"Be ye mindful..." (1 Chronicles 16:15)

I haven't written much in the past couple of years. Without sharing all the "stuff" that has happened, let me just say it has been rough. Yet, I know that we all have "stuff", and some of that stuff is really BIG and painful, and sad, and lots of hurting, and sorrow-full...BUT, there are also small moments of calm, and pleasantness, and happiness, and cheer, even delight. Indeed, "there is an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11).

Over the past few years, I have learned a lot about mindfulness. What does it mean to be mindful? For me, it has come to mean that I purposely pay attention to what I am experiencing. And as I do so, I do it without finding fault or being critical of my experience. It is a way of experiencing what is (see Jacob 4:13; D&C 93:24), rather than allowing my mind to make up stories and lead me down a path of despair. 

I become aware of my breath (see Mosiah 2:21), slowing down and paying attention to the air that fills my lungs and then paying attention to the air as it leaves. Doing this brings my mind to the present moment quickly, it lowers the heart rate, it helps control my thoughts. It helps stop the train wreck thinking, the thinking that runs away with the worst-case scenarios ever! It brings me back to the present, to what is happening at the moment.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

God wants us to be mindful of Him and His ways. In 1 Chronicles it says, "Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations" (1 Chronicles 16:15). Paul wrote to Timothy, "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy" (2 Timothy 1:3-4 italics added). I am praying for you. I know God is aware of your pain, and your life. He is mindful of you always.

God uses mindfulness to help us stay present in Him. The prophets say, "The Lord hath been mindful of us: He will bless us (Psalm 115:12). And He does.  I have learned that I get to choose what I will focus on when difficult times hit our home and family (see 2 Nephi 2:27). I get to decide if I will focus on the pain or on the healing. They are both present, it's just a matter of what I want to give attention to, allowing the experiences to pass through me rather than gripping them and causing more pain.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10; D&C 101:16). This has become a mantra I think as I breathe in, "Be still", and as I breathe out, "know ...I am God". I symbolically breathe in the calm and peace I need, and then I breathe out the trust and faith that is exercised. I invite you to give it a try- be still. Notice what IS, and enjoy the present moment.

God is present. "...There is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all." (Moses 1:6). Be still. Learn of Him, and you shall have peace (see D&C 19:23).

Breathe in..."Be Still."

Breathe out... "...know...I am God".

"...that ye may learn wisdom..." (Alma 32:12)

Learning wisdom...

Do you ever feel like you are having experiences in life in which...well, that you got the short end of the stick? I have been feeling like this off and on since I got diagnosed with CRPS (March of 2016; learn more about CRPS here and here). But today I have had to stop and think a bit after having a new insight from this scripture:

"I say unto you, it is well that ye [have ...insert challenge here], that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye [have...said challenge], that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble" (Alma 32:12)

 When I read it like this, "it is well that ye have CRPS, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom"...I wanted to say, "What?! It isn't well. This really, really stinks (to put it mildly)!" Sometimes I get caught up in, "...but I can't do such and such" thinking, especially, I can't ride my trike or go on hikes anymore! To say nothing about all the shoes and boots in my closet that I can't wear!

Then I had to pause.

I have to be still. "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still." (Psalm 4:4). I really like that...stand in awe...be still. I have found that when I am still, when I am calm and not all whiny or mad, or full of self pity, it is then that I receive answers, or peace, and I understand better what I need to do...or not do. Sometimes it takes me a bit to be still. But when I finally get there I realize that life is more than the doing or the getting.

I believe that this life is "a time to prepare to meet God..." (Alma 34:32). And to prepare I must learn how to be godly, which includes learning patience, long-suffering, spiritual endurance, being quick to forgive, healing, sorrow, joy, peace, being still...you get the idea.

It is not "necessary" that I ride a bike. But it is "necessary that I learn wisdom" (see Alma 32:12). "Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished" (Ecclesiastes 4:13). Admonished is to be "warned of something to be avoided" (Dictionary). Another favorite about wisdom: "O be wise, what can I say more? (Jacob 6:12).

I invite you to pause, to be still. Take time to think about what godly attribute or quality you are learning. I know life isn't fair, but it sure is worth learning wisdom.

This is an interesting photo to me as I can see the "shine" on my left foot where my nerves have been damaged. And the "tan" is not really a tan at all, but rather, it's kind of a "burn" from the heat of the sun, not the light of the sun, if that makes any sense at all. Indeed, I am so grateful for my feet, as I can still walk -not for exercise, but for function- and that's enough for now.

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10; D&C 202:16)

Day #5

Today, I am sharing two scriptures because they have the same statement in both of them that I strive to live by. They have become a part of my meditation and personal scripture study in a whole new way. Let me share them with you.

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

(Psalms 46:10 italics added)

"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." 

(D&C 101:16 italics added)

In this world that is rarely quiet, and in my mind that sometimes wants to just chatter away endlessly, this positive way of living, by being still, has really influenced my life for the better. When I try and follow this admonition from God, it is then that I can really feel and know what I need to do. It is in the stillness that I am able to receive personal revelation. It is in being still that I am taught the truths about God and His ways.

I can promise that if you follow this admonition, to take time to "be still" every day, even for 10 minutes or less, it will multiply your understanding and love of God and you will receive insight and comfort that you need in your life. This I testify.

The mountains are still there in all kinds of weather.
When I am still, and the storms rage, I come to know that God is always there.
The weather changes and things always get better.

"I can do all things through Christ which stengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13)

This morning started out rough. My foot hasn't been so kind when I wake up lately (info about my foot can be read here). I started to feel sorry for myself. (not a great idea- I don't recommend it). So, I had to change my thinking. I put on some music that had lifted my spirits in the past (Scripture Lullabies). It did the same for me this time. The scriptures and the words of Christ filled me and comforted me. It is really powerful what pondering and thinking about the words of Christ does. It changes my heart. It cheers me up. It lifts me and comforts me. Here are just a few words that have really made a difference for me.

"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God" (D&C 101:16 see also Psalms 46:10). The words: "be still and know that I am God" are powerful. To be still is to be calm, subdued, free from commotion, peaceful. I love taking time each day to "be still". Sometimes, it is just a moment, but that stillness fills me with His peace. And as it does, I am able to keep trying, keep loving, and I trust God- that everything will work out.

Which leads me to the next words: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). "Trust in the Lord" is setting aside my worry and then knowing that everything works out for the good (see D&C 90:24; Romans 8:28). I can't focus on whether or not this is a permanent condition or if I will be able to ever hike or bike again. I must set it aside, let that worry go and trust in the Lord. When I do this, that's when the pain leaves me and I can go about my day (even if it is only walking to the couch on a bad day).

And the next words are: "I can do all things through Christ which stengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). When I focus on the power given to me through Christ, I am strengthened in so many ways. I have courage to endure. I have the strength to serve in small ways, and be grateful that I can. I am able to have the strength to change and grow in ways I hadn't thought possible. It's pretty awesome when I have the strength to do all things because of Christ. For me, "all things" is not always what man thinks is important. "All things" has a very different meaning than what the world would think. How have you been strengthened?

The last words I will share today are: "...Go and do..." (1 Nephi 3:7). I find these to be such important words. Sometimes I am feeling so sorry for myself that I don't go and do those things that will help me get stronger physically and spiritually. But to "go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded" becomes easy when I put my trust in Him and know that in Him, I can do all things. And part of doing all things is the going part. GO. Go and do good. It feels so good. This I testify.

The other day I got to spend time with my son waiting at the doctors office. Love this boy!

I love that he will be goofy with me and is so kind and patient with me.

I got to make a flourless chocolate cake...now that was one delicious cake...chocolate pretty much always helps (haha).