I Didn’t Wish to Jinx it

                I have been quite lame about posting to my blog this summer.  The weather wipes me out.  Either I am so hot that I can’t think or I’m being sent to a coma by the a/c or fans . . . . or winds.  I have been feeling blessed with the lack of smoke that we have seen this month – although the last two days have brought a haze that I can barely see.  Richard and Jaime can smell it but I cannot.  I’ve had the windows open and just thought it was overcast.

               I’ve been checking the fire map and have not noticed any fires along I5.  Richard says this is blowing from the east of us and is the worst fire in all of Oregon history.  All the fires have been given names – usually after the area it is burning.  This one is called the Durkee Fire – just west of Boise, Idaho (here).  Oh, my heck! 

               We did have a fire in the neighborhood quite recently.  I missed my window of opportunity for taking pictures.  I did that on purpose hoping that it could be maintained and I we wouldn’t have to evacuate.  I heard the fire trucks and new it was close – but not so close that those who live in the adjoining neighborhood wouldn’t be able to get through on our street and would have to park their cars at the base of the hill.  I had never seen so many cars parked or people outside in the neighborhood since we moved in 2016.  But then again we didn’t have most of those neighbors before 2020.  Weird.

               I did not see the fire.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen the flames from any fire – only smoke.  White smoke at that – the water sprays were the same white color and the fire was out. I don’t know what happened but am very grateful that it was out shortly after the trucks arrived.  Perhaps I’ll create a follow up post if I should hear about what may have happened.

Growth and Shrinkage

           The last ward we attended in Utah was called Granger 14^th.  Boundaries were exceptionally weird, but we did have enough activity that there were two adult Sunday Schools. I don’t recall anyone having multiple callings.  It was a good ward.

          We had only been here for a couple of years when we returned to Utah for my late daughter-in-law’s funeral.  We had been invited to stay for a linger longer at the Granger 14^th.  A lot of people had moved out of the ward in that two years time.  A LOT.  I asked someone if a lot of members were on vacation.  Looking around she claimed that most of the ward was in attendance.  The ward had shrunk.

          When Jaime and I had gone back for a visit last year we were told that the Granger 14^th had dissolved. That's too bad.  Understandable, but still sad.

          The other day I received a phone call from my sister updating me on the boundary changes that had taken place within their stake (first area where Richard and I had moved to).  She, for one, was grateful for the change as there has always been an overwhelming amount of members who were not active and so did not have callings.

          Our current ward has had a lot of inactivity as well.  I have never lived in a ward where I couldn’t walk from one end to the other.  I don’t know how many miles the ward boundary covers.  I know there are some who if they visited others would take over an hour just to arrive at one another’s houses. 

          We have had six or seven convert baptisms just this year.  Most are still active.  There is one who is slipping and two that have received the discussions but have not committed to baptism – rather have listened to those who are against having them baptized.

          There is growth – such as having only six wards in our stake after we moved in.  We now currently have seven. There is also shrinkage. 

Lift Where You Stand

 

According to my Cryptogram puzzles Pope Francis said “God Never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving . . .” referring to the gift of Christmas, but I took it to another level and posted the following to the RS page:

“God never gives us gifts that we are not capable of receiving. He never gives us a calling that we are unable to fulfill. If we are willing and ask in faith for His loving guidance we can perform as an instrument in His hands. We can go from an unpopped kernal to desirable popcorn that we were meant to be.”

The last part of the quote comes from Ben Wilcox “Come Follow Me” lesson for next week (here)

          I know that there are people who struggle with their callings as they feel inadequate in the position due to their lack of knowledge or being able to relate to those they serve or those they serve with.  I do not foresee that in my current position or presidency, but I know when I was initially called back in 2018 there were some challenges that were in attendance.  I’ve served with three different presidents now and think we are at our best this year.

          Some presidents have delegated with no problem, others don’t seem to know the meaning of the word.  Sometimes the calling we are given is to serve those have trouble with delegating or handing the reigns to someone else.  Sometimes for those we serve.  Often for ourselves. 

          My mom accepted all callings she was asked to fulfill – often with a lack of enthusiasm or self confidence.  She had taught in primary, nursery, cub scouts and Relief Society and was diligent in her calling and always prayed for guidance.

          One year when my brother was about eight or nine she had been called to teach his class.  She had one rebellious youth who challenged her as he needed discipline and she seemed to focus on that aspect of her calling.  She made an appointment to see the bishop to ask if she could be released.  And then something amazing happened . . .

          Now this is in the day of landlines and long distant calls – costly at that.  She received a call one day (before her appointment with the bishop) and it was another student from her class.  She had gone out of town to attend the funeral of a family member and had been having a hard time with her emotions but then remembered something my mom had taught her in primary.  She was still out of town when called my mom (long distant) to thank her for teaching her about the Holy Ghost.  It was a confirmation to my mom that she needed to stay put in the primary class and not focus so much on the poor behavior of one student when there were several others who were learning.

          My mom often compared herself to others saying that she didn’t have the talent to lead music as well as Bro. Smith and felt mortified if ever he walked by while she was leading music.  Or teaching.  She didn’t have the same theological understanding of the scriptures as our neighbor Peggy for instance.  I would get upset with my mom and lovingly scold her because she was called to lead the music perhaps for her own growth – and I doubt that Bro. Smith ever thought, “I could do this better.  What was Heavenly Father thinking allowing her to lead music?”

          We all have our own talents and abilities.  We can’t all reach every single person in the same manner that someone else might.  I, for example, prefer the simplistic teaching as opposed to the theological scholars who speak in four syllable words and I have no idea what they’re talking about.  My brain is not that complex.  Nor was my mom’s.

          One day she was teaching her lesson and scolding herself for not knowing the lesson inside out, forwards and backwards and with her eyes closed.  At the end of her lesson a member who had not been to church for several years came up to her and thanked her for her simple lesson.  It had been easy to understand.

          “See,” I told my mom.  I don’t recall my exact words but I reminded her that we all have talents – some aren’t as polished as others, but that’s okay.  We are all here to learn and grow together.  Some might need a nudge to get going.  We all have potential.

        The title of my blog post?  I got that from a talk I read this morning.  Elder Uchtdorf's talk to the general priesthood October 2008 here