Thanksgiving

As many of you may know, I am a former United States Marine. We Marines have a popular adage, “Semper Fidelis.” This intimate and personal saying is Latin for “Always Faithful,” describing our personal relationship with God, Family, Country, and Corps. In the spirit of the coming holiday I wanted to take a few moments and express my gratitude toward those things we are “always faithful” for.

God

                Unfortunately I have not had much of a relationship with whom I would call my Heavenly Father until recently. Over the past year I have had the privilege to learn and grow in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and understand truth. I’m so very thankful for the restored truths, and love that have been shown by so many during this awesome journey our family has taken. How grateful I am for personal revelation and a loving God that not only listens but teaches us in all his great wisdom. My wounds have been healed through the great Atonement of Jesus Christ who suffered for us all with unimaginable acts of love. I am so very grateful for the allowance of not just the power of choice, but progression. I’d like to say thanks to all you out there that have been at our side with your kindness and example. I personal feel the power and love of our Heavenly Father through your humble actions.

Family

                Words can’t express my gratitude and love toward my family adequately enough. My parents and grandparents, despite my obvious flaws, your constant and continual guidance sustains me every day. My sister who struggles onward and fights through the midst of darkness despite the many setbacks, I always wish her the best. I love her even through our silence. My dear friends throughout the country, how grateful I am for your love and your jabs, from time to time. You have made me who I am.  I’m so thankful for my wonderful dear wife. I don’t know how I was lucky enough to be blessed with her in my life, but I kneel in prayer simply to thank God daily for her. She gives new meaning to the phrase “better half,” with her daily example and strength. Zack, my son, has brought such joy and happiness to our life, I’m grateful to be given the sacred responsibility of being his father.

Country

                I know these are some troubled times in our Country’s history. Many are unsure exactly where we are headed and how we are getting there. Allow me just to say that there is no doubt in my mind this country was established on the ideal of Divine Providence. I’m grateful for men that so boldly stood up to an unjust Monarchy and risked everything for the idea of something better. Those founders established a system that allows for more freedom and more expression than anywhere else on Earth. I’m thankful for this beautiful and great Country for which I live, and all those out there that honestly try to protect its virtue. We may not always agree, but we can all be thankful to live in a place where that’s ok.

Corps

                  To those who defend this land and risk everything for it, fight on brother. You may not always agree or understand why you’re doing what it is you are doing, but know your sacrifice hits home with me. To those in the military, of every branch, I am thankful for all you do. Those that have come before and died defending this land, we honor you with our memory and our actions every day. Never forget the sacrifice that has been wrought in every war from the revolutionary to those of today, and allow their memory to live on with our sacred honor. Personally, David and Scott, thank you for laying down your life for us. I miss you both and think of you often, know that I’m doing my best to honor you with my life. To Scott – sorry for annoying you in S.O.I., but thanks for all your help and always being so kind. To David – You were the best and most honorable man I’ve ever met, I can’t wait to see you again my brother. I know you were there at my wedding, and I feel your presence from time to time. I still miss you.

                  

                  Thank you for allowing me a moment to express my gratitude and love toward all of what I am so grateful for. I know it may be cliché, and words need not be spoken, but let us all reflect and remember how fortunate we are during not only this time of year, but for the rest of our lives.

Inner Peace

                The opposite of peace could be defined as turmoil. The opposite of inner peace likewise could be defined as depression. I’d like to start by saying I’m not a doctor and don’t claim to be. The years of effort and talent that goes into hard research is beyond anything I could ever comment negatively. Furthermore I know there are different scenarios and different people that make up the vast sea of people that feel hopelessly depressed. Only allow me to interject a singular idea and a theory pertaining to a singular cause of depression, and hopefully this will be a positive posting that will be about hope much more then depression.

                It starts very simply with guilt. We all make mistakes in our lives, to error is to be human. Yet most of us are afraid to face the consequences of poor decisions made. When I was a child, I did something outright that my Father had told me not to do. When confronted about this act, I lied to avoid punishment. After a short time of a sickening feeling in my gut, and a guilt-riddled conscience, I decided it was time to confess. Profoundly enough, even as I child I realized that the guilt in my soul was much worse than any punishment I would otherwise receive. As I confessed to my Father “a weight was lifted,” and although I was punished (with a wooden spoon I might add), I learned a valuable and everlasting lesson that day. That lesson was what guilt feels like.

                As we age this lesson might never leave us, but our actions may become worse. We make terrible mistakes (speaking from personal experience here), for which we are so ashamed and so filled with guilt that the consequences we fear are much too hard to bear. As time lengthens and guilt is pushed aside we began the process of self loathing and a feeling of inadequacy for ourselves and those around us. Years pass and the shame takes new form as it becomes who we are internally. Our shame becomes our guilt. Our guilt becomes our depression. Sometimes this guilt is misplaced, as we can blame ourselves for things that were entirely out of our control. I think of the child who feels guilty that they “caused their parent’s divorce.” How often do people misplace guilt on themselves?

                Yet this is a message of hope, not depression. Maybe understanding is the beginning of healing. We can take the lessons we learn as children and know the beginning steps are reconciliation. We all understand this as an “I’m sorry,” but things quickly become more complicated as our problems become more complicated. There is a process that can heal the broken heart, and more importantly, provide peace. “Where our sins may be as scarlet, they can become white as snow.” Happiness can be yours, and I can promise you as we face our fears and take a leap of faith (personal experience again), you will forever look back at your former self, thankful you did.

Charity

   All around us we are consumed and self-absorbed in one very dangerous idea.  As nature would have it, we look after ourselves first in all we do and all we say. Then we make excuses for it and act like it’s not a big deal. As the premise and future standard for most of what I write, I’m going to attempt to answer these and other seemingly conflicting ideas which may seem basic at first, but if you will bear with me, I can promise an in depth and thought provoking discussion.

   First and for-most allow me to step off the soap box and tell you about myself. I was (and unfortunately still can be) a very self absorbed, stubborn, know-it-all.  Those who know me well know I spent the better part of 3 years playing a video game that pretty much ran my life and my family often times were confined to the back seat.  How sad and how much time I wasted, not as so many would like to say on a “hobby,” but on my self.  Please understand I’m not saying hobbies are a bad thing to have, but few would disagree that over self-absorption only leads to despair. Selfishness, leads to despair. As I sat there night after night, so interested in my own wants and needs with little thought, or effort, towards others I only became a more angry and bitter person.  I noticed the same things happening to all those around me ensnared in self-indulgence. I knew things had to change, things needed to change.

   Overall, things in my life weren’t terrible by any means.  Yet there was a lot of room for improvement. I wish I was perfect, but unfortunately I’m not.  Change was needed, but I had absolutely no for-sight, no ambition, and no will. Many of us today are addicted to things that we would rather not be, and for many, not all, but many it started with selfishness. We crave through nature to take care of our needs first.  This plague which would consume us in a pit of self anguish and quite honestly (eventually) depression, has but one remedy. Charity.

   The greatest and most influential teacher to ever walk the earth taught us the best thing we can do for ourselves and others is to “love one another.” Loving one another is charity. Selfless acts, truly selfless, bring a source of not only joy and happiness, but a greater understanding and closeness with those most dear in our lives. Without being too cryptic, allow me just to say, that as I have adjusted my life to revolve around others, instead of others revolving around me, I am a happier, better, and more loving person.

   Allow me in closing to say that I am a very busy person. I work two jobs, attend school full time, hold a calling in my church, and have a wife and child at home.  I wasn’t always so busy, and for a time would do nothing but play games. As I’ve rearranged my priorities and focused on serving my fellow man, loving my fellow man, I thought to myself, “If I could, would I go back in time to the days when I did nothing but play games all day?” The answer, surprisingly, was no I wouldn’t.  Why? Its simple, I’m happier today focused firmly on family and service, then I ever was focused on selfish desires. I encourage all and can personally promise that as charity becomes the priority in our lives, we will be enriched for it in ways that will open our eyes to greater understanding and progression.

   I’m still making daily mistakes myself, but I always try to follow that great teacher’s example of charity. I always am trying to love one another.

Test Run

Just working out the kinks.