A couple of months ago I moved wards and it's been one of the most challenging changes of my life. I'm unsure if it was merely my situation at the time or the harsh reality of where I am in life and where I'd pictured being. Now I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be in aligning my will with the Father's so I will remain trekking on the path I know will allow me to grow closer to Him. In the past few weeks I've contemplated greatly the difference between bring Child-like and Childish. The doctrine is clear, there is a distinguishable difference. I was impressed, in October general conference when the prophets and apostles spoke of children, in the application sense of us becoming like them, the pre-cursing condition is one of little children. I work with students everyday; there is a distinguishable difference between my preschoolers and the attributes they possess and the shenanigans displayed by the older kids.
As I've contemplated, in thought and in conversation with some of my closest friends, I've only recently concluded the variance of the two and it's significance and application in my own life. Let me illustrate my thought process by the two following examples:
A few years ago I went out on New Years Eve to two different parties. The first gatherings crowd was a little bit older in age, about twenty seven and upwards, making me the youngest on there by years. I was bored, unamused, and unquestionably immature. I wanted to play games, talk to each other, in gist feel the excitement of being alive! Needless to say, I left feeling let down and determined not to lose myself to what I perceived as an apathetic attitude towards life. The next party I went on towards we played basketball, talked with each other openly, and set new years resolutions. These friends were in their early twenties, spontaneous, enthusiastic, and full of what I viewed as life.
Moving into this new ward I have a group of friends who seem to like recreation as much as I do...yet I find them to be less committal with their time and the enthusiasm towards spending time participating in what I have come to value and know as part of my "life-line." Again, I found myself asking, "Why aren't they into it?" Where's the zeal for life? How are they not absolutely thrilled out of their skins to be alive? Then I am the one called crazy because I make bread, do dishes for people, donate things I do for anyone anyway, but I'm the crazy one....something wasn't adding up for me and I understand math more than most...so I was left at a standstill.
Life was amiss as I knew it, most of all I knew God knew it. I was on a mission to figure out how to grow up...it took me falling asleep at a musical at 8 pm in the evening, praying persistently to comprehend what I am supposed to be learning, having my old Bishop text me, and a willingness to see the childishness in previous decisions I've been making then motivation to change, staying up until 4 am, dating advice from 20 year olds, etc, waking up tired because I wasn't ensuring adequate rest. Then one night as I spent time with my 4 1/2 year old doll of a nephew. I watched him struggle to stay awake through dinner, a game, and reading. He was so tired he didn't even want to have a snowball fight....it hit me. The order of priorities in his world was out of synch. Life isn't fun if you aren't rested or feel rest. The salt seems to loose it's savor, being good for not. It is much the same in being an adult. There is a wisdom and order to all things. We have all of eternity to progress and apply what we are learning line upon line, precept upon precept. I revamped my schedule and it looks much like I would picture a grown-ups to be. Going to bed early, it wouldn't strike anyone else as spectacular, but it's my life and thus as I turn it over to Him is becomes absolutely exhilarating!
I had a blessing about two months ago telling me as I am obedient to the promptings I receive (a new job, a new ward, new friends, new roommates, etc) I will learn wisdom that I will be able to share with others and continue to apply throughout the rest of my life. Like many other instances of growth in life, this is the tip of the iceberg and what is going on is much deeper and unseen to the natural eye. It's a good thing I too know I'm made for deep water, better deeper than shallow.
As I've contemplated, in thought and in conversation with some of my closest friends, I've only recently concluded the variance of the two and it's significance and application in my own life. Let me illustrate my thought process by the two following examples:
A few years ago I went out on New Years Eve to two different parties. The first gatherings crowd was a little bit older in age, about twenty seven and upwards, making me the youngest on there by years. I was bored, unamused, and unquestionably immature. I wanted to play games, talk to each other, in gist feel the excitement of being alive! Needless to say, I left feeling let down and determined not to lose myself to what I perceived as an apathetic attitude towards life. The next party I went on towards we played basketball, talked with each other openly, and set new years resolutions. These friends were in their early twenties, spontaneous, enthusiastic, and full of what I viewed as life.
Moving into this new ward I have a group of friends who seem to like recreation as much as I do...yet I find them to be less committal with their time and the enthusiasm towards spending time participating in what I have come to value and know as part of my "life-line." Again, I found myself asking, "Why aren't they into it?" Where's the zeal for life? How are they not absolutely thrilled out of their skins to be alive? Then I am the one called crazy because I make bread, do dishes for people, donate things I do for anyone anyway, but I'm the crazy one....something wasn't adding up for me and I understand math more than most...so I was left at a standstill.
Life was amiss as I knew it, most of all I knew God knew it. I was on a mission to figure out how to grow up...it took me falling asleep at a musical at 8 pm in the evening, praying persistently to comprehend what I am supposed to be learning, having my old Bishop text me, and a willingness to see the childishness in previous decisions I've been making then motivation to change, staying up until 4 am, dating advice from 20 year olds, etc, waking up tired because I wasn't ensuring adequate rest. Then one night as I spent time with my 4 1/2 year old doll of a nephew. I watched him struggle to stay awake through dinner, a game, and reading. He was so tired he didn't even want to have a snowball fight....it hit me. The order of priorities in his world was out of synch. Life isn't fun if you aren't rested or feel rest. The salt seems to loose it's savor, being good for not. It is much the same in being an adult. There is a wisdom and order to all things. We have all of eternity to progress and apply what we are learning line upon line, precept upon precept. I revamped my schedule and it looks much like I would picture a grown-ups to be. Going to bed early, it wouldn't strike anyone else as spectacular, but it's my life and thus as I turn it over to Him is becomes absolutely exhilarating!
I had a blessing about two months ago telling me as I am obedient to the promptings I receive (a new job, a new ward, new friends, new roommates, etc) I will learn wisdom that I will be able to share with others and continue to apply throughout the rest of my life. Like many other instances of growth in life, this is the tip of the iceberg and what is going on is much deeper and unseen to the natural eye. It's a good thing I too know I'm made for deep water, better deeper than shallow.
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