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Some people are blessed with
learning from others' examples.
Unfortunately it seems there are more who just don't get it and have to
figure out things for themselves. Still
there are some who go through trials and still appear to be clueless. Allow me to share an example.
When I was a youth, I remember
seeing ads in the classified section inviting youth to earn money picking
pineapples in Hawaii. The ad itself was
marketed in such a clever way that youth believed not only would they be
earning money, but would have an opportunity to tour Hawaii as well. I remember a bunch of Patrick's friends
decided to fill out applications and asked him to join them as well. My brother, Patrick, has always been logical
and decided he would wait a year. If
things worked out among his friends, surely they'd want to return. If things did not work, well, Patrick had
spared himself.
What the classified ads failed to
mention was that picking pineapples is hard physical labor. I honestly don't
know anyone who returned for a second year.
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My
sibs and I have been fortunate enough to weigh our options, find others with
similar experiences and learn from those experiences - especially if we can
spare ourselves from pain - be it emotional or physical.
I realize that is not the best
example of what I am trying to convey.
I'm certain there were many that may not have appreciated what they had
gotten themselves into at the time, but may have had a deeper appreciation for
the experience they received - though maybe not at the time.
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Mareeba
Gold, 2016
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Whether we choose to pick pineapples
or not doesn't seem relevant to our salvation - not in the same way as turning
to drugs or alcohol or something immoral.
Not like joining the service or giving a child up for adoption. I think the latter examples are more inclined
to stay with you and perhaps even haunt you more than the pineapple picking
decision would.
As I had mentioned in a previous
post, I am currently reading The Children
of Promise series by Dean Hughes. I
am just finishing the third book in the series "Far From Home". So far I like how he starts each book so if
you haven't read the books from the beginning, you can still follow who the
characters are.
World War II is nearly at its end,
but the events will have forever changed the lives of those who lived during
that time. Some had been excited to sign
up to join the cause - to fight for their country - whatever country that
happened to be. It had been glorified
and certainly sounded more exciting than it was. Even newsreels only touched the surface of
how it really was.
The character named Bobbie writes a
letter to her sister-in-law. It is very short.
There is one sentence that really stood out for me - one I think that
each of us can relate to:
"I used to think if I prayed
hard enough, nothing bad would ever happen, but now I understand life is all
about surviving hard times" - Dean Hughes (1998, p 388)
I think often are expectations are
quite different from the reality that we face. We're not alone. We can and should turn to the Lord to receive
guidance and personal revelation. Personal revelation is between God
and the individual. There are some who
make decisions and appear to have given no thought to the decision whatsoever. Take me, I agreed to marry Roland after only
three days. I know there were many in
my family who thought I was making a mistake accepting a proposal of marriage
and now wonder if any of them had felt anything other than apprehension. It had
been my personal revelation to accept his proposal. I was guided by faith not intimate
desires. There was apprehension on my
part as well.
I know that my brother Corey had a tough go at
his attraction to same sex. As I
mentioned in my last post, we all experience being in Gethsemane. Corey's longest time in Gethsemane was while
he was an active member of the church. His
life was a struggle. He prayed
constantly. He received a personal revelation
to embrace his gayness. Not
possible? Because it goes against what
we've been taught. Of course we're going
to question it. He did. For many many years.
Personal revelation isn't restricted
to any one religion. After excommunication, he has continued to receive
personal revelation and is definitely happier than he ever had been. Hard as it may be for some people to believe,
some people have to leave the church in order to get out of Gethsemane. Some people have a different mission and
because the personal revelation is between the individual and God, who are we
to question? And yet we do because
there's always concern - especially when it seems to go against what we've been
taught all of our lives. But sometimes Heavenly Father allows us to experience
situations that we may not understand at the time, but there is purpose whether
we accept on faith or not.
On the other hand, there are some
choices made that don't include the Lord.
Often there is sorrow and devastation, but we can still learn from our
mistakes or better yet, from the mistakes of others. That's why we have biographies and scriptures. That is why each of us may be called to give
a talk and share our experiences. That
is why we fellowship on another - so we may learn from the lives of others.
Yesterday I read this thought that
my youngest son posted to facebook two years ago:
"The greatest moments of stress
people have faced in their lives have led to the greatest accomplishments or
failures that brought experience and change. Learning...
from mistakes or looking back on trials conquered is why life is so exciting. Do not live your life scared or afraid."
Turn the Lord when you need comfort
and include Him with big decisions and listen to Him and act upon faith. Continue to pray and be guided in
righteousness.
Credits:
Hughes, D. (1998). Far From Home. In D. Hughes, Children of the Promise (p. 492). Salt Lake City: Deseret Book.
Credits:
Hughes, D. (1998). Far From Home. In D. Hughes, Children of the Promise (p. 492). Salt Lake City: Deseret Book.
Picking Pineapples
in Florida. (2011). Retrieved from
clippix etc:
http://etc.usf.edu/clippix/picture/picking-pineapples-in-florida.html
Pineapple Members. (2016, December 17). Retrieved from shadowverse:
https://forums.shadowverse.com/index.php?/profile/1341-pineapple/
Ripe for the
picking, another Mareeba Gold pineapple grown and marketed by Pinata Farms. (2016, December 20). Retrieved from abc news:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-21/mareeba-gold-pineapple-sweet-success-built-on-flavour/8138354
