Things don’t taste as they appear.

Things don’t taste as they appear.

                                       

Look at salt and sugar for example. They may appear to be the same but a short moment in the mouth and you can tell one from the other. We see something and without really knowing it we judge it to be what it appears to be and not always what it really is. Take a box of assorted chocolates they may all look very fine and truly edible. So ya bite in to one and discover that somehow the first look was wrong. Coverage of chocolate hides a lot. Some of those chocolates can be the best tasting Carmel sweets out there and others would be possibly something the dog drug home topped with chocolate. Keep this thought for a moment as I jump to another idea to tie to it.

So, for many years I spent leading young men as part of a calling for my church. Now many of the adventures we engaged in were crazy to put it on the well maybe safe side for you mother types that fear any activity. I will not name any one who was involved in the malarkey and shenanigans but many an adventure had its high lights with crazy moments. Now I would be the first to admit that I had some of the start of some of the fun like sledding down full mountains covered with snow to rappelling waterfalls, and cliff jumping into pools of water. With that being said there are twists in stories I’m certain by the time parents may get a word of it. I say that in sort of a disclaiming way as to the dangerous picture someone might get in there mind as to what may or may not have involved their young Johnny or Fred.

One day some years back a very out spoken parent just happens to catch me in the hallway of the church building and proceeds to enlighten me as to the idea that I was a rather bad influence on the youth of the area and therefore needed to change my ways. Mind you we had the week before been on one of those wild type adventures. As I was thus being lashed for my flaw of being way to adventuresome and unruly the thought hit me that maybe I should refer them and their concerns to the Bishop of the ward. Thinking it would end the situation quickly I said thanks for the concern and inched my way to the outside door and jetted to my car.

A few days later and the bishop being a friend and knowing me on more of a very personal level considering the talks we had been able to have many a time on a few of those activities and around a camp fire, talked with me about the situation. He had talked with the very concerned parent as to the nature of the need to change the leadership of the young men’s group of the church because of the bad influence I must surely be. The parent he said was questioned as to why I this bad person was even allowed to be near the youth. Truth came out the son had come house with some bruise from the last adventure. Now as to the way in which this must have happened was a mystery to me considering the young man had not seemed to disclose this at the time it happened or on us returning home. The Bishop and I got a good laugh considering the matter and how it could have been taken a different way as well with him knowing me very personally.

Many other posts would outline a different way in which I could be referred to as a bad influence. Had the parent possibly known the story of my life they very well would have had a different picture to add to the one they already had. Thus, to the statement of things do not always taste like they appear. We may seem to be so much different than people know what is under our covering. I could very well have done as some people and claimed to be offended but knowing the blind view that we have of many of the people we meet it would be pointless. The Bishop assured me that he was cool with things staying the same and that he didn’t think my rocky history was even something that they had a clue about. Some other point I should make is that we should be careful as to the way in which we state something to others because we never know to what way things come across to people. Yeppers, salt and sugar and assorted chocolates. Many a person may have thought of me a bad influence at some other time in life. Glad to be able to laugh at it now. Can we really see the difference in people or well we just aren’t sure? There are a fair number of people that we meet each day that we have no idea things about them personally.

 I add this too as an example. I was at a conference about teens nearing a year ago with my wife when someone we were talking with made mention of the idea of hopping some places or clubs. Him not knowing the nature of my past either. One of the by standers knowing me well enlightened the conversation about maybe it would not be good considering my past life experiences and it could be not good. The look on his face was one of oops. Skip a day and then we listen to a key note speaker about is death experience from a drug overdose and me talking with the speaker after and the person hearing our conversation of recovery and enlightenment. He tells me a few weeks later he wasn’t really sure what to say to me. It happens. I had to tell him all is good not everyone looks like what it seems or how we appear. So, it may not seem if you see someone dressed nice to find that they have things that don’t show underneath the layers of fine linen. A box of fine dipped chocolates. Remember sugar and salt.

Finding the place to be.

Finding the place to be.

Maps, compass, GPS, and maybe Google for directions and yet we can still get lost or even disoriented. Every day we find our way to the fridge, the car, and sometimes to our place of employment. We don’t often think how we get there or back but when we get lost we sure question why?

Recently we went on a trip to California among a few other stops. For the most part of the travel experience we had a really good idea where we were going. The three-ish hour drive to catch the plane went without a hitch. You know the loss of direction kind of hits you when you’re on a plane and it is surrounded by clouds and you can’t see much. I’m not a pilot but they for sure have to know something about flying without seeing land marks. To think if you’re on a plane and it is going four hundred plus miles per hour and you’re on there for two or so hours you could be in a bad way without good directions. You could end up some place a long way from your goal. For me it was somewhat shaky at times but all was great when we landed in Los Angeles. So, we made our way to the car rental via shuttle bus. Found a suitable car and off we go.

We thought we were on easy street until we realize the directions we had to get where we wanted were for the airport terminal. As my good wife explains it, we must have gone in a large circle with a few right turns. Now some of you can relate to this predicament for sure considering we are not in any way city folks. As us country liking peeps would say in the nice way. “We be in a bit of a pickle.” So, we parking lot hopped for a few yards to the Burger King on the corner. It was dark and we were by now on the edge of Hangery. Food helped and regrouping for some better direction of how to find our way to the 405 freeway. By now we had the street address for where we were and my daughter was attempting to enlighten the night with the GPS function of her phone. I had tried to use the app on my phone once at home and was still not sure I had it working right. With the daughter with the phone and some good directions from someone we talked to we found the freeway and eventually found our way to some friends place we have known for about two decades. So, ended our first day of travel (Wednesday).

Needing a sort of day with less crazy turns we ventured to a Museum that was easy to find for the most part. A short stop or two at the market and Wally-mart that were not too hard to find and not much out of the way. Shopping bags in California or the lack of them wow.  Only one wrong turn getting there but easy to turn around and find our way considering it was during the day this time. We spend the better part of the day wandering with awe at the Getty. A place filled with history, art, and gardens. The view from the hill top was great to see the expanse of the city. To some it may seem the scene of the same old and so what but to a country crazy soul it is something to behold. Leaves me no doubt as to why we got a bit turned around a bit some the night before. No problems getting back to our friends place this time.

Up early and trying to get going to the son’s wedding in the LDS temple. Gladly this time we had the address in the phone GPS and the daughter directing us as to where to go. Me I’m not driving. Me and driving in this crazy environment is not good for others in the car. So, I’m on the look for signs and blind spot crew. Back on to the freeway and hoping to find the traffic not too backed up. We are doing well and thinking we should maybe use the commuter lane but just about then we have a bunch of bikes fly past us and then a Corvette hops around us using the commuter lane as a passing lane. On second thought we are doing ok so never mind. With about fifteen miles to where we need to be we hope that everyone else is late so we can be close to ok on time. A few miles later and we notice the Vette is boxed in some and we pass it (probably one of the few times a small Versa does that). We finally get to the off ramp we need and are close to the time for this knot tying thing to be under way. As we are almost there we note a car that seems to be our friends in front of us. Mind you we left a good while ahead of them so this is crazy. Yep it is he took some back ways like a boss and made up the clock on it. Knowing where and how to skip some traffic is king in that town.  Good thing for good directions because there is no way to see even a large building like a temple from the freeway in that place. Thankfully the rest of the day went well getting to the restaurant for the lunch after and had some of our friends in the car with us to get back to their house. By now I have a pretty good idea how to get from the freeway to our friend’s place.

 Needless to say, the remainder of the last two days went a bit smoother finding the beach, light houses, and then retuning the car and getting to the airport. After an extremely bumpy ride back to Utah on the plane we wandered home by way of southern Utah first for an open house. I am glad that I have driven many a road in my days of living to find my way around my home state. There is a lot of highway between Provo and Cedar City and then back to Vernal.

Back to the Map Compass, GPS, and good directions. Thinking of life without some kind of guiding things would be a blind adventure. I think about some people of old that didn’t have a clue as to where or how to get some place. Story of a man named Lehi and the Liahona that gave his family direction. Then also those explores and pioneers that can westward with rough maps and compass on the directions of others. Having good people around you in your life is good to get through things that are tuff. Having key things to guide you are essential too finding your way also. Having the guidance of God, Prophets, scriptures, for maps and coordinates to keep us going in a good direction. I met a young man on this trip that had traveled many a road on the edge. He came in contact with some great people that helped him find direction and purpose. He may have had a few tumbles along the path of life but he knows who he is, why he is on this earth and that there is God and others to help him. We all often fall but we can keep going when we follow good directions. There have been a few times in my life that I got a bit off course but glad I found my way back to a straight and narrow path with a rod of iron to hold too.

More than the world sees.

Many of you have known me for years very well. Others maybe not so deeply. Anyhow. I have for many years battled the likes of some invisible demons in my body. Yes, many would not have had the clue with the let’s do this outdoor crazy thing I would do but that is the look from the outside of the box. True we spent lots of time on adventures of great proportions that scared the likes of many. Plus, the many trips with youth groups that are wild. Crazy hiking adventures with a rope or two to make it interesting and add to the challenge. Pack trips to the wondrous places some people place on their bucket lists.

About age thirty-eight I started to notice that it took longer to recover from some of the crazy. Noticing the painful mornings came with a few years later. I brushed it off as just being wimpy and told myself to rub some dirt in it and suck it up (to barrow from my daughter). Finding limbs of the body going numb was not something I could just let go and let life happen. By mid-forties even some medical help was scratching their heads as to the things happening. I started to feel as though I was now Ralph the king of the lab rats. I had been tested for things from A to Z with not a lot of confirmation as to a link. I do now have some ideas and a few doctors noted items.

I have in the past ten years learned a lot about me and how to get around the fun of life with chronic illness. I tried many a doctor prescript and more cockamamie things that seem off the wall. I still get people trying to cure me now and then. Some have even told me I should try some of the cockamamie things I already did. Needless to say, I know what works for me to drag my Kester out of bed and at the very least find my way to the fridge. I do like food still which is cool. Don’t take away my dark chocolate! I have chilled out a lot from the grand adventures too.

Many of the world didn’t see me on those days after a grand adventure unable to move or want to see the brightness of the sun because of a pounding head and numb body. People often tell me the same old phrase “But you don’t look sick”. Some of you may understand that but for those that don’t look at the “Spoon theory” (link below).  It explains things in a very plain way that is easy to understand. Please no sorry stuff just be careful as you see people out in the world some have a dragon they are battling on the inside. Some days I feel better than others but it is all the good natural food and vitamins showing. So, if by some chance I put you off for something I may have had a full plate and didn’t have a side dish to fill up.

Life hands us things maybe not so much for us to be punished but to learn some lessons. I have learned to be patience with others and know that life hands us challenges to have empathy for others. As I’m writing this ironically the song “Patience” by Guns and Roses plays on my internet radio station. I don’t wish the joys of living with pain on anyone no matter who they maybe. For those of you who may have a one year old kid I feel for ya also. Watching my grandson is a challenge but so worth it. Those times I went on those crazy hikes with my family and friends was worth the days of recovery from it by far. Live life, Love, laugh for we know not how tomorrow will turn out. Hug your friends and family. Remember God is at the helm and we are only here for a short time.

Link: The Spoon Theory

https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

Maybe the toss of the coin.

We are challenged to search out the best in all things in life. In 1776 a group of men worked diligently to draft documents of greatness. We are faced today with the same mountain as they. We must search out the good honest men and women to serve in the public eye. We need to do all we can to learn about the people and the issues that will affect us. Above all else we need to seek insight and guidance in prayer to find the best answers as to what and who we need to help our country to remain free. It is up to us to use that voting right. Some say it is useless to cast a vote at all but we should keep in mind that God has given us the right and by not doing so we show him we have no faith in his power to change things for good. I would add that if we vote in fear for what one element could do and not for honest people and principles we further show we have no faith that God can change things either. We must keep in mind that many a great leader in history prayed diligently for insight, strength, and help to further a cause for freedom. I will in no way tell anyone who or what to believe and vote for. My only hope is that all people will take time to learn diligently and pray sincerely as to things of good that would make those men of yester year who gave up much for us would look down upon us with thanks for doing our best to seek out the best we can with faith not fear. Fear is a feeling that should only remind us to act with faith.

Some would want you to believe that evil is on both hands and we must choose the lesser of the two but what would God have you do? Pray to God to know the honest choice and make it whatever that choice may be. It may seem at times like the only way to really decide is to have a toss of the coin.  The only true wasted vote is a vote not cast in faith. If in faith, we feel compelled to cast a vote we show God where our faith maybe. The only way for evil to prevail is for good men to stand idly by and do nothing. If we fear evil to the point of throwing our faith aside we fail to apply the things God has given to us to decide the good, better, and best that can be. Prayer, faith, and honesty go hand in hand. Put things to the ultimate test and seek out the options, pray sincerely to God for insight, and then act with faith as to the best to be of the best use for God. Some insight might also be to ask can God effectively work with this person or idea? If by some way we find our self-second guessing something maybe, we must put it back to the test and find some amount of peacefulness with the spirit. Be careful not to allow the fear of others to stop us from acting according to the best dictates of our own consciences. There are many a naysayer of good and honest. When God sees our faith, he will bless us accordingly.

I urge people everywhere to get involve in their communities, state, and country. Seek good and honest people to be in the public eye. If your so inclined run for office. I would however caution anyone with a barn full of skeletons too put a great deal of thought in to it first. If you are some one tampering with the honesty of the voting system, man may not know but God does. Above all remember the sacrifice of many that pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor that we could have the freedoms that we do. Live for good and stand for correct principles and right whatever that is. Put Sincerity in prayer!