A brief interlude

It is always good to have done something good. It is always good to have made someone smile. You can never regret brightening their day or being the shoulder they needed to cry on. It doesn't matter if they neglected you afterward. It doesn't matter if you'll never be as close as you thought you could have been. You can't regret making someone happy. Everyone deserves to be happy. And it's ok not to be the one that made them happy. The Lord puts us in the places we need to be to serve those that need us. If it's not today, then it will be tomorrow. If we're going where we're supposed to go and doing what we're supposed to do, we will be right where he needs us, when he needs us. He helps us find those kindred spirits in life that can be near and dear to our hearts and lift us up in times of trial. But most of the time, we are just meant to briefly touch the lives of those around us. And that's why we need to make sure that we touch their lives with good and righteous intent, and leave them with a smile.

Stories Are Not Beautiful. You Are.

There's something I've been thinking about for the last couple months regarding the stories of our lives. Realistically if you've known me for long, or read many of my blogs, then this might seem like a familiar twist of something I've said before... but here it goes.

I get this reaction sometimes like I've done everything, or my life is so incredibly unique or something. I couldn't tell you how many times I've been told I was spoiled. And I couldn't tell you how many times that's irritated me, especially when it comes from my friends. I could care less about people who aren't my friends thinking whatever they want to think. But I suppose I like to think my friends think of me positively, and spoiled has so many negative connotations. But, I digress, so, whatever. 

I think in general at least, everyone thinks that that their life is pretty run of the mill. Life happens how it does, ya know? I mean, obviously we all have that moment when we think we're experiencing something no one else has ever experienced. No one understands me or how I feel. That kind of moment. But I mean really, who thinks their life is so spectacular that no one else has experienced a life similar to our own? As a general rule, I don't think anyone's life is very unique. At least not the bits and pieces. Maybe there's not someone else who has the exact combination of experiences that I have... but if you combined twenty or however many other people's lives together, I'm sure you could piece together the same experiences. Yes? 

My point is... I don't understand why anyone would think my life is or was that spectacular. I don't understand why it's that different from anyone else's story. But someone else out there, thinks that my life is incredible, different, whatever adjective you'd life to tack on there. And soon I'll explain why I think it's okay for people to think that, even if I don't think its true for myself. Obviously we all have our own stories. Obviously we all go through our own trials, and we all go through our own adventures too. But someone else out there has experienced a life similar to my own. And someone else out there has experienced a life similar to yours. Maybe I don't know their name, maybe I do... it doesn't really matter. 

Kay... now, let's not misinterpret where I'm taking this. I don't mean to focus on the "run of the mill" aspect. I mean I do, but I don't. I'm not entirely sure how to put this across in a way that will make sense. Everyone is the same. But everyone is DIFFERENT! 

I know a lot of people who have gone on missions. So, if you have gone on a mission, you may think that that isn't something "unique" in your life. It doesn't make you stand out. It doesn't make you any different from anyone else... right? But I don't think that's true. When I hear about people going on missions, the first question in my head is "why did they choose to go on a mission?" What was their motivation? What kept them going? What emotions did they feel while they were in the mission? What emotions did they feel afterward? How do those memories drive them now? The answers to THOSE questions are unique because they are personal. Those are the questions about people's lives that I live asking. That's what helps you get to know someone. 

Remember when I said we all hove those moments when we think, no one knows how I feel? That's because feelings are unique and personal. So I don't care if you think your life is boring. I don't care if you think your life isn't special. How unique your life is, is not determined by whether or not there is anything spectacular in it. You are unique because of the unique combination of every thing that's happened. And the unique combination of your emotions and thoughts and drives, are what make your life spectacular. 

You are spectacular because of what you feel. You are spectacular because of what you want, because of what you hope, because of what makes you scared, and what makes you cry. No one can ever take away the way you feel. Feelings are beautiful. Thoughts and drives are beautiful. The stories themselves aren't beautiful. The stories themselves don't matter. The stories are a means to an end! The stories are the means by which we can feel things! The stories of our lives are like one of Christ's parables, designed to open our hearts, help us learn the truths we need to love Christ. 2 Nephi 11:4 

  4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the claw of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

For this end, were we sent to Earth. That we might receive the stories of our lives, that we may find the meaning in our lives that points to Christ. That we may find his truth.

Anyway... I'm done. Hopefully that made sense, and put across something similar to what I was thinking. Feel beautiful for the raw truth that is the way you feel. Feel beautiful for the moments you've seen the truth of God. Forget your stories if it keeps you from seeing the truth, or feeling true. Be you. Be the typification of Christ in someone else's life story. Point them to Him. And you will get closer yourself.
The end.