Taking Control

Alma 38:12

"Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness."

So many little nuggets in this scripture - let's discuss.

"Use boldness, but not overbearance"
How true is that? It's okay to be strong minded and strong willed, but not at the cost of others - don't be overbearing, don't put others down and be condescending when stating your thoughts and convictions.

"bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love"
This makes me think of Elder Holland's talk this last April conference, Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul. He gives quite some time to discussing love vs lust, the differences of how it feels and how it looks and how it affects us. He talks about how love and lust can't co-exist, how one is selfless while the other selfish.
When I was a teenager, I had this scripture in my bedroom, to remind me that love is a reward. Love is what you get when you work and put forth effort. It may not always come easy, but pure love is always worth it.

This can be applied to romantic love, as well as love for a friend or family member, love for a job or career, love for a hobby and even love for service.

Bridleing your passions means to not let your desires run away with you. Don't place wants before needs, play before work. Take control and put your life in order. In doing so, you can pick out the activities that you participate in that are timewasters, and find the activities that are fulfilling and rewarding. Don't be 'rid' of your passion, if you truely love it and it truly fulfills you. Just be tempered, take control of it instead of it controling you. Your life will be clean and there will be more room for love.

"see that ye refrain from idleness"
Well, that's just good advise and makes good sense. What good ever came from lazing around?

What are your thoughts?

Prime Directive

Is this term familiar to anyone? If you're a trekkie it will be. The Prime Directive is the foremost law that Star Fleet is governed by. As they explore strange new worlds and encounter other civilizations and life forms, the Prime Directive prevents certain actions, minimizing interference. Although Star Fleet is a peaceful organization, one of science and discovery, they are committed to allowing cultures to develop on their own and will not interfere with the natural course of a civilization, planet or habitat.

This is a very sound law. They seek life and value all of it, but will not interfere with its development or destruction, because the path of learning and growing without outside influence is how civilizations progress.

If we were to apply this to our world in our time (2010, not 2374) do those nations with more technology and understanding have a place to interfere with those who have less? Take for example the US military involving themselves in the civil disputes of Africa and the Middle East. There is genocide and our perception of inappropriate behaviour toward women. They have grown and developed separate from us and have cultivated different values and beliefs.

We cherish the value of a human life and hate to see captivity and injustice. But our interference will change the course of their development, and it may not be in good favour.

Food for thought: should we be where we are not wanted, enforcing the values we've come by on our own onto others, changing the evolutionary course of their learning and development? Or do we allow a seemingly barbaric nation to continue on its path as we stand and watch, waiting for the plea of help where we are welcome and they are ready?

Claiming Territory

So my brother got engaged to his beautiful fiance, Chelsea, in March. Then he left to go to Winnipeg for a school opportunity a few weeks ago and will be home soon. However - while Dennis is there, with his charm and wit, the ladies can't help but flock to him. This is how Chelsea lays down the law from hundreds of kilometers away:

Thank goodness for Facebook - now we can all keep better tabs on our loving wanderers!

Pasta: from scratch!

Okay, so some of you know that I like to be in the kitchen cooking. I like experimenting on new dishes, especially when company comes over. They are my guinea pigs.

I try to make as many of my meals from scratch as possible - I'm not a great fan of pre-packaged food. I've learned to make refried beans from dried pinto beans, and I like to make my own dressings and sauces and salads, etc.

Well, FINALLY, I have my very own Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, and a very gracious friend of mine lent me her pasta attachments to try them out. Try them out I did!! My sister and brother's fiance were there to help.

Then with the leftovers, I made a pasta salad, which went over well with my family. Thanks all for your help, this was so much fun!!

Between Friends

Just between you and me: God makes no mistakes.

The Between Friends Club in Calgary is an organization that plans camps and outings for children of all ages with disabilities, mental or physical, or nothing at all, to hang out, have fun and make friends. My department this week used our Volunteer Day to go hang out with this group and it was so special! I was assigned to Chipmunks - 6-7 year olds. We took a bus ride out to Ghost Lake to ride on a pontoon boat and played in the grass. How marvelous! These children are so special. They have smiles and senses of humor that warm my heart.

It is my belief that before we are born, we are spirits and chose our family and our bodies. Those spirits who chose to live in a body with challenges must be AMAZING! It may seem to us that they live in captivity, but they are willing to do so because the goal is to be mortal and gain a body in order to move into the next phase of immortality and eternal life. They are giving us the wonderful opportunity to learn from them. Learn patience and sacrifice and service. They are all so special and suffer with not only their own handicaps, but also social ridicule.

I've been inspired. I will do what I can to give back to this community, because I can and I have been given gifts that I can share. I will no longer keep them to myself.

Sunny (my camp name!) or Sunsun as Tess called me :)