somber

I ditched out on Family Home Evening group tonight to finish a book. Its been one of those days: waking up with a headache, etc. that just won't go away!*

After I finished the book, I came out to check email and the usual sifting through various news sites.

First, something from here in Greensboro.

Read this one first.

Now this.

Another, about the women left behind illegal immigration. The article is not as informative as I would have liked, but I know many friends have personal connections to the topic.


Lastly, as I was surfing the web - I can't even remember how I stumbled on the video, but it features a professor from where I used to work.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I am grateful to these people for moving on even in life, even while facing death head on.

Those of you who bear through my posts know that I am not the most articulate when writing, but I shall try anyway. I was reminded of thoughts I had yesterday evening.

Last night, while admiring my newly organized bookcase (there are three more to go, I have to enjoy something!) I like to look over the books I've read and enjoyed. One is Lord of the Rings - not too surprising, I know. I remembered a favorite passage of mine:** Well, I can't find it in the book, so I had to resort to the internet. It's been too long since I've read them to pick out quotes I guess.

Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again. (Gandalf)
I wish it need not have happened in my time (Frodo)
So do I… and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. (Gandalf)

Or if you prefer,

Okay, I'm focusing again.

I read the whole books after being 'forced' to read Fellowship for my freshman college English class. Poor Meeechele - I was horribly obsessed!

The above quote really resonated with me.

Later, while reading the Book of Mormon during required class reading time, I remember reading this passage:

Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla from the land northward.
For he had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them;
And they did reject all his words....
Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of anot many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:
Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have ajoyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, bfirm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—
Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.
But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with asorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren. (Helaman 7:1-3, 6-9) [The rest of the story is pretty amazing!]

I was excited, because it confirmed to me that I had recognized truth, and both gave examples of how to continue on, even when circumstances are less than desirable (though I think Nephi gave perhaps a bit better example.)

Earlier in the post, I gave two modern day examples of people going forward, even when circumstances are less than ideal. I know personally of families who do their best every day in spite of tragic circumstances.

So when job hunting fails, trying to train cats hurts (sigh), seeing rats is scary (eek!) and many more things that aren't publicly shared, those burdens of the heart great or small, we can remember that all that we can ever do is do our best; usually that best turns out to be pretty extra-ordinary. (I hope.)




*And no, that headache is not black and furry. :) Only one pounce today while making lunch.

** I'm beginning to think it's not just me being inarticulate, but have a hard time staying on task. While looking for the quote itself, I began finding bunches of neat things about the movie, posted by people who have way too much time on their hands. Such as this.