I read a lot about the economic challenges ahead and how people will riot when they are forced to cut back on their standard of living... but I think as long as we have several varieties on multiple player online games like the World of Warcraft,,, and the electricity to play them with that we simply will be too busy to notice. And all of anger will be worked out slaying some computer graphics.
We will not riot. We will not fight, we will not even notice the walls crumbling around us. Give us our alternative universe and we will do only what we must in this one to spend time in that one.
There is often a scripture referred to in Isaiah where it talks about 7 women will get a hold of 1 man. Sometimes I wonder if it is not because the men are not there physically, but because they are not there emotionally, intellectually or even spiritually.
We are now on our second generation of young men being sucked into computer/video games. Most of these men spend every spare minute in dark rooms fighting and working in a world that doesn't even exist, and unless you are online in their game, you might as well not exist.
Will it drop the birthrate to have a whole generation of video game addicts? Or is sex as important enough to them as the money they need to play their games?
I am serious... how many men do you know under 40 in the community? Do they date enough to woo a wife? and if so how long can their wives handle the daily disappearances into the video game abyss?
Are our boys growing up thinking that this is what men do? Will they catch wives? and keep them?
It might be time to reclaim our men. Turn off the computers and hand them saws and axes and hammers - then after they work long, hard and sweaty- they can pull out their screw drivers and realize that the real life isn't all that bad.
And then is the men lost to video games any worse for us then the men lost to social status games (keeping up with Jones)? or to games of acquisition of wealth and money?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
I had a dream last night that several people insisted that I was pregnant with my number 6. I tried to tell them that I wasn't. They wouldn't believe me - even though I am having my period. The kind of period where you rain down blood and terror upon the toliet several times per day.....
Maybe the dream is a reaction to my mom introducing me to my aunt as having 5.some children. Today it is 5.0 and we have at least 2 weeks before we can increase that. Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The previous post is from LDS church News.... This talk fascinates me. I wish I would have been there. I just wrote a treatise on the roles on men and women (I have been trying to better comprehend them and their eternalness for months now) and have most come these these conclusions. I still would like to know more.
Women have a sacred role in the sanctification and purification of men, Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy told students and faculty during the campus devotional in the Marriott Center at BYU on Tuesday, March 9.
Stuart Johnson, Deseret News
Elder Glen L. Pace of the Seventy speaks at a BYU Devotional.
Reflecting on the love he felt from his mother, sister, wife and daughters, Elder Pace spoke of the positive influence women have had on his life.
Speaking specifically about a time when his daughter fell asleep in his arms, Elder Pace noted the comfort it must have brought his daughter to be held by her father. He realized afterward that even greater was the peace and comfort she brought to him.
Looking to the Savior as an example, Elder Pace spoke of the love and respect He bestowed upon women.
"As we read about these associations, our focus is generally on what He teaches them and the love and understanding He gives them," Elder Pace said. "Have you ever considered the possibility that these women provided immense comfort to His burdened soul? It is my belief that He needed them as He journeyed toward living a perfect life in order that He could provide the ultimate sacrifice."
Stuart Johnson, Deseret News
Elder Glen L. Pace of the Seventy sitting by his wife Jolene, smile at members of the audience prior to Elder Pace speaking at a BYU Devotional.
Just as the Savior needed righteous women, so do men today in purifying and sanctification in their lives.
Sharing excerpts from the story of the creation found in the book of Abraham, Elder Pace told of how the earth was created — before Eve — where Adam had been placed in the Garden of Eden. In the garden, Adam was enjoying a utopia in physical surroundings as well as open communication with God. Still, it was not complete without Eve.
Stuart Johnson, Deseret News
BYU students listen to Elder Glen L. Pace of the Seventy speak at a BYU Devotional.
"I believe the Father's statement 'It is not good that the man should be alone' (Genesis 2:18) had a much more profound meaning than the obvious biological implications," he said. "It also went further than providing Adam with company. Adam's ability to obtain the purification necessary to get back into the presence of God was dependent upon his continuous association with Eve."
In order for men and women to obtain the highest degree of celestial glory, there is need to be married, Elder Pace said.
"There is a limit to our spiritual development as long as we are single. There is a spiritual development which can only be obtained when a man and a woman join their incomplete selves into a complete couple," he said. "Just as conception requires the physical union of male and female, perfection requires the union of the very souls of male and female."
Although single men and women can accomplish great things on their own, they are incomplete until united intellectually, emotionally, physically and most important, spiritually, he said.
"The world we live in has gone awry with its focus on the physical part of the male and female relationship. If there is too much focus on the physical, the vital areas of intellectual, emotional and spiritual union are not being placed in an environment where they can flourish and grow."
Elder Pace spoke of the obsession the current society has on "making love," rather than developing a complete relationship that enables "expressing love." Because melding divine natures is a necessary element in bringing about perfection, Elder Pace said, individuals must guard against any deterioration of those natures.
"If the world keeps chipping away at the divine nature of women, it is probable that our relationships in marriage will not bring about the sanctification necessary for exaltation or, at a minimum, the process will be delayed," he said.
Referring to the phrase, "men have the priesthood and women have been given the blessing of procreation," Elder Pace spoke of the importance of each role in a relationship, and the ability couples have to complement one another in their eternal roles.
"It is the marriage ceremony in the temple where husband and wife receive the power to perfect their relationship and, thereby, obtain their exaltation."
As individuals work together to become a whole, as the Lord has commanded, they work together to become a combination of complementary capacities and characteristics.
"Sisters, I testify that when you stand in front of your heavenly parents in those royal courts on high and you look into Her eyes and behold Her countenance, any question you ever had about the role of women in the kingdom will evaporate into the rich celestial air, because at that moment you will see standing directly in front of you, your divine nature and destiny."
My mother said something interesting the other day. She said that the "dramatic event" of the night before really helped put it in perspective for her of what we go through. I said "What dramatic event? I don't remember anything special."
She was talking about something I just chalked up as normal issues around here. Ian had been on the potty with his enema, he had got off and said he was all pooped out. Then he went upstairs to play and a little while later his poopy smell came wafting down the stairs- pretty strongly. So I went to investigate and Ian was not all pooped out when he left the toilet. He ended up pooping out all over his bedroom, hallway and the upstairs bathroom (the areas just scrubbed clean earlier that day).
He was hiding beneath his covers and so I pulled the covers off of him and told him he was in charge of cleaning it all up. I brought him a roll of paper towel (we only use disposable towels when the job is really bad) the spray cleaner and a plastic bag to put the garbage in.
Surprisingly Ian actually did his best to clean it all up- (and after he was asleep I finished the job well it was still easy to clean, rather then waiting for the poop to dry into a stone hard finish).
It was after this that Mom jumped on IM and asked how my day was going. I told her "Stinky" and then had to relate why.
The interesting thing about the whole incident is that it was just another day around here. We are always dealing with poop, pee and some sort of need for a band-aid. That being said, we are working on getting some PCAs to help with our special children. Most of the time their just feels like there is not enough hands on deck to handle the ship and the sea monsters too.
The sea monsters- by the way- are the kind that throw snot balls that stick to the walls and ceilings and reach their long tentacles in delight of tripping the unsuspecting and then use their suckers and cling to you as you are attempting to do a delicate operation- like using a sharp needle to mend the holes in a blanket, pair of pants or favorite toy.
Now that I am sick with the infamous pneumonia, and have felt it's breath sucking power, hacked my way miserably hour by hour waiting until something would change. I have begun to feel real empathy on those on have ended their lives with diseases such as this.
There was a story that my grandfather died, after drinking away his savings- alone on the streets of pneumonia. And i have wondered did he fight to the end? or did he embrace it welcomingly?- while his body struggled through coughs to gain another breath? Or did his fight for every breath make him drink himself death? Because at least when you are drunk enough you don't feel that pain that rackels through your body as your body spasms and kicks and inhales and coughs in attempt to get enough air to keep functioning. And when you are drunk enough you probably don't care that you have sealed the warrant of your own demise.
I think that probably the pain of having nobody there to care for you would be worse then that of disease it's self, worse then the struggle for breath, worse then knowing that your mortal probation is up.
His alcoholism drove him away from his family and friends- when he was sober we all welcomed him, have great memories of him and great stories of his courage and love, but as a drunk no one was fool enough to hang around too long. And that drove him to be alone- drinking in bars and alleys as he hacked away his last breaths.
Sometimes I wish I would have known the man that was inside- the man he could have been. Maybe I will still get that chance.
There comes a time every few years that our large group of kids magically feels like such a small group of kids, and I look at them and count them and then go "wow, everyone is here, it feels like we are missing some."
That is the point when I open my heart and mind to another blessing/challenge/responsibility. Children are all three and to not be willing to take another one on would be closing your doors or burning your bridges. I can understand when people make that choice... but I can not. I trust that when it is in the Lord's hands that it will all work out for our ultimate benefit.
I have my own mind and will of what I think I want to do or become in this life, but that view is limited to my 30 plus years here on earth. Do I really want to limit my eternal possibilities by the way I see things now? Shouldn't I trust someone who knows what it will take to make me truly perfect, rather then just good? I mean can someone really know what real birthday cake is without trying mine?
How do I know that I will like his cake better then mine? Because he is the master baker... he created the universe and knew me and assigned me to my mission when the earth was planned. And I can make that cake better by playing the roll he has for me and not the roll I think I want to play. (ie, if I am the leavening, I shouldn't try to be the salt).
“. . . Those, then, who make the sacrifice, will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God; and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life, and will be enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who do not make the sacrifice cannot enjoy this faith, because men are dependent upon this sacrifice in order to obtain this faith: therefore, they cannot lay hold upon eternal life, because the revelations of God do not guarantee unto them the authority so to do, and without this guarantee faith could not exist” ( Lectures on Faith, 68–70).
What can we sacrifice? We can sacrifice our will. our own wants and dreams in pursuit of those that God has for us. I may think I know what I want to be... but only in offering up this desire unto him and allow him to chart my course can I become who he wants me to me. Maybe it is not a doctor, maybe it is a mom. I can give him my heart, my desire, and know that that he sees something more glorious for me then I see.
