I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For a number of years the leaders of our church have referred to the rising generation as a chosen generation. Chosen by our Heavenly Father to come to earth at this time when there is great moral depravity.
I can remember when I first heard that term "chosen generation". I believe I was around the age of 12, or maybe 13, and the title was used in reference to me and my peers. At first I was a little taken aback by the thought that we were a chosen generation; that each of us had been saved to come to earth at this time because we were individually special. Now, don't get me wrong. The world is in quite a sorry state right now as societal views shift away from values of modesty, integrity, and obedience. Day after day the media highlights advertisements rampant with sexual innuendos, little white lies, and examples of bending the rules to get through life. But as a young man I really didn't see it that way.
At first, as I stated, I thought the leaders of the church had finally missed something. They were actually wrong this time, I was sure of it. I really didn't see there being all that much wrong with life back then, it all looked fine to me. I thought they were over exaggerating the threat and were therefore over exaggerating our strengths. Then I heard the term again, and again. I began to believe them and became rather proud of who I was. In my mind I began to think that we certainly were special and that only we could make it through what lay ahead. I thought we were something else, something greater than any generation that had come before, or will even come after. We were chosen.
As I look back at that perception I can't help but laugh at myself. Are we chosen, of course we are, but who isn't. As I've reflected on the term "chosen generation" I've realized that it's a term that applies to every generation of mankind who ever have, or ever will be upon the face of this earth. Each of us have certain capabilities and strengths, along with the corresponding weaknesses. Just as a loving father knows his children, and what they're able to do, so does our Heavenly Father know exactly what we're able to do. With this knowledge He has chosen to send each of us to earth at a very specific time, and in a very specific place. He knows that you are best suited to face the obstacles that have and will come during your lifetime in the place that you are. You are chosen.
Each of us are chosen, and indeed called to stand forth with our might and do all we can to make the world a better place. That may mean that we're meant to do something extraordinary, but more likely than not it doesn't. But that doesn't mean that we are any less important. Think about the effects one individual can have while just going about ordinary life. I mean, think of Einstein's first grade teacher. We have no idea who that person was, but he/she started young Albert on a path to intellectual greatness. Think of Donovan Bailey's boyhood friend who challenged him to a race for the last swing. We have no idea who that friend was, but it's him/her that opened the way for young Donovan to begin sprinting faster than anyone else. Think of Michelangelo's mother who would cherish the small sketches he would do. We have no idea who that woman was or what she was like, but her faith and encouragement began Michelangelo on a path of artistic genius.
No matter how small our acts may be, the effect they can have are immense. We may think that another could do better, but no one else is you. You are the one with the strengths and weaknesses that define who you are and make you prepared for what you will face. Our Heavenly Father has chosen us because He knows that we are capable, now let's go prove that to ourselves!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Are you afraid of the dark?
Fears are very interesting things when you pause to think about them. There are fears that are ingrained into our very nature, others we grow into over time, and still others that seem to be rather irrational. Yet the majority of what we are afraid of have at least the semblance of an explanation for the why.
As a little kid I remember being afraid of the dark, I mean who wasn't? There was an aspect of the unknown as I peered out the window late at night and nothing was truly discernible. Just a little bit freaky as a little kid. Another thing that didn't really help extinguish this fear was what my sister and I, along with a few of our friends, did with the character and concept of Bloody Mary. Like most kids we had heard the old horror stories about Bloody Mary and how she would come to the one chanting her name in front of a mirror in a pitch black room. From what I recall, we believed that Mary was a Queen of sorts and would help us in succeeding in our lives if we did her bidding but once. Now I'm not sure what happened for my sister, or my friends for that matter, but they all told fantastical stories after going into the bathroom, alone, and with the lights off. When it came to be my turn I went into the bathroom all brave and sure that I would have the best story yet. The lights were turned off and the door was shut. I was left alone in the dark where a dead woman was going to come visit me, I thought I was going to pee my pants! I chanted Bloody Mary's name for what seemed to be forever, yet nothing happened. When suddenly BAM, BAM, BOOM, KNOCK, BAM, BANG, BANG! It seemed that everyone was banging on the door simultaneously. I was scared out of my wits and may have cried just a little bit. Though nothing had happened I told my sister and friends anything they wanted to hear just so I wouldn't have to go through it again. That dark bathroom was scary!!!
My guess is that many of you reading this could share similar experiences from your childhood days. Then what is the explanation for that fear, or is it of the irrational category? I believe that the fear of the dark can both be explained as a fear of the unknown, but also as something ingrained in our ancestors. Way back when people grew accustomed to the fact that those who went off into the night alone didn't often return unharmed, or return at all! As people began to domesticate nature and urbanize the world this became less likely, but it seems the fear remains for many children; some who grow out of it, and others who do not.
As I reflect on this fear, and other fears that I grew up with, the act of rationalizing them, and explaining the why, has pushed a large number of them out of my life. My fear of the dark, of heights, of the ocean, of men with deep voices (this one kind of makes me laugh since I'm now a man with a deep voice), and the list could go on. Each of them seems to have dissipated to the point that I don't really consider them fears anymore, except one. That is the fear of myself.
Now that may sound very weird, and I can honestly tell you that it has nothing to do with me becoming a man with a deep voice (I promise!). But I can say that in many situations I fear me; I fear what I can do and the ensuing consequences. And though I can explain this fear away as being because of not completely understanding what I'm capable of, knowing myself better doesn't change anything. I can explain the fear as a reemergence of an ancient desire to not lead family or friends into danger, looking over my decisions until I am sure of myself doesn't effect the fear at all. I think this is one I'm stuck with. And for that reason I will always be looking for verification from others, but most of all from the Lord to see if what I am doing is really the best thing to be done. And though the fear may not go away, the anxious fretting and nervous second guessing always does.
So, what are you afraid of?
As a little kid I remember being afraid of the dark, I mean who wasn't? There was an aspect of the unknown as I peered out the window late at night and nothing was truly discernible. Just a little bit freaky as a little kid. Another thing that didn't really help extinguish this fear was what my sister and I, along with a few of our friends, did with the character and concept of Bloody Mary. Like most kids we had heard the old horror stories about Bloody Mary and how she would come to the one chanting her name in front of a mirror in a pitch black room. From what I recall, we believed that Mary was a Queen of sorts and would help us in succeeding in our lives if we did her bidding but once. Now I'm not sure what happened for my sister, or my friends for that matter, but they all told fantastical stories after going into the bathroom, alone, and with the lights off. When it came to be my turn I went into the bathroom all brave and sure that I would have the best story yet. The lights were turned off and the door was shut. I was left alone in the dark where a dead woman was going to come visit me, I thought I was going to pee my pants! I chanted Bloody Mary's name for what seemed to be forever, yet nothing happened. When suddenly BAM, BAM, BOOM, KNOCK, BAM, BANG, BANG! It seemed that everyone was banging on the door simultaneously. I was scared out of my wits and may have cried just a little bit. Though nothing had happened I told my sister and friends anything they wanted to hear just so I wouldn't have to go through it again. That dark bathroom was scary!!!
My guess is that many of you reading this could share similar experiences from your childhood days. Then what is the explanation for that fear, or is it of the irrational category? I believe that the fear of the dark can both be explained as a fear of the unknown, but also as something ingrained in our ancestors. Way back when people grew accustomed to the fact that those who went off into the night alone didn't often return unharmed, or return at all! As people began to domesticate nature and urbanize the world this became less likely, but it seems the fear remains for many children; some who grow out of it, and others who do not.
As I reflect on this fear, and other fears that I grew up with, the act of rationalizing them, and explaining the why, has pushed a large number of them out of my life. My fear of the dark, of heights, of the ocean, of men with deep voices (this one kind of makes me laugh since I'm now a man with a deep voice), and the list could go on. Each of them seems to have dissipated to the point that I don't really consider them fears anymore, except one. That is the fear of myself.
Now that may sound very weird, and I can honestly tell you that it has nothing to do with me becoming a man with a deep voice (I promise!). But I can say that in many situations I fear me; I fear what I can do and the ensuing consequences. And though I can explain this fear away as being because of not completely understanding what I'm capable of, knowing myself better doesn't change anything. I can explain the fear as a reemergence of an ancient desire to not lead family or friends into danger, looking over my decisions until I am sure of myself doesn't effect the fear at all. I think this is one I'm stuck with. And for that reason I will always be looking for verification from others, but most of all from the Lord to see if what I am doing is really the best thing to be done. And though the fear may not go away, the anxious fretting and nervous second guessing always does.
So, what are you afraid of?
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