Perfect Power

I made an exciting and enlightening connection in my study today. I'm currently reading My Redeemer Lives, a compilation of Easter talks. The talk I'm on is Elder Belnap's To Them Gave He Power to Become.  In this talk, Elder Belnap discusses the Atonement and the perfection of Christ.

In one section of the talk, he references Hebrews 4:14-16, which says that Christ is without sin.  When I thought about this, I realized that it feels right to me to think of it this way: Christ isn't endowed with some unique anti-sin power that we can't have - He has power over sin because of His closeness to His Father, and because of his determined resistance to temptation.  If we want Satan to be bound, we must do that same thing - come close to both Christ and our Father so we can gain the strength to resist temptation.

Christ really did set the example for us in all things.

Carry

To be the star most glowing
Wandering revealed
Progressing images of you showing
What with me was once concealed

We'll find if in this world we might -
Wondering if this was right...
If I was right.

Justifying.
My doubts
Along with my faults
My heart pining
Searching for a way to prove
That, to all of me, you can move

Desiring past experience varied
Fearing that it must
As with memory away carried
Carry with it trust

Spark.
For the light that you will have to earn.
And will my thoughts upon you mark
But fall on me to burn.

Letter To Me

Dear me at nineteen,

You just moved away from home for the first time.  This is the most dramatic change of your life so far, and you're excited, scared, shy, and feeling a little small - but you are also overcome with the feeling of BIG.  This is a big thing for you - and the roommates you have now will become the best thing that ever happened.  You'll gain so much from them, laugh more than you thought possible, scream at the TV, learn beauty tips, and experience Pangaea (you just wait).  Your heart will never let go of these girls - even when they get married before you do.

I may very well have listened to Letter To Me by Brad Paisley for inspiration here (yes, you will come to love and appreciate country).  You will receive a lot of comfort from that song come March – thank you to one of your darling girlfriends for that one.  You’ll be roommates with her in Summer 2014, and she’ll continue to be a great example of love, understanding, and acceptance for you.  Take advantage of that.  In fact, take advantage of all of the wonderful examples in the next twenty months.  You will meet many, some very unlikely, and they will teach you a lot.

One will help you realize there is messy craziness in the world, but that entropy is part of life and it’s okay.

One will teach you how to be truly observant of yourself.  He will help you feel yourself out and be in tune with your emotions in ways you didn’t know you needed.

Another will remind you that even the happiest, most social people need to feel noticed.

One very important person will show you that you are worth loving, and that soaking up each moment is the best way to live.

That same person will teach you to embrace your quirks, love your under-appreciated movies, and not be embarrassed of your affinity with exceptional phrasing… even puns.

You will be reassured that God is with you through many sources, scriptural and otherwise.  The Lord will be closer to you than ever before.

A dear friend at work will remind you to move forward in faith, taking action even when you are unsure.

One will help you solidify the idea that listening to silly pop-stars helps – especially when you are crazy emotional.

Similarly, you will learn from multiple people that indie music can brighten your mood and really help you think.  Don’t reject this idea – I know you want to.

Shannon Hale, that lovely genius of a woman, will teach you that embracing your love of the Austen world is okay.  Beneficial and therapeutic, even.

You will learn to see beauty in the world more fully.

An unlikely friend will help you break barriers related to sharing your emotional stories.

He will also show you that, even though things are messy, you are strong – and, more importantly, you need not be ashamed of your past.

One will tell you the meaning of matching energy levels to make connections.

One will show you to challenge your beliefs.  Don’t reject this, because it will only strengthen your convictions.

A supervisor will teach you that there is meaning in rules and guidelines.

Following promptings will come to mean more to you.

You will learn to be persistent, encouraging, and even how to change lives.

You will read, listen to, and watch things that will blow your mind and change your perspective about absolutely everything.

You are going to learn things about yourself that you’ve never thought of.  In all honesty, chica, I don’t believe in writing “what I wish I knew in…” style things, because 

I don’t wish 

                   you knew then 

                                         what I know now.  

                                                                      I know you.  

You learn things when you are ready for them, and you’re not ready to learn everything you will yet.  I will tell you, though, that you will be ready to learn more than you ever thought you could when it’s all over.

You will find heroes, and you will discover just how much the concept of heroes means to you, because of your connection to their personalities.  Keep your heart open, and these next twenty months (I can hardly believe it has only been 20 months) will be the BIGGEST of your life.  Listen to people, especially to your own thoughts, and you will stretch yourself.  You will learn, and you will change – but don’t be scared of that. 

Remember how mom once said, very wisely, that the only thing constant in life is change?

That’s still true.

Love, with all the encouragement and reassurance I can muster,

You at twenty-one.

Pink.

My heart was very full yesterday. Testimony meeting was incredibly uplifting, Sunday school gave me stuff to think about, and Relief Society brought me a lot of comfort and a great reminder of God's Love for me.

What about it reminded me of God's Love?

This.

(sorry for the poor quality, there's not much of this short available on YouTube)

In this super-cute Pixar short, a sad little sheep is reminded of his unchangeable worth, regardless of his absence of fluff.  He complains how his friends think he looks "ridiculous, funny, and pink."  The jackalope responds to this by assuring him there isn't anything wrong with pink.  The sheep is pink, so what?  It's part of his sheep-ness to be pink.

"Pink. Pink?  What's wrong with pink?  Seems like you've got a pink kink in your think."

This made me think of what things I don't like about myself - and that, hey, "what's wrong with pink?"  It's part of my me-ness to be (fill in the blank).  This, combined with the message from President Uchtdorf that we matter to God really strengthened me.

"God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him."

This is a testimony from a Prophet of God, and is my testimony as well.  Be okay with everything that makes you YOU, all the "-ness," because you matter to Him.