me it
wasn’t my fault and that I would come across a job that would be “better.” I
wasn’t worried about their approval; I was worried about failing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My thoughts distracted me from the road; I didn’t
remember a thing from the drive home until the stoplight on Highway 74, where
it crosses the street to my neighborhood. The large strip mall, with a Wal-Mart,
scattered restaurants, and a large parking lot attracted a lot of local
business. I undid my tie as I waited for the light to change. There was a homeless
man on the corner, right outside my passenger window. He was staring straight
at me and the sun came through my windshield, so there was nowhere to hide. I
had nothing to give.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He
looked exactly as I do in the morning before I shower. His expression matched
mine. As he looked in my eyes, I finally understood the cardboard sign he held
down by his knee, sideways, like he’d given up for the day. “Homeless,” for
once I understood what that phrase meant. No home wants to take a man with no
job, a man who has failed to meet expectations. I didn’t pity the man with nothing;
maybe it would be nice not to have a home for today. Maybe I didn’t want to go
home, that way I could delay breaking the news to my family: no insurance, no
income, no eating out, and if this lasted long enough we would have to sell our
house. I would be just like that poor homeless man, taking my family down with
me, holding signs to survive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Suddenly,
the man on the corner signaled for me to roll down my window. There was
something familiar about those tired eyes. The light turned green as I started
to roll it down. This had better be fast, I thought. I leaned across the
emergency brake to listen. “Go home Jim,” he yelled. “Don’t let the fear of being
inadequate make you so.” His smile, after he said that, was slow and confident;
but it wasn’t forced like the smile I’d given my boss earlier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I’m
not sure how long I sat there just staring into space. The cars behind me started
to honk, and I drove away with my eyebrows furrowed and mouth slightly open, in
a daze, towards home. My mind raced with questions. How did he know my name?
How did he know anything at all? Why did he look at me like he knew me, like he
cared about what I did? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
should have spoken to him. I should have invited him to get in my car and tell
me more. I should have pulled over. I figured I could still turn around, so I
did. I signaled, moved into the left turn lane and waited for an opening. When
I got back to the corner the homeless man was no longer there. I saw him
further down the street, walking quickly with his toes pointed outward, his
heels skipping on the ground as a prelude to every step. It was a friendly
walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> As
I approached him I noticed that he no longer held the sign. He was looking at
the ground mouthing something over and over again. It looked like he was
holding back laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I stopped
and rolled down my window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Didn’t
I tell you to go home?” said the man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Why
would I listen to you?” I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Apparently
you value my opinion, you’re back here for a reason. You know you’re in trouble
when you start listening to a homeless man,” he paused and smiled for a moment.
“But I must have said something true since you turned around, why does truth
surprise you? It must be the source. I’m not cute <i>or</i> rich, so I would be surprised too. Those cute rich people seem
to dominate the market on truth.” He laughed quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Do
you need a ride somewhere?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
don’t think that’s a good idea, my mommy said before I left not to talk to
strangers. You know I think she also forgot to pack my lunch, you got anything
good in there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “No,
but I can take you to eat.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
guess my beautiful cardboard sign from earlier didn’t cut it, it seems like
you’ll only feed me in exchange for information.” he smiled. “I’m disappointed,
Jim. People these days only care about themselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
think you’re pretty funny, huh? What’s your name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Jim”
he laughed. “I am the ghost of your future. Now you can be certain you are
losing your mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Alright,
enough jokes.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
think I saw you smile after that one, plus there are never enough jokes. You’ve
really got nothing to lose with a joke.” He paused again. “On a more serious
note, I know why you turned around, it’s because you are in desperate need of
encouragement. I know failure when I see it, I’m pretty experienced with that.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “How
long have you been homeless? I’m sorry to see a likeable guy like you living on
the street.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Oh,
Jim, I’ve never been homeless; the street is my home. I write on the signs to
keep myself alive, but I could never be homeless.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “That’s
an interesting way to look at your circumstances. Have you looked for a job? It
seems to me you’ve become a self-declared philosopher.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Truth
is I have a lot of time to think about people, so I guess I am a philosopher
now. It was really difficult to adjust after loosing my cleaning job last year,
that’s all I knew how to do for most my life. Since then I’ve decided to make
the best of what you call my ‘circumstances.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
know when I saw you I thought that I envied you, not a care or burden in the
world.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Well,
Jim, it’s really not the best on your self esteem, living on the street. Did
you turn around to ask me if a life on the street is the life for you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I’ve
had too many questions since seeing you to know exactly why I’m here. Tell me
about yourself and your life on the street. You chose to be homeless? Also, I
still don’t know your name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Call
me Immanuel. Like I said, I could never be homeless. You are a guest in my home
as we speak. Would you like to step out of your car and come into my home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
can’t believe I’m doing this, but sure.” I turned off the car and hopped out. I
sat next to Immanuel on the curb as the sun began to set above the snow-capped
mountains. A beautiful, spring day was ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Immanuel
looked very different from when I first saw him on the corner. Maybe it was how
I looked at him that had changed. He turned his head, meeting my gaze with bright
eyes. His grey hair was tangled and long, his face wrinkled from sun and
laughter. Grey whiskers grew from his face in different directions to the
length of my index finger. I felt peace in his gaze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Look
Jim, there is a lot that you aren’t going to know about me by the time we are
done talking. But maybe you can find out a bit about yourself. Some
encouragement is where this all began, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
guess so. I really just want to know how you know me, even my name, and what
you know about me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Oh,
is your name actually Jim? I’ve just been spouting out a name, it gets people’s
attention when you use a name even if it’s not theirs. This time it happened to
be yours. Now that’s actually pretty funny.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
can’t be serious?” We laughed. “That was your best joke of the night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “The
rest of what I said felt like the right advice for your expression. I’ve met a
lot of people who have given up, who have called themselves homeless, so I told
you to go home. You looked like you were feeling helpless and inadequate so I
shared with you something I’d learned from <i>being</i>
helpless and inadequate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “That’s
it?” I asked with surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “That’s
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “That
just doesn’t make sense.” I was puzzled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “The
beauty is, life doesn’t need to make sense: it only needs meaning.” He put his
arm on my shoulder as he said that, his smile grew and his eyes were more
confident than I’d ever been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “So
how does someone like you end up living on the street, Immanuel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Now
that, friend, is a story I’ve long forgotten. I’ve chosen to forget it. There
was a time when I felt worthless and inadequate just because I didn’t have a
job. Then, I realized that a job only gives you money, worth and meaning have
nothing to do with a job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Unless
your family relies on you for money. I guess giving up on myself would mean
giving up on my family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It
seemed he didn’t have anything to say to that, so we sat in silence, listening
to the cars rush by. The weight of my day seemed to contradict the sky, I felt
lighter as the sky got darker. I finally managed to smile. What was I doing on
a curb listening to a bum? I let a short, quiet laugh out of my nose as I shook
my head. Then it was silent again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Have
you ever heard the name Immanuel?” he asked, breaking the silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
don’t know, I know it’s not common.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
wish it were my name, I only use it because of its meaning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Well
I can’t say I’m surprised that it’s not your real name. What does it mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
seem educated, why don’t you look it up when you get home.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Alright
you are really good at bothering me.” Then we both laughed together. “I better
go, it’s getting dark and I understand less about what’s happened the more we
talk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “What’s
the rush? Neither of us have jobs to get to.” He said this with a smile I could
trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Laughing,
I responded, “Are you sure you don’t need a ride anywhere? Can I get you
something to eat?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “I
don’t need a ride anywhere, this is the home I’ve learned to love. Why don’t
you just bring me something in the morning, I’ll be around here. They say
breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” He stood up and shook my
hand. “Now get out of my house and get back to yours.” He turned to continue
walking along the sidewalk. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Thanks
a lot, Immanuel.” I said to his back as he walked away, clicking his feet
before every step. He
responded by throwing his hand in the air over his shoulder with his thumb up
so I could see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When
I got home I hugged my beautiful wife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
must have had a good day, you haven’t hugged me like that in years,” she said.
I had completely forgotten that I lost my job earlier that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
know, it actually was a good day. I’ve got a story you won’t believe.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Okay
honey, save it for dinner, it will be ready in a few minutes.” She kissed me
quickly, with a tempting smile. Then, I quickly went to my computer to look up
the meaning of the name Immanuel. I couldn’t stop my smile as the words filled
the screen. “God is with us.” Just then, I heard little footsteps down the
stairs. My favorite sound welcomed me home, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Daddy!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-3281302626323446362012-02-28T18:49:00.001-08:002012-02-29T09:56:06.671-08:00The Withers Family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>So I haven't posted in way too long. I have a million half-written things and I never posted any of it. This is worth putting on here mostly for my wonderful family to read. It's my first poetry post: enjoy. </b></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">What is a Willow? A willow is a large tree, though it’s not the tallest, it gets more beautiful with age. It has long, gentle branches, that reach out patiently. Its leaves make delicate crafts with little wind. The oldest, wisest, most responsible of trees. My oldest sister is Willow.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">What is an Allyssum? An allyssum is a small flower. Like carpet it covers garden grounds and brings color to dreary dirt. Its daring roots will go anywhere, mobile and agile. They stay near the surface, always smiling at the sun. My big sister is Allyssum.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">What is a Wren? A Wren is a small, inconspicuous bird; kind, quick, and soft spoken; though, you’ve heard its loud song. It’s fast for its size. Racing through open skies. My older brother is Wren. </span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">What is McKinley? McKinley is a mountain. A collision of plates in the Alaskan wilderness. It’s bulky in its build and rough on the edges. It’s rocks are stiff. It sits alone in snowy skies, watches over the weak, strong and stubborn. I am McKinley.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">What is Eden? The Bible says Eden was once a garden. Eden brings all nature together, creates a home for those who’ve left protective walls. She welcomes trees, flowers, birds, and mountains; brings us together. Many believe Eden to be the beginning of humanity, but for us she’s the end. My youngest sister is Eden.</span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">What does it mean to wither? To wither is to weaken: flowers too dry to breathe, faith that doesn’t grow, wrinkled, wilted life. But withers are different. Withers are the high shoulders of a horse. Strong enough to sit on. Strong enough to keep travelers traveling. Withers carry the weak for miles, unaffected by heavy loads. Withers are strong from birth. Withers is our last name. </span></div>
</div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-39352433352401378052011-10-24T17:38:00.000-07:002011-10-24T17:45:36.498-07:00My Ignorance, My Bliss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Today I saw a movie. I was alone (as usual). Luckily, today is a Monday. On Monday’s the cost of “taking advantage” of the day isn’t as high as a weekend or holiday. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Much of my writing never becomes public, I often start writing just to sooth my brain. Here is an except from a Friday night, one when I learned something valuable. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">“I’m alone on a friday night. I have decided not to let the idea of doing something else ruin an already beautiful night. It’s like a day where you beat yourself up for not doing something outside to “take advantage” of the nice weather. In feeling guilty you successfully ruin something that is already beautiful. I am simply grateful for this night with McKinley and I. I don’t need to feel guilty about what I <i>could be</i> doing.”</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The moments that I am alone are the moments that I am most creative. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">The more time I spend with myself, deciding who I am, the less it matters what other people want me to be.</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Thus, on this beautiful Monday night, I packed up my things and headed to the movies by myself. I didn’t think about what I could be doing instead. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The movie drew me in (it was Source Code for those of you who are wondering). I felt close to the character. He was lonely. He was a hero. At one point (I have to speak vaguely to avoid spoilers) he made everyone around him smile and enjoy one of life’s typically monotonous moments. I felt like I could do that. I left the movie feeling like a hero in the making.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I was superman trapped in McKinley’s body. This thought may be ignorant, but it’s the same type of ignorance that makes you jump out of your seat during a scary movie. The same ignorance that makes you cry at the end of a love story. The same ignorance that makes you feel like watching James Bond makes you more confident and acting like Megan Fox makes you more beautiful. The same ignorance that makes us feel like heroes when all we did was eat a large bowl of popcorn over the span of two hours while some character saved the world. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Good characters represent ideals. Ideals that seem genuine and reachable. When I relate to a character I feel like I could do what they do. Obviously, not under the same circumstances, but in my own super-hero way. My brain automatically connects the characters actions to aspects of my own life. As I feel like the character I feel removed from my reality. Through the made up storyline, my own problems, my own memories, and my own emotions unravel themselves. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">After it ended I wasn't out of movie-watching mode, so I turned on another one. It's called “walking home from a movie.” In removing myself from the context of daily life and sociality I tried to see people as I would see esteemed characters. I put my head phones in, chose the music for each scene, and watched this beautiful world perform its daily rituals. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">Just as much as I feel close to characters in movies,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"> I felt close to people I don’t know</span>. My own problems, my own emotions, and my own memories all unravelled as I watched multiple characters represent their own story. Here are some of my favorite scenes, let’s see if you can relate.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I saw four couples holding hands while I was at the grocery store. The grocery store playlist was ironically playing “I can’t help falling in love with you.” All of them were smiling.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The woman at the cash register told me I was important with her smile. She told me to have a good night after patiently handling a man’s “deception” with a mis-marked discount. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I passed the same spot featured in my<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"> <a href="http://mankinley.blogspot.com/2011/09/encounter-with-old-friend.html">last post</a>.</span> I always stop. Hope usually gives me a casual hello as I take a deep breath in of what the trees recently exhaled. I didn’t stay long, but Hope followed me home. Sometimes she just won’t leave me alone. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I saw two kids playing soccer in the street. I appreciated their innocence. They were playing like it was the world cup as both of them imitated the announcer with every move the ball made.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">A group of friends was talking at the local bar. They gave me thumbs up as I passed. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">My neighbor took the time to talk to me about my day. She enjoyed the french toast I made for her yesterday. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">My roommate hung out with a pretty girl. She makes him happy. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1" style="color: #ea9999;">Ok, so life isn’t a movie. But sometimes I like to make it feel like one. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There are heroes everywhere. Maybe that’s why I love movies so much. The characters we love most all do things that we are capable of. I may be ignorant, but seeing people as potential heroes gives me bliss. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;">Bliss that I want to share with the world</span>.</span></div>
</div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-57991979255421598492011-09-30T12:35:00.000-07:002011-10-01T07:10:10.432-07:00An encounter with an old friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Over a week ago I walked home from a movie by myself. I was lonely in a beautiful way. The journey from the theater to my house usually takes about 20 minutes. I took an hour. The path home leads me over a bridge that extends over a small river. A spot that is well hidden by commerce. By car it takes anywhere from 1-5 seconds to cross this bridge, depending on the weight of your foot. By bus it may be faster (probably only in Brazil). Motorcycles have an advantage in traffic. Bicycles can take as little as 4 seconds depending on who is pedaling. I, with an average-sized stride and an above-average walking speed took 25ish minutes to cross the bridge. I stopped in the middle because even walking felt rushed.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
This small river runs into a wilderness and winds itself away from human contact. The wilderness that faced me was beautiful, dark, and deep; the river slightly polluted. I focused on the darkness ahead of me. The street lights and passing cars behind me filled my mind with destinations. Shouldn’t I be going somewhere? Shouldn’t I be doing something? My life is full of destinations. Everyone needs something to do. Everyone needs somewhere to go. I often under-appreciate where I am because where I’m going takes precedence.</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
As I stood on the bridge I began to notice what most people rush past, taking anywhere from 1 second to 25.3ish minutes (depending on their mode of transportation and state of mind). There was life in this small forest. The hum of life on the road behind me was calm compared to the fearful, dark sounds of the wild. We humans are so obvious about what we do. We put big lights on the front of our cars and on the streets, honk our horns, yell, run, play music, make noise. The wilderness had so much more to say in its silence. The buzz of life below me vibrated my eardrums and I could no longer hear the traffic behind me. I spent a moment without a destination. I spent a moment with nothing to do but listen.</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
Hundreds of people cross this small bridge every day. I have made this short journey many times. Because I stopped I felt something I have never felt before. With each car or bus that passed behind me the small bridge vibrated. My feet shook. If I walked at all, even slowly, I could no longer feel the vibrations. Because I had no destination I felt something that most people are oblivious to, vibrations. Vibrations that people are oblivious to when they are loud, rushed, or both. Because I stopped I felt a little bit of it’s life. I wondered if there was life under the bridge that enjoyed the vibrations caused by busy, loud humans. It’s a beautiful sensation to feel close to a spot.</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw4CDTj6GDSr9g1bYakJ9o-dWyDMYAe8teYqJiVCiLkt4aqgwdsALuE-PpuBM-MrCY_FjUgj2aTBtcDBoIaCdjR778eM9MX5KwacgLwHRhbpaiX_fN2rpEALENxdDETRaebrev47Dzw-j/s1600/DSCN0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw4CDTj6GDSr9g1bYakJ9o-dWyDMYAe8teYqJiVCiLkt4aqgwdsALuE-PpuBM-MrCY_FjUgj2aTBtcDBoIaCdjR778eM9MX5KwacgLwHRhbpaiX_fN2rpEALENxdDETRaebrev47Dzw-j/s320/DSCN0043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the bridge, taken in daylight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1">To the buzzing soundtrack of silence surrounding me, my mind played out it’s thoughts. I watched memories take the stage; the actors forgot most of their lines. They reenacted abstract versions of what was once reality. In no particular order a few of my life’s experiences passed by. Big smiles, heavy laughter, beautiful people, and even bad memories that are now funny were all part of the show. At the intermission they hurried off the stage and found seats with me in the audience. The actors were preparing for a special guest to take the stage. A guest even they wouldn’t want to miss while behind the curtain. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
As my feet vibrated to the music of busy life I trained my eyes on the darkness that faced me. Softly floating down the river I saw Hope make her way to the bridge. The dimmed spotlight in my mind reignited and Hope stood at center stage. Her squinted eyes were blocked by her hand which she had raised to defend herself from the brightness. She was shining, ready and confident for her part. She approached the microphone and tapped it to make sure it was on. She looked up and confidently searched the audience until making eye contact with me. </div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
Hope made me feel important with her gaze. She told me through music, poems, and parables of the possible. She always speaks to me through means that remain available. That way I can remember her even after she floats away. She had a captivated, silent audience as she involved many of the performers from the first act. We were all in awe at what she described. We could see for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">miles</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Miles</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">Miles</span> into what could be.</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
Eventually her time ran out. No applause was necessary because silence suited the mood better. The spotlight went cold and dust settled in the empty auditorium. I had somewhere to go. I went on to “more important” things than standing on a bridge.<br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
Luckily, Hope promised me that every time I would slow down and wait for her she would visit me. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">She has kept her promise.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy0JZOq9BcmnJpjBMRZ2ty_gQwip-Qetmw5B2f-0V5CCILifORl3ATtjRL2Bi0NlTeFh1JKkwjNEuJmv_tFoeAClW7HwN1zuwhS1nTmDt02Pj9IUyQ_Fk5WYLeCgFwPoFICk7eo4nmf9D/s1600/DSCN0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy0JZOq9BcmnJpjBMRZ2ty_gQwip-Qetmw5B2f-0V5CCILifORl3ATtjRL2Bi0NlTeFh1JKkwjNEuJmv_tFoeAClW7HwN1zuwhS1nTmDt02Pj9IUyQ_Fk5WYLeCgFwPoFICk7eo4nmf9D/s320/DSCN0050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSRsRhBXrcjxXNe8_JlQTHGVIbTQhYwpPEkbth19Pd7f_Iz03y48K5wrzNkUM6nIdvuYcDpu5WCOZIJEjZpG-v6rzQ0K4n9sEbJICq9kdEXW2h7Joyq-7ejl9DQvC0KqW6AuyAMibnE8M/s1600/DSCN0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSRsRhBXrcjxXNe8_JlQTHGVIbTQhYwpPEkbth19Pd7f_Iz03y48K5wrzNkUM6nIdvuYcDpu5WCOZIJEjZpG-v6rzQ0K4n9sEbJICq9kdEXW2h7Joyq-7ejl9DQvC0KqW6AuyAMibnE8M/s320/DSCN0042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-83969272130883686372011-08-21T19:51:00.000-07:002011-08-21T19:51:21.800-07:00Seven Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="p1"><span class="s1">One more week of my life is over. This week doesn’t feel like it ended. It was a beginning. Seven days of meaningful interactions. Seven days full of beginnings.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Anything that we consider beautiful is rare. Each of my interactions was unique to the day, the time, the people, and the place. Each happened the perfect amount of times, once. If I were to try and relive any of these experiences they would start to lose value. They would lose their beauty. As a disclaimer, these summaries don’t capture the beauty of each experience. The beauty is in the details of each moment that I was able to spend with these different people. Memories are inaccurate but I’ll try and keep my recollections as real as possible. The lessons I learned hold true regardless of the accuracy of my memory. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">This week started with the appearance of Anna and JoAnna in our ward on Sunday. A mother and daughter from Virginia who spent two days here. The week started with Americans befriending Americans on a small island in southeastern Brazil. Of all the wards in all of Brazil we ended up in the same one. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Loygee (Loyd is his name, my roommate, but in Brazil it’s properly pronounced with a G) and I (Mac) were blessed not only to spend time with Anna and JoAnna (it's nice that their names are poetic together) but with the family they were staying with. It started Sunday night with Alexandre and Stéfanie inviting us over for dinner. She made shrimp stroganoff inside a pumpkin. I bet you’ve never tried that before. Her desert was even better. Even so, the food was not the most rare part of the night. We stayed up late talking like old friends. These two days were the only two that this group would be together. Ever. The first and the last time. It was such a rare occasion yet it happened so naturally. We took advantage of these moments. We didn’t hesitate to trust, laugh, or open ourselves to new friendships. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">One day, one car, four Americans, and lots of unfamiliar territory. Alexandre lent us his car for the day. This was the only time I’ve driven in Brazil. We started at the highest point on the island, where you can see the whole city. Every time I am there I am reminded of how small I am. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">If you ever feel entitled, self-righteous, or extra important, go somewhere that will remind you of how little you really are. A mountain, hill, airplane, city, freeway, or even a bus can do the trick. Maybe that’s why altitude makes us feel closer to God. We are removed from the busyness of life and are able to put ourselves to scale. It sinks in that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">we are nothing but beautiful dust on the surface of a living planet. </span></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">(As a side-note and contrast to my other statement: If you ever feel unimportant, empty, or alone, go to church. It will remind you that you are divine. If that doesn’t work just love somebody that feels the same way you do. The cure to loneliness is making someone else feel loved. Both situations and feelings can bring you closer to God.)</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">We then went to a couple beaches. Navigation was an adventure in itself, I’m glad we are all still alive. The weather wasn’t typical tropical beach weather, but as I’ve reflected back I think that our experience was even more unique because of the imperfect weather. Instead of tanning or hanging out on a beach we hiked, explored, and had energy to experience each other’s company in beautiful places. We walked and walked through the wilderness until coming to a rocky coast. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Where are we?!” I repeated and thought at every new turn. A camera lens can’t do justice to what we got to see. It especially can’t record these girl’s enthusiasm. Anna is 59 (in case she is embarrassed by me posting her age, I think she should know that all three people that read this will probably not have the pleasure of meeting her). She has more energy than most people my age. She led the way through the hills near Praia Brava (good name, it means Angry Beach). That sense of adventure is rare. Loygee and I were lucky to meet Anna and JoAnna. It was only two days with them but that little hike was once in a lifetime. Sure I can go back, it’s not far from where I live, but this is the only time it will feel as it did. This was the only time it would be with new friends in a borrowed car with absolutely no idea where the trail would take us. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Anna and JoAnna left Tuesday morning. It was sad to see them leave. Luckily our friendship was a beginning, not an end. Thanks to them we still have Alexandre and Stéfanie. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">The week continued on. I’ve made friends at school, real friends that I can talk to and trust. My interactions are becoming more meaningful with each moment I spend with my foreign friends. There is no specific experience to relate regarding this large group of people. Being here in Florianópolis, studying at UDESC, is unique and beautiful in itself. I hope to take advantage of it. This interaction is general but equally as meaningful with every day. Every day is a different experience here, an opportunity to meet and love new people. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Friday night was a huge party at UFSC (another University near ours). Everyone smokes and everyone drinks. I had a lot of fun dancing to the band. I bet sometimes people think I’m drunk. I felt empowered by the fact that I didn’t have to spend money on harmful chemicals and that I was free from addiction. We walked to and from the party with Rafael, a friend and fellow student. We had a great time just walking around the city. The contrast from BYU made the night beautiful. These people live a completely different reality, but they are still good in their own way. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">The next day we played soccer, which I have been waiting for since my arrival. On Thursday we made lunch for the missionaries and it turned out amazing. I was so happy that I made a brazilian meal that I tried to repeat this recipe on Saturday. I did something wrong, Loyd and I got a good laugh out of our bad, extremely salty meal together. The leftovers are still in the fridge, we don’t want to throw them away but we definitely don’t want to eat them. After eating we headed out to stake conference. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">It’s always good to be in a chapel, a week sometimes feels like too long. I missed the reverence. The meeting was fulfilling. Good music and good talks. It ended. We decided to take a bus straight to our friend’s birthday party. We didn’t want to bother Alexandre and Stéfanie who gave us a ride there because it would make them go out of their way. We told them we were going to take the bus to the party. We walked out into the cool night air into a quiet city, uplifted by the conference.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Another new friendship came out of nowhere. They approached us from behind on our way to the bus stop. Another meaningful interaction found its way to us. We were encountered by two more amazing people, people I’m grateful I have met. People that love openly. The Parrela family. Brother Parrela used to be the stake president. They put us in their car and told us they would take us anywhere we needed to go. We told him which bar we were headed to for Gustavo’s party and they gladly agreed to take us there. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“You are probably hungry,” said Brother Parrela.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“No, we are okay, thanks though.”<br />
“I know that people your age are always hungry, we are taking you to McDonalds.”</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I know that doesn’t sound like a treat, but it’s very expensive here. This man had no obligation or plan to even shake our hand and within 15 minutes he spent a fortune on hamburgers and ice cream for us. We had a wonderful conversation and I learned a lot from their perspective. I love them. I’m thankful for the attention they gave us, they would make anyone feel important. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">They took us to the bar and trusted us to do good things. They didn’t even hesitate before dropping us off, nor did they tell us a “now remember...” lesson. They took down our emails and phone numbers and promised to take care of us while we are here. How do people become so caring? They are happy because they love without limits. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">The bar was amazing. The band covered american songs and I met a lot of great people. It was good to be with Gustavo on his birthday, he is an awesome kid. One interaction in particular is noteworthy. I met one of Gustavo’s friends at the bar named Bruna. He basically forced us to meet, and we talked quite a bit. Don’t get too excited if you think this meaningful interaction has a romantic ending, it’s because it didn’t that it became meaningful. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Hey, what’s your name?”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Mac, well it’s actually McKinley but nobody can say that, what’s yours?”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Bruna.”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Where did you learn English?” I asked her.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“I lived in London for 4 years.”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Oh, that’s awesome,” I could then hear her British accent...</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Our conversation continued for a while, it had it’s pauses. We would stop and enjoy the music at the bar. Every sentence was accompanied by a pulsing bass, loud guitar, and hundreds of voices mixed and mingled together. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">... Instead of making up the details of our “getting to know you” conversation let’s skip to the good part... </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">She was a beautiful girl, but she stood a little too close to me for comfort. Her intentions at the start of the conversation were very different from when it ended. If I backed up she would find a way for her body to be touching mine. She talked about a lot of things, even her ex-boyfriends, and I feel like she didn’t often have people around that liked to listen. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Why aren’t you drinking anything?” she asked.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“I don’t drink.”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“WHAT? Really?! Oh my I’ve never seen that before. Oh my gosh you are so pure (he he)” she was still flirtatious, but extremely surprised. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">As we talked some of my brazilian friends signaled to me from behind her, encouraging me to make moves. They even acted some out. I guess they didn’t realize that that wasn’t my intention.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">We kept talking and I told her about why I don’t do what most people do. Then came the big moment. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“You’re a virgin!?!?”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Ya not until I’m married.”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“So you are telling me that if we went on a date, and kissed, you wouldn’t have sex with me if I was willing?”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“No.”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">She didn’t believe me. I had to prove it to her somehow.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“How can someone tell if you are lying?” I asked her.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Well I can’t look them in the eyes,” she responded.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">So I looked her in the eyes and confidently said, “I’m not lying.”</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">She almost fell over she was so shocked. She had nothing to say for a minute, then she said...</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">“I’ll never forget you.”</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">The sound of that sentence is very satisfying. It fulfills one of the basic human desires, to be remembered. The reward for doing what was right was immediate. I felt so happy for my life thus far because I could confidently stand for something. I was able to show her that she was more than just something to be sexed (I know that’s not a verb, but I can’t think of a better way of saying it ha). She is not just an object of my temporary pleasure. After this part of the conversation the atmosphere changed between us, her intentions changed. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">It’s easier for me to do what’s “right” when the “wrong” is so blatantly available.</span> At BYU there is no reward for doing good, you merely meet expectations. The reward system is hidden because you feel like you are either normal or you are punished for being “bad.” This leaves little room to be genuinely good. The reward for doing good is there regardless of the the society in which it takes place, but when “good” is the norm it can lose it’s meaning. Like I have repeated throughout this post, we find rare things beautiful. I don’t mean to imply that I want less people to live a “good” life so that I can feel better about myself. I simply gained the perspective that people who live the LDS standards are rare. It’s beautiful to me that anyone does it. It doesn’t feel rare at BYU but in a world this big we are nothing. I am grateful for the principles of the church. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">My brazilian friends came to me as I was getting ready to leave. They said “Você é o cara mais homem que conheço.” I’m not sure how to translate this without sounding like I think I’m the shiz. It’s basically, you are the manliest guy we know. I asked them why. </span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">“Because you could have hooked-up with Bruna and you didn’t because of your principles. You are the man.” </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I’m glad that my “principles” didn’t rub them the wrong way. They are such good kids, I love hanging out with them even though their definition of “good” is very different from mine.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">We left the bar at about 1:30. Loyd and I walked home casually along empty streets. Florianópolis was still awake. We talked about how good we felt. Even our twenty minute walk home was once in a lifetime.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">We got to bed and woke up early for stake conference this morning. A man at the bus terminal helped us find the stake center. His name was Bruno. He was old, at least in his seventies. He was kind enough to walk us to the church because he could tell we didn’t know the city well. On our way there I asked him “what’s the secret of life?” He was difficult to understand because he mumbled a lot. He had an answer, I’m glad I asked. I’m not sure how he phrased it but I know it involved “every day.” That’s all I needed to hear.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">The beauty of life was evident to me this week. Every moment is rare</span>, it’s impossible to comprehend the greatness of each day. Life is beautiful because every day is unique. Moments that are rare and beautiful are unforgettable. If we realize that every day is beautiful, and every moment is rare, then we will live an unforgettable life.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">One week. Seven days of meaningful interactions. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Seven days that I will never forget.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">...A quote for good measure. A dead man’s narration of his experience right after being killed. Janie is his daughter, Caroline is his wife...obviously fictitious.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined our street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday.”</span></span></div></div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-91713519956893439982011-08-14T22:14:00.000-07:002011-08-17T05:06:29.812-07:00Pointless Ramble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="p1"><span class="s1">It’s late, I’m still awake. I should be tired but my eyes won’t close. Is sleepy an emotion? When I feel other emotions, sleepy can’t get to me. Sleepy is weak. Love, nostalgia, sorrow, and joy (among others) are strong. I hold still and try to pull up a black screen. I can’t lose reception with the possible. Re-runs are running on all the other channels. My brain can’t shut down. </span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">It’s not a bad thing. Usually it’s a good thing to stay up just feeling. God speaks through emotions. </span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I was wondering why I haven’t written lately. My inspiration was clouded by a busy mind. Worthwhile things, but busy nonetheless. I miss you keyboard. I miss you bright screen. I miss the spacebar under my thumb. I miss my thoughts coming out in sentences. Thoughts start to make sense with the quiet click of my keyboard. Unfortunately I have to hide a lot. Thoughts are very different in writing, they hide themselves.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I’m afraid that my writing is for me and not for you. But if you are one of the three people that read the crap I write I hope something comes of it. Today I write with no purpose.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I’m back Brazil. It’s good to be here again. I missed you too. This is so different, but today I felt like I was a missionary again. The same spirit. I talked to people who are investigating. I got to play with kids. I ate lunch at a member’s house after church. Then I sat and remembered. So many details came back that I had forgotten. Things I promised never to forget. Then I looked at pictures. Being back here makes me feel like no time has passed, I’m on a mission with no rules. In all reality, I’m always on a mission. This transfer is a little longer than six weeks.</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Sometimes life makes sense. It feels linear and has a direction. Everything falls into place. I’m in the right place at the right time. A time that everything fell into place is now. Everything lined up perfectly. Florianópolis I’m glad I can call you home until December. </span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">The emotions I’ll explain another day. When everything falls into place again. When things make sense. For now, I’m just going to enjoy feeling. If you haven’t done it in a while I recommend it. Be nostalgic. Be excited. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">Don’t let sleepy shut down your beautiful mind</span>. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div></div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-42708042290405022892011-07-28T22:43:00.000-07:002011-07-28T22:43:28.198-07:00A Light in Darkness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="p1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1">I have never felt closer to God than I do now. It’s always when I am far from what is familiar that I feel close to Him. As I left Salt Lake City again and headed towards Brazil I left under different circumstances. I will only be here for six months. It’s just an extended vacation (with classes).</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="p2"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1">As I looked out my window over the plane’s wing I found a dark sky. The woman sitting to my side was also having a hard time sleeping. She was in her seventies, named Cristina. She was very friendly, a native Brazilian that travelled to the United States to be a catholic missionary. Similar circumstances to mine, I went to Brazil the first time as a missionary. We talked a little bit but I couldn’t fall asleep. I continued to look out the window to avoid her friendly, smiling gaze. It was somewhat awkward once she fell asleep facing me. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="p2"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1">This was a gift from God. My eyes locked onto the end of the wing. Looking out windows lets me appreciate the world. There was a lightning storm out my window for at least 30 minutes while we were over the ocean. It was beautiful. I can’t believe how little and insignificant I am. To think about all the different people that I flew over in that small span of 20 hours. All the different families I saw. Millions and millions of people passed underneath me, in front of me, behind me, spoke to me...they add up quickly if you consider every contact and connection you have during the day. I realized that I really am nobody. But it’s a good kind of nobody, it’s a nobody that likes being nobody. It makes me happy because in being nobody I am significant. That doesn’t actually makes sense, but you get the idea. To be safe, if you want to quote me because you found it particularly profound you could say “nobody once said...” then if others don't like it that's why nobody said it. Nobody like me.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="p2"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1">I feel love for people I don’t know. That’s why I have felt close to God during these few days of traveling. When I encounter other people’s realities the world gets smaller. Utah is a misrepresentation of the world at large. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="p2"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1">It’s good to leave BYU. The bubble had me in a choke-hold. I feel free here. When I choose to do good things it feels better than when I feel forced. I actually do more good things under these circumstance, I’ve already had the opportunity to serve and to love. I feel the desire more now than ever.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="p2"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1"></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s1">I went to a bar. I don’t drink but I just talked to people there. I was trying to meet my fellow students as many of them were there.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;"> I know it’s true that you have to find darkness in order to be a light</span>. Darkness could mean a lot of things: lost, lonely, poor, drunk, dead, sick ... just about anything fits. I’m not saying that those people were in darkness just because they drink, but some really are lonely. Hopefully I can be a light to somebody while here in Brazil, I just have to look where there is darkness. This truth applies to my chosen field of education. Teachers are best for kids that need direction, not ones that need more good grades. It’s in the darkness that I am able to shine most as a teacher. So, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">into the caverns of darkness I must plunge, you can come too if you bring your flashlight and some love</span> (Bright Eyes reference). </span></div></div></div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-33507749322131990322011-07-12T23:29:00.000-07:002011-07-12T23:29:35.957-07:00Idaho and Back<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}
li.li1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
ol.ol1 {list-style-type: decimal}
</style> <br />
<div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I was privileged to drive about 7 hours with two of my favorite people last weekend. I attended my mission president’s homecoming in Rigby, Idaho. I was accompanied by my sweet mother and my mission companion David Hilton. These are some lessons I learned.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">People are important.</span> I’m usually lazy about keeping in touch with people I don’t often see. A weekend in Idaho forced me to break that trend. I need to be better, people don’t know I care unless I let them know.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">Memories are bad</span>. The mechanism that records and recalls our experiences that we refer to as our “memory” isn’t constantly improved and updated. It’s actually quite the opposite. With time it wears out. There is something wrong with this function of my body. It’s not a medical problem, it’s a problem that is universal. If it’s universal I guess it isn’t really a problem so much as a norm. It’s a normal, bodily malfunction. It seems to forget things that were once important.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">3. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Good memories can last.</span></span><span class="s1"> So many memories from my mission came back during my day in Idaho. It renewed that feeling of love that I felt every day as a missionary. I remembered what it was like to think about people other than myself. I remembered people that I loved though they did little to deserve it. I remember President Batt’s repeated lesson “everybody that you meet is a child of God.” Again, all people are important. Please stick with me this time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><br />
4.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;">Old people need to be listened to</span>. We took a little bit of time to visit my 93 year old aunt Mercina (she goes by Cenith). I felt like I walked into a Brazilian’s home. She showed us pictures, talking quickly, telling us just about everything that was on her mind. She offered us some crackers and a drink. She graciously thanked us for stopping by and gave us all warm hugs. Everyone wants their story heard, especially when you have 93 years of story to tell. We didn’t have time for all 93 years but a half hour meant a lot.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">5.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;"> Time is difficult to understand.</span> I can’t believe I have been home for over a year and a half. It goes fast and slow. Nothing changes yet everything seems different.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">Never trust a man with a mullet. </span>We almost ran out of gas near Blackfoot Idaho. We weren’t sure how far we were from any town and we drove past two men near their trucks. We asked them where the nearest gas station was (the car told us we had 2 miles left before running out.) One said we were close to Blackfoot, the other said that Firth was closer. We trusted the man with a mullet that sent us to Firth. About two miles down the road there was no sign of any town. A lady was out on her lawn and we stopped to ask her where we could get gas, she told us Firth was probably about 10 miles away and sent us back towards Blackfoot. Now the car said “0 miles” remained and we had to backtrack and get back on the freeway toward Blackfoot. She kindly gave us her phone number in case we got stranded. That was the longest 0 miles I’ve ever travelled. She was a great lady, felt like a friend though I had never met her before.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">7. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Birds are stupid</span>. Stupid or suicidal. I ALMOST hit multiple birds during the trip. I told the passengers, “sometime I’m going to hit one of these stupid birds.” About 10 minutes later a large bird hit my front windshield and left a nasty stain. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">8. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">Earth is beautiful</span>. Especially on a road trip where I only see the beauty as it passes by. Rain just bounced off my windshield. A different story for those who are stationary. Beauty is easier to spot from car windows, they defend us from everything negative. I was tired of feeling clustered in the open air simply because it was familiar. Inside a tiny, compact living space seven hours of movement let me appreciate beauty. Nature from a freeway requires no commitment, just a moment of appreciation. Guarded by car windows and steel doors with locks. </span></div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-32074820996605831462011-06-19T15:33:00.001-07:002011-06-19T15:38:04.497-07:00Father, Mother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
</style> <br />
<div class="p1"><span class="s1">Every year I’m not sure what else to say. The card may be different but the message is always the same. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">I love you</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Thank you</span>. Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays, this message needs to be repeated because your love for me is repeated every day.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"> I love you</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Thank you</span>.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I haven’t always appreciated you like I should. In fact I still don’t. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">That’s the best part about unconditional love. There is no expected retribution. Maybe I receive your love conditionally at times but I know it is given openly regardless of my behavior. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Thank you</span>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">I love you. </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I am lucky to have parents that are experts in the field. They have over thirty years of experience, they know the tricks of the trade. Their parenting reflects what they are best at. Loving.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Letting me wake them up and sleep between them after a bad dream.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Patiently teaching me the same lessons even after I ignore their guidance.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They always have been okay with what I do and what I want to be.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They encourage me to dream big.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They find opportunities to do good, to love others that aren’t their own children.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">My friends always feel welcome around them.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They can still have fun outside with me well into their fifties.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They have energy for life.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They let me take responsibility for myself.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They hold me accountable.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They support me.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><br />
They help me prioritize.</div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They organize me.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">They love kids.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Mom can cook anything. Dad can fix anything.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They know what to say when you need it.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They like it when I come home.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They tell me they love me.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They tell me they are grateful for what I do and that I am their son.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They are my friends, I love talking to them.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">They are never too busy.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">They search for truth in all things.</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">They live the truth they find.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><br />
Everywhere they go feels like home.</div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="s1">Father, Mother. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Thank you</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">I love you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">.</span></span></div></div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-48939124049216916222011-04-04T08:58:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:00:08.011-07:00Capitalist Lovers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #fb130c; min-height: 15.0px}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
</style> <br />
<div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">I wrote this for the New York Times college essay contest. The subject was "modern love." Like old people say about soda, cars, or anything else from "their day," "they just don't make 'em like they used to."</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">I am a commodity, a capitalist lover. On the market’s shelves I fight for a location near eye-level. I try my best to stand out as one worthy of being taken through the check-out line. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">This market is a free-for-all where the product is also the buyer. Capitalist lovers shop around to make an exchange––me for you. Lovers also spend time on the shelf, waiting. The longer they wait, the lower their price. My value changes each time someone picks me up, compares the costs, and puts me back on the shelf.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I am a twenty-two-year-old virgin, but if you ask me if I’ve ever loved, I will say yes. My time in the market has been profitable, though I’ve made love out of different materials than most.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Driven towards efficiency the invisible hand guides people together, just as it pulls inefficient pairs apart. Beautiful people find an equitable match, while the not-so-beautiful set a lower standard. I stick to what’s affordable and hope that my daily bargaining is profitable. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Following a long personal recession, I routinely made my way down the market’s aisles making offers. A particular product caught my eye. Beautiful? Check. Personality? Check. Affordable? Not sure. Convenient? No. An hour and a half separated us, but the modern market makes equity and profitability more important than distance. Tariffs on distant exchanges are now minimal. I can import, export, and trade almost anywhere.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">After bargaining, we agreed on a down payment and made the trade—me for her. We collected our receipts and I kept the change: a market success. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Our relationship built and the value of our mutual investment appreciated. This raised the cost of each decision. Each error held higher stakes. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">My mistakes typically involve words. Uncertainty makes proper communication difficult. Clarity flows through emails and messages but speaking aloud is a different language. Backspace can take years if the letters are audible. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">My words filled the room with silence as she gathered her belongings to head home, her frustration apparent. She wasn’t prepared to hear the words “I’m not sure.” After the sound escaped, I wanted to reach out my hand and snatch it from the air. I tried to put the words back in my mouth and gulp them down, down where they couldn’t cause trouble. Unfortunately, my regret travels slower than sound waves.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Her belongings were in the car and we both awaited our temporary goodbye. Afraid of more misspoken words I pulled her in, she slowly rested her head on my chest. Still silent. My fear of speaking aloud subsided as the three most difficult words made their way out of my stubborn mouth. Under these conditions the phrase couldn’t be taken lightly. “I love you.” The uncertainty withdrew and our embrace strengthened. Somehow I could commit to love, but a defined relationship uncomfortably scratched and clawed at me. Definitions always leave me unsettled.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">The combination of those fearful words added to our investment, I had disregarded my economic reason. Up until now, my best option has always been some of me for some of you. Low costs with quick profits. Capitalist lovers like me routinely hurry back to the store while there is still time to use our in-store credit. The thought of never stepping back into the market, with no more return receipts or cheap pleasure, is our greatest fear as capitalist lovers. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">She got in her car and smiled away our good-bye kiss. Distance took the opportunity and stepped between us. I too made my way across the empty highway, the city lights made a splotchy reflection on my car’s windows and mirrors. With each dotted white line that passed under my tires I felt closer and closer to her. My music slowly faded until it was silenced by hopeful thoughts. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">The steering wheel disappeared from my hands and I was no longer surrounded by car doors. The reflection on my windows was replaced by daylight. I was standing upright, removed from the warm leather seat and conditioned air. I looked across at her and smiled as I heard her voice make the vows, “I do.” I replayed the “I love you”s that meant something, with no fear of consequence. I watched from a hospital window as she held our first child. I played in the park with our growing family. I grew old with a slight gut, a raspy voice, and a big smile on my face, my wrinkled hand in hers. We laughed often, until it hurt, side-by-side, grey and old. </span></div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I reluctantly found my way back into the leather seat. I noticed my hands still placed around the steering wheel, her wrinkled hands disappeared. The reflected city lights crept their way back across the landscape as the last of the white lines passed under my tires. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">In moments like these I gather the available materials and build love out of dreams. I make love out of a simple desire to care for someone else, not out of sexual pleasure. Love is a hope to spend every second with the same person even after a bald head, a raspy voice, and wrinkles get the best of me. But I am a capitalist lover and this definition seems inconsistent with what’s profitable. This definition is inconsistent with the modern market.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Even with an hour and a half between us, we grew much closer. The “I love you”s were more common and my dreams expanded from hopeful thoughts to a communicable version of “ours.” We worked together to build our future empire. We talked hopefully of when we would make vows and promise away our forevers. We flirted with the idea of making this our last trip through the check-out counter, letting our return receipts dissolve into meaningless molecules, dust and ashes. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Somehow, amidst our unfulfilled dreams, the market got the best of us. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">After some time the “I love you”s became scarce, and for us their scarcity didn’t make them more valuable. A ghost from her past, a previous buyer, haunted her. Luckily for him he had kept the receipt with her name on it. Dream weaving resorted to problem solving. Our conversations became less hopeful. Eventually she looked at her receipt and realized that her time for exchange hadn’t expired.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I am a capitalist lover, a commodity, and so is she. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">She made her way to the market and put me back on the shelf. He showed the cashier his old receipt and reclaimed what was once his.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Back in the market, the view from these weathered shelves is different. As a greedy buyer, expectations frustrate my ability to bargain. I’m now afraid of ghosts from each product’s past. I am careful not to dream of castles and empires, of love, because they crumble so easily. I’m no longer sure what makes love. Now, it’s cheap and easy that I want, relationships without definitions. Now, more than ever, that’s exactly what’s available.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I compete and make offers. Success in this market depends on my ability to fit desired expectations. I have to be like fast-food by offering a filled appetite at a low price. No fear of costly disappointment. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I fight for my place near eye-level. Occasionally I make my way through the check-out counter and collect my profits, some of me for any of you. Each time I’m sure to keep my receipt. I go through lots of somebody’s while certain not to overspend.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Unfortunately, returns on these exchanges are minimal and their satisfaction temporary. They fill my appetite but make me sick. I want something real. I finally remind myself that I am human. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I’m more than a product on a shelf. As a capitalist lover I am subject to a changing market but I am the product and the buyer. The invisible hand may dictate what is equitable, but I choose the means of exchange. I choose what makes love. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I am near eye-level, where I once thought love waited. I am a commodity with revised expectations and it’s me that waits.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">As I glance down at my feet, dusty from months left untouched on this market’s shelves, my surroundings become hazy. I notice something beautiful making its way down the market’s aisles. I notice the way her dark hair waves its way down her head. I notice her green eyes. She finds her way to my lonely shelf. I disregard my normal checklist of expectations, built into me by years of bargaining.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">Her gentle hands wipes the dust off my feet. She picks me up and ignores my price tag.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">She isn’t interested in quick profits. She tells me that I should no longer feel the need to compete. She tells me that she has no standardized expectations. She tells me that my heart is all that matters. I no longer fear ghosts from the past. I no longer feel like a commodity.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">The market’s daily fluctuations continue. On our way down the aisle, my hand in hers, I watch people bargain with each other. Products actively seeking buyers. The line for returns is out the door with people trying their best to keep the profits they once collected. Somehow amidst this greedy market I was able to make my way through the check-out counter one more time. Neither of us kept the change and we let the cashier hold our receipts. </span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="s1">I am a capitalist lover, and so is she; but for us the means of exchange––me for her––is a hopeful future that we can call “ours.” </span></div></div>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-25488419617978027312011-01-22T13:37:00.000-08:002011-01-22T13:47:01.442-08:00Don't Close Your BlindsIt comforts me to close the blinds. I am now in the library on a bright Saturday morning.<br /><br />It looks like spring, though it feels like winter. As I took a walked outside across campus, a cold wind penetrated my thin sweater. It felt hopeful with most of the snow melted. That refreshing air of change. My hope for change is very premature, since it’s still January. When I arrived in the library I chose the brightest desk, right next to a window. The sunlight was so bright my computer lost a short battle with the sun to decide who was brighter. After breaking a sweat through the insulated window, inside a heated room protected from the cold wind, I closed the blinds. My eyes adjusted, my computer became visible, and little bits of light broke through the cracks in the blinds. My body relaxed and I began to work.<br /><br />I couldn’t do it. Homework seemed so small compared to what I had just been through. The moment was too beautiful not to share. Bright sunlight and cold, fresh air. Loud music vibrating my ear drums. People walking calmly, at a Saturday’s pace, exchanging smiles. Then, arrival at my destination. A quiet desk where I could be alone. A place to record that short, optimistic glimpse of humanity. Hope in a time of renewal. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Renewal in a time of weakness.</span><br /><br />This isn’t the first time that a moment lifted me up in a time of need. It actually seems very common. It’s never the elaborate searches for “fun” that do it. It’s not typically well planned. Expectations seem to ruin meaningful experiences. <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Spontaneity is the only constant</span> between my different experiences of renewal. A bit of our godliness shines through. This is a human only experience. Not just a chemical impulse but something deeper and much <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">brighter</span>. I felt like more than a busy use of resources. I saw hope, I was given light.<br /><br />It’s the contrast that counts. <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">Darkness</span>, to <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">light. </span><br /><br />The most hopeful moments only come after hopelessness. The contrast brings the experience to life and makes it vivid. This morning’s sunlight followed a particularly dark time. Many cold, wintery nights alone, too busy to experience the day. It wasn’t dark because I was hopeless. It was dark because productivity was my focus.<br /><br />An enlightening scripture comes to mind. <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/95.6?lang=eng#5">“They who are not chosen have sinned a grievous sin, in that they are <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">walking in darkness at noon-day</span>.”</a><br /><br />This is a reference to the verse that states “many are called but few are chosen.” Those that are not chosen are surrounded by light, yet choose to walk in darkness. I have done this all too often. I close the blinds, no matter how much light is on the other side.<br /><br />Closing the blinds today in the library brought me comfort. It always does. The brighter the light, the better the blinds. Why do I let myself walk in darkness at noon-day? The consequences of hoping too much outweighs the cost of shutting the light out. What if I dream too far?<br /><br />Though we are constantly reminded to keep our blinds closed and get our work done, a short glimpse of our godliness brings spontaneous hope. Renewal comes easily, even if the darkness has settled thickly, getting comfortable. The light is easy to contrast. There are moments where we allow ourselves to let all the light in, even if it’s too bright. These moments only happen when there aren’t any blinds to close, when light can flush out all desire to keep it away.<br /><br />I was with a friend who had given me hope in many times of need. Times of self-doubt and times of darkness. As I was with him I stumbled upon a different verse.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">“They shall give each other light in their times and in their seasons.”</span><br /><br />I was given light today, it’s my time and my season. I have needed others for a renewal and hope, yet I often closed my blinds. I feel like I need to share this spontaneous light, please don’t close your blinds.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">You are of God, your light comes from within. Hope doesn’t settle upon you, it is a unique part of your nature. Do not doubt your potential. Light is always within reach.</span><br /><br />Renewal can happen in <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">a number of ways</span>. <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">(1)</span> Make an effort, <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">open your blinds</span>. If you don’t feel capable of opening them on your own <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">(2)</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">let another give you light</span>, in their time and in their season. Though you may be in darkness, those around you have light to give. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DO NOT</span> allow yourself to walk in darkness at noon-day. <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">(3)</span> Even if that seems like too much to ask,<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"> you are still not lost</span>. You will have a moment where you are alone, with no blinds to close. Whether you are walking to the library, talking to a friend, or on your knees; <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">light will find its way out of you</span>. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Hope will overtake you as fast as that light can make its way through the open sky. </span>McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5782155046749928492.post-47702738347145152082011-01-03T14:07:00.000-08:002011-01-03T22:13:13.315-08:00One More RevolutionThe Earth takes 365 1/4 days to circle around the Sun. This motion is called a revolution, yes it is a much less exciting, intense form of revolution. No guns, no death, no tyranny, no overthrow, no victory, just gravity. We aren’t really aware of it, though it is probably much more significant than any earthly revolution. A giant mass of matter traveling through space with all of us stuck to its surface.<br /><br />This new years revolution is typically eventful (depending on the person I suppose). We celebrate the Earth’s accomplishment. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Fireworks</span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">parties</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">cheers</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">fun</span>. As the Earth travels around the sun at about 30 kilometers per second we go right along with it. All 6 billion, 800 million and something of us experienced a revolution, <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">together</span>. What isn’t worth celebrating about that. We are still alive. We aren’t extinct. We have hope in the fact that all of us are celebrating together, if only at midnight. <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">We are all stuck to this place as it spins around the Sun. </span><br /><br />Though we celebrate for Earth it doesn’t rob us of all the excitement. It’s revolution actually means very little to us. For many people New Years is simply a good chance to party. There’s nothing revolutionary about it. For others it’s a time of reflection and personal revolution.<br /><br />We made a distinction. In order to separate our rituals from the Earth’s. One letter needed to be changed in the word revolution. Why celebrate the same thing for two very different accomplishments. We just stood here, slept, socialized, and ate on top of the earth as it did all the work. <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">Earth can take credit for it’s revolution</span>. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">We who are stuck to its surface celebrate our resolution. </span><br /><br />As I read from my journal under the date December 31, 2009 I am reminded of when I had New Years Resolution, inspired by the Earth’s Revolution.<br /><br />This was my last day as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I left Fortaleza, Brazil in the afternoon and had a layover in São Paulo. My flight from São Paulo took off at 11:45pm. As my plane slowly gained altitude the Earth completed its revolution. I will never forget the aerial view of fireworks across the city of São Paulo. As I stared out my window there was a lot on my mind. I was leaving one home, heading to another. It ended how it began, my mission. It’s a poorly summarized story that changed my life. The most important experience of my 22 years.<br /><br />It started leaving those I loved behind thinking “when will I see them again?” This is exactly how it ended. I got so comfortable around those I served. I felt at home on the streets of Fortaleza. I had become accustomed to that culture, more so than I was accustomed to my own. I didn’t quite know what to call “mine,” my home, my friends, my family, these definitions seemed to expand. As I stared into the splotchy, colorful sky after midnight I realized that there were a lot of Brazilians that I hardly knew. I didn’t know their favorite colors, or movies, what music they listened to, or everything else we consider knowledge about a person. I did not know them in the sense that we are familiar with, <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">I knew them</span>. They meant just as much to me as those I had known for years. You can spend years around the same people, with that stagnant air of old habits, but <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">the strongest friendships don’t need time</span>. Those that I came to love on my mission were the types of people you don’t need to “hang out” with to have a meaningful relationship. What holds the friendship together is the remembrance of our progress. We worked at strengthening each other. We knew when there was a need. We trusted. We prayed. We thanked. We laughed. We grew. All of this was done together, in a spirit of service. I learned one important lesson, this one I can summarize. There is nothing more fulfilling than service.<br /><br />My Resolution. <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">That particular revolution of the Earth stirred something deep within me</span>. Maybe it was the fact that I was leaving one home and returning to another. Maybe it was the realization that my life was about to become more important to me. I was no longer able to worry about other people all day, every day. I had to start worrying about myself. That realization is what formed my resolution. This wasn’t a New Years Resolution, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">I was resolute to change forever. To continue to be close to God through service. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Though the lesson I learned is easy to summarize, </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >it is NOT easy to learn</span>. It’s one I had heard over and over again. It’s almost predictable that monthly in sacrament meetings, or every General Conference, someone will talk about service. But this lesson, that service is happiness, is <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >only learned by doing</span>.<br /><br />Maybe I wasn’t so good at staying resolute. My resolution to serve must have been weak. The time following my mission has been like a self-serving vortex, <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">it sucked me in</span>. Like I’m in a fun house of mirrors that show me different versions of myself. Sometimes that's all I see is myself, in many different versions. I have to find my way out, sort through the reflective mirrors, or my resolution will quickly be replaced by my over-aware self. That lesson I once learned is becoming distant, <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">it is fading. After only one more of the Earth’s Revolutions. </span><br /><br />Now, with every New Years revolution I hope that I can remember that missionary resolution. High above the New Years fireworks of São Paulo reflecting on my service as a missionary. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">I was resolute</span>. I need to re-learn that lesson I learned during those two years. Like I said, the only way to learn is by doing. <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">My resolution this revolution; to serve</span> (And actually do it).McKinley Withershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147073832599389838noreply@blogger.com1