-painful optimism-

What the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Means to Me…
There is no place to really start. There is no beginning to the blessings that I have received and there will be no end to them either.
Really this week I have profoundly felt my innate sense of optimism. This baffles me completely because this has not been the greatest week for my sense of…anything (period). Really I hate politics and the fact that elections occurred…well, let’s put it this way, I was glad that I spent Tuesday night in the temple, hiding from the world. As I left the temple, I mentally outlined the blog that I would compose as I drank my cup of cocoa and went to bed. I didn’t want to watch the results. I just wanted to hear it on the radio the next morning as I got ready for work. Honestly, I didn’t care who won. My theory is that “choosing the lesser of the two evils” is STILL choosing evil. The next four years have potential to be very difficult—no matter who is in office. Somehow, as I got ready for bed and blogging, my roommate called me and invited me to an election party. Still not quite sure how it happened, but I went—sporting my bright green scarf (none of this red and blue business). I sat there and watched the celebration as Obama was declared the president-elect, and actually managed to sit through all of McCain’s concession speech (very well done, I might add). I suppose the thing that surprised me the most was that as much as I really didn’t care about the result of the presidential election, I really wanted to know what was going on in California with Proposition 8. I was surprised by this fascination because I really don’t have any connections to California. I know people, but didn’t really feel the connection to actual election. Oh wait, then I thought about the actual proposition.
IT IS BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT THE CHURCH MEANS TO ME!
The family is central to God’s plan for us and essential in our growth and development to become like him. I believe that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (THE FAMILY: PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD). I imagine that if I had lived in California, I would have left hangy-thingys [yes. it’s a technical phrase.] on doors and I could have possibly stood on street corners with signs, but that’s all I can really do. I can’t force anyone to cast their vote one way or another. It’s all part of the agency. Principles can be taught, but application is self-initiated. My understanding of democracy is that each can cast his or her own vote and be heard. California voted and the proposition passed. Marriage has been defined as a union between man and woman. I’m not saying it’ll last forever…it’s not the first time that California has voted on this proposition. Ultimately, I wouldn’t be surprised if that changed at some point, but for now, the majority of the public agree with me. I’m currently fascinated by the (vocal) minority’s response. Protests…police…wow. I’d like to think that I can understand where they are coming from. I work in a doctor’s office. I’ve learned a few things since I’ve started working there: 1) I don’t know everything. 2) Sometimes there is no immediate answer. 3) Sometimes there is nothing to be done. 4) Sometimes things happen that I have no control over that I get to learn to deal with. Perhaps it would benefit them well to learn some of the same lessons. Unitarian minister, Jenkins Lloyd Jones, (probably unintentionally) made a legendary statement:
Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed….Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.
Things happen that we don’t like and we don’t plan for. Sometimes we have to deal with it anyway. The odds are we’re not the first to go through it and we probably won’t be the last either. The amazing thing is that they we are given the opportunity. Whether California made the right decision or not [for the record, I believe it did], it was given the liberty to make a decision. There are so many places in this world that still don’t have that blessing.
Beyond my fascination with Proposition 8, I have felt almost surreally optimistic for the future of our country. Approximately half of the country is thrilled for the future, and at the same time, the other half is planning their quick get-a-way to Canada, Mexico, or their country of choice. Really, is that necessary? This country was discovered and settled under God’s power. It was discovered so that His church could be restored and so that His children could have the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Him. He loves His children and will do everything He can to help them. He isn’t going to let us fail…”come what may—and love it!” Really, we live in a wonderful time. We have a prophet on the earth. We are children of God. He loves us and has a plan for us. He really wants us to be happy, but will not thrust happiness upon us. We get to choose to have it.
Now, re-reading this, it’s rather political. I’m kind of excited about that. That means that I’m in the midst of developing a political opinion. Check that one off the “I’d like to think I could…” list. Religion may be separate from state in the political world that we live in, but in MY world, politics can’t exist without it. Right and wrong will always be defined and politics will always attempt to gray out that line.