My Dear Bro

Marcus, you are a kid with the potential for greatness in whatever your passion is.  If that passion is basketball, then you will be successful.  This I know without a doubt.  The heart that's inside you is pure and defiant.   If only you would watch and control your emotion, which can destroy even the best man in a quick moment.   If we lose our temper, we are controlled by the emotion of anger.  "What a tyrant to be ruled by!
"Even the Savior, before he cast the money changers out of the temple, braided his whip; he was in full control of himself in the exercise of his righteous indignation."*
 If you just wouldn't be so quick to anger you might open up your heart to what Dad has to say.  If you wouldn't be so concerned with the fads of the world you would improve.

I don't have the ability nor the responsibility to lecture you.  I only hope you realize this thing on your own, so that you can make a step towards progression.  As for now, I'll just wait I guess.

 *Stephen R. Covey 

quote from Papa Draney

Some guys from work told me that no one respects a man in the office who wasn't at one point out at a nitty gritty job like carpentry or labor work.  When I said that, my dad responded vehemently:

"Who gives a crap what they think.  Don't they know they're employer never worked a job like that?  And do you think he cares about people who call him unsuccessful?! If he heard him saying that he'd probably just fire him and hire the next man in line.  His labor work is making Randy millions of dollars a year..."

My Sweet Agenda

I'm not just doing these things to be an effective missionary.  I dream of an amazing life, and its something I want more than anything.  A life with meaning and exploration and experience.  Minimizing idle time is my ultimate goal I think, and I want to enjoy it.  So in the back of my mind I have one of the Lords promises in my head:

Jacob 2:19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

I love this promise because I believe focusing too much on work can be one of those things that takes up our time that we could be growing!  Valuable lessons come from work, but there is a greater work to be done among God's children.  At least in my life, right now I need to focus on is a mission and preparing for one.  What I luxurious blessing it is for me, for I'm only beginning to dig into this gospel, and I'm loving it!

The Beginning of Progression

I’m going to form habits. This will require 66 days at least.  I’m going to follow the Word of Wisdom and some Buddhist ideas on what it means to have control of the body.  Then, when I’ve figured out what guidelines I’m going to follow, I will stick to them for the determined amount of time, and will then try to further my spiritual progression once I’ve reached a habituated body that’s no longer overwhelmed by the needs. 

                I don’t want to worry about my bodily needs; there are more important things to do with my time. Nevertheless, it is a problem that I need to fix if I want to move on.  It’s essential to master this to be an effective missionary.  D&C 84:

80 And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a chair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.

81 Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed.

 82 For, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.

 83 For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.

 84 Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.

D&C 89:  

18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

 19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

 20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

 21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

  
Did you see that?!  That's exactly what I'm looking for!  I wonder what kind of mysteries its talking about.  Oh well, I'll find out.  I'm freaking excited!  I hope the act of forming strong habits will be enough to start this process.

God's Voice

Stephen R. Covey has presented another idea that somehow I've never thought of before.  He assumes that our conscience is the voice of the lord. 
Could it really be that simple?  I'll get back to this one.

Siddhartha

The life of Siddhartha, and his enlightenment.

Ever since reading this book in English, it has popped in my mind from time to time.  I know this book has some truth, and through scripture and other forms of spiritual literature, I’ve come to some conclusions:

                Siddhartha early on conquered his natural body.  This gave him the ability to act accordingly to his heart and his deepest desires to reach enlightment.  –Enlightenment, in my view, is true happiness.—Siddhartha reached enlightenment by first mastering his carnal state.  

                According to Stephen R. Covey, all spiritual paths are first built upon control over the body.  “I believe that days one and two for most of us involve getting more control over the body__Such as getting to bed early, arising early, exercising regularly, eating in moderation, staying at our work when necessary even thought tired, etc.  Too many are trying to conquer other higher weaknesses… such as procrastination, impatience, or pride, while still a slave to their appetites.  If we can’t control the body and its appetites, how can we ever control our tongue (a part of the body) or overcome the emotions of anger, envy, jealousy, or hatred.” 

                So in other words, first things first.  I will master controlling my body and its impulses before anything.    Just like the word of wisdom says, “not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—….Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.”  I cannot be a spiritual man if I have not mastered the temporal world first.  

                How far does this limit stretch?  Maybe it goes further than just controlling our hunger, thirst, and other bodily functions.  Perhaps it goes further than just controlling our addictions.  Maybe it learning to focus as well, and learning to persevere through obstacles.  Aren’t these the simplest lessons we learn as children?  But somehow it can take us more than a lifetime to learn.  No wonder religions such as Buddhism believe in multiple lifetimes.  How can one master the body in just one lifetime?  How much effort will I have to exhort before I get results?  And If I do get results, how far must I go before I’m ready to progress to God’s greater steps?  

                At least this has helped me realize that there are steps in this life.  I’m starting to figure out the steps in this life.  But through the mastering and exploration of these steps, perhaps I’ll find that adventure or mystery I’m so desperately craving.


***

Here's another promise I've discovered about fasting.

“What if there were a way to overcome our habits, addictions, and burdens?   What if there were a way to gain sufficient confidence in the Lord that you could call down the powers of heaven?   What if there were principles you could teach your loved ones that, if applied, would allow them to overcome personal weaknesses and draw closer to God?

As we properly understand and live the law of the fast, these desired blessings can be ours.”             

 - Elder Shayne M. Bowen

"Fasting invites enlightenment and the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  The Lord promises not only the power to overcome all of our sins but also light, health, and righteousness in our lives. And, just as with the children of Israel, He promises that His glory will surround and protect us."

The Angry Mom?

 Okay universe, riddle me this.  Maybe it will help me understand the nature of woman (or just mothers.)

I am running up there stairs, and before I reach the top step I realize the floor is wet.  In effect the following conversation occurred:

Me, "Wow, the Floor is Wet."
Mom, "Can't I get just five minutes just to wash the floor?! Gosh you people won't leave me alone."
Me, "Well if it's going to make you so mad, maybe you should put up a sign?"
Mom, "I'm not mad, what do you mean put up a sign?" and then she presumes to laugh.

Okay, she was mad wasn't she?  Maybe I have simply misjudged the tone of her voice and angry words. Gosh, is every girl eventually like this?  I'm probably just confused about something.