Look Up!

There are two experiences from the past week that relate to the idea of "Look Up!" (which refers to a song lyric from my childhood, but I'll get to that...)

Yesterday I was walking along Central Park West: It's the day before the 4th of July and there are a million tourists in New York City. One of them was a little girl on a bike. It has a bell on it, which she rings as she runs her handle bar into my leg from behind. A second after that, her father says, "Allie, pay attention!"

Despite by bruised leg, it was a good remind of the need we have to "Look Up!" in this world. And it reminded me of a song my dad used to play all the time when I was a child:

Look up! Look up!
The stars in the heavens cry out!
Look up! Look up!
Your course does not lie on the earth or the sea,
it lies in the heavens above;
look up! Look up!

Look up by Stephen Kapp Perry

This idea was  also driven home while I was volunteering as a group captain for Youth Conference (where my church takes the 14-18 year olds on a faith promoting trip each summer). The youth love to leave New York City and have a chance to see other places. We took them to a retreat in Lancaster Pennsylvania where there were stars and campfires and ziplines and fresh air and no tall buildings. It was awesome.

On the second day, in one of the classes, the teacher asked if anyone had seen the stars the night before. Several youth excitedly chattered about how many there were and how inspiring it was to see them. The teacher went on to compare the feeling of seeing all those stars to feeling God's love, knowing He is there in our lives, and using that as a barometer. Out in Lanchaster we could see countless stars. This has always helped me feel closer to God - seeing His creations, trying to wrap my mind around all that He is capable of - while still being aware of us each individually, it is truly awe inspiring.

In contrast, the teacher asked how many stars we can see while we're in NYC. The answers: "I've seen three one time." and "I think the 'stars' we see in the city are actually planets, right?"

The analogy/ challenge the teacher then gave is something I've been thinking about since: If we feel like our closeness to God is more like only seeing two or three stars (or planets :) in NYC, we should ask to feel the full majesty of His love for us. He's our Father, He wants us to know and love Him. He wants us to feel His love. And all we have to do is "Look up!" or in other words, get on our knees, close our eyes, bow our heads, and ask - He will answer.

Random Thoughts on Making a Difference

I'm cleaning up and purging things from my life. In doing so, I've come across some fun scraps of paper and notebooks holding my thoughts and feelings. This one was worth sharing:

We may be tempted to think we can’t make a difference, or at least not enough of a difference, but because we know the teachings of Christ we can overcome this mindset. Christ was about the one. If we can help one who without us would be in trouble we have made a big enough difference. You never know how the person you have helped will help others. Your influence will affect eternity, your own and those around you, but it may be in the eternities that those effects are made known.

What kind of waitress am I?

Years ago I heard a story that has always stuck with me. It goes something like this:

There were two aspiring writers who were working as waitresses at the same restaurant. One of the women was always complaining about her job and talking about how what she really wanted to do was to be writing. She went home tired every night with no energy to write and could see no end to her miserable cycle in sight.  

The other woman talked to all of her customers and often jotted down notes about conversations she had and ideas that the experiences of her customers inspired. Every night she went home excited and with new ideas and materials for her writing.

In my life right now, I'm asking myself which waitress I am more like. I know I want to be more like the waitress who goes home excited and inspired. 

Tonight, I was showing some friends some of the projects I've been woking on (a scarf for my brother, and cards to sell on Etsy) and one friend said, "how do you find the time!?" and another said, "I know how, she doesn't waste any time, she sits in the back of class and knits."

While I do waste plenty of time, I think this exchange is a good indicator that I'm at least trending towards the happy waitress approach to life – I'm working hard to make some of my dreams come true. I'm striving to find things to be positive about and motivated by. And, overall, I think it's working!

Seeking for Zion

On the train yesterday, I looked up to see a large tattoo on the arm of the man across from me that caught my eye. 

There are lots of large tattoos out there, but I hadn't seen one quite like this – in scrolled lettering, his forearm proudly proclaimed "Seeking for Zion"

I had to smile, and I wanted to take a picture, or talk to him, and am kicking myself that I did neither. But it did get me thinking, and reading a bit thanks to his willingness to publicly declare his intentions.

What does that mean to me, seeking Zion? And am I really doing it?

The Pearl of Great Price teaches us that "the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them" (see Moses 7:18)

And in the Doctrine and Covenants 97:21 the Lord teaches that Zion is the pure in heart.

Seems like if I want to seek Zion, then I need to work on my heart. And it sure is far from pure right now.  But I can work on that!

Also seems I could do a better job at being bold and upfront about my desire to better serve God and my fellowmen. Maybe not with a tattoo, but certainly in the way I treat those around me at all times.

You gotta ask

I've had a lot of people ask me for money and for food over the years. This morning was different.

On my way to kickboxing I eat half a power bar to give me some energy. Today, when I was a couple bites into my half eaten bar, a man (who had been talking to himself) stopped in front of me and said, "you gonna finish that? Can I have it?" Surprised I said "sure" and handed it over. He was very excited and walked away all smiles.

This experience reminded me that it often doesn't take much to make a difference for someone else. It made me grateful both that I had something to give (as crazy as half an eaten bar is) and that he decided for whatever reason that he could ask me to share.

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH

Because I have been given much
I too must give
Because of thy great bounty Lord
Each day I live
I shall divide gifts from thee
With every brother that see
Who has the need of help from me

 

Because I have been sheltered, fed
By thy good care
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,

my roof saved shelter overhead
That he to me be comforted

 

Because I have been blessed by
thy great love dear Lord
I’ll share thy love again
According to thy word
I shall give love to those in need
I’ll show that love by word and deed
Thus shall my thanks be thanks in deed

Perhaps it's time for me to be more proactive in my sharing. Not wait to be asked for something small.

Try Again

"... Things I didn't know at first I learned by doing twice"

-Billy Joel

Finding nuggets of truth and wisdom is one of my favorite things. This one I really like, but feel I need to ponder some more. So, I'm going to process by writing.

Like many people, I have a fear of failure. A fear of others thinking poorly of me. A fear of doing things wrong.

But why?

It's interesting to me that I have such trouble with the fear of failure because of my knowledge of, and faith in, the atonement of Christ. His atonement gives us second chances. And boy am I glad because I certainly need them!

Human beings are not perfect. And it is unlikely that we can, or will, get things right the first time. But as Mr Joel reminded me, that's what the second time is for.

What I wasn't too think about is what things I would do if I want scared of failing. And do them. And when I fail, do them again. The second time will likely be better :)

Faith Restored in Humanity

I've had a rough week.

Yesterday was particularly challenging - so much so that last night I looked up a talk from a few years ago I heard where a little boy tells his mom "Hope ya know we had a hard time" and cried.

I was very grateful for some reassurances from people I love and who know me well. But you know what really restored my faith in humanity today? a fork :)

In my hurry to eat lunch and rush to the train on my way to a meeting I wasn't looking forward to I dropped my fork. I was trying to work out in my head how to manage without it when I heard someone from a street food truck calling out.

My first thought was he wanted someone to buy something from him. Not the case - he was telling me, "Miss, we have forks!"

Such a simple thing. I gratefully accepted the fork and then noticed several other things to be grateful for - someone holding a door open, a "bless you" after a sneeze...

People are great. Life is good!