In Every Block of Marble

Wow. Wow. WOW.

As soon as I start to think I have my plans figured out, life changes. Drastically.
One thing I know for sure is that God always has so much better plans for my life than I do.
And he definitely sends me blessings and trials to shape me into everything he needs me to be.

Michelangelo stated, "In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to other eyes as mine see it."

I like to think that God sees that in each of us--despite our rough walls.

Why I Love Persuasion

I recently finished Persuasion by Jane Austen.

I loved it. Because...I believe good things come to those who wait.

But even more than that, I believe that good things come to the good. As you watch Anne Elliot she differs greatly from those that surround her. She is not bent on connections and class like her family. She is not flighty and shallow like the Musgroves. She is often stuck doing the things that nobody else wants to do. She does not complain or pity herself. And she loses her chance for love because she is obedient...and spends eight lonely years without any hope of any reacquaintance. And yet, she hangs in there. After waiting. And waiting.

Sometimes we have to wait too. We may be good like Anne Elliot, but things may not work out. The present is often a bleak reality for us sometimes. In my life, the blessings I expected to come often did not come when come when I wanted them most.

Sometimes don't we find ourselves crying in the middle of the storm because we cannot see the lighthouse?
Sometimes don't we wander in the desert, desperately hoping that we will reach a saving oasis?
Sometimes don't we reach a peak on the mountain, hoping for a respite, only to find that our path leads to an even more challenging climb?

Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better...For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of 'good things to come.'"

Perhaps you are at a time in your life right now when you need to know that things will get better. Maybe you need the hope of a better future than the present. To this Jeffrey R. Holland says, "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come."

As my hope increases in Christ, I realize more and more that without a doubt there are good things to come. There were good things that came to Anne Elliot. There are good things to come in my life. There are good things to come in your life.

So hang in there. Good things come.

Two Signs

This morning as I was running I saw a sign that said "Limited Sight Distance." Later on in my run I passed another sign which read, "Caution Reduced Visibility Ahead."

Isn't this how life is sometimes?

There are times in our life when we really can't see that far ahead. There are times when we don't know how the choices we make are going to affect us. Sometimes that means that even in the midst of life-changing decisions we may not be able to see as far as we want.

That can be a scary thing.

I feel like I am hitting this point in the road in my life--and in so many ways. What to major in, what career to pursue, where to live, how to spend my time. How and what should I be preparing for--a mission, marriage, or a family--what is ahead?! It all seems kind of foggy at times.

This is the point where with our sight limited and our visibility reduced there is only one thing we can really do--and that's put God in the driver's seat.

We may not see the road ahead.

But with him to navigate we will be going the right direction.