Focus

As usual, I think a bit as to what I should post on my blog, and  on Sundays I like to think about more spiritual things and reflect on what I need to do to be more like the Savior.  (although I think everyday I do the same, but on Sundays I'm a  little more reflective of what I've learned while in Church)

  

When you create a blog, you are able to pick the background and be as creative as you'd like if that's what you'd like to do.  I would usually go looking for a better, unique background than the ones that are "standard" to choose from, but this background just felt right at the moment (who knows, several months down the line I may change this, but for now it's perfect for how I'm feeling).  This background reminded me of driving down a road, seeing the sites and having all the experiences one can have on a road trip (and I do LOVE a good road trip!).

  

As we drive along the road some of us see "off the road" and some stare more straight ahead focusing on objects in their path.  Lately, I've been trying to stay more on course.  To give focus to things that are really important in life because what I believe that what we focus on is what we'll see showing up in our lives.

  

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and I am a Christian) and twice a year we have a meeting called, Stake Conference, in which a large area of the Church (named a "stake) gets together for a  Saturday evening meeting for the adults and a Sunday morning meeting that includes all of the children as well.  We have speakers and choirs and it is an uplifting meeting full of new insight as well as reminding us of things we already know.  It was this weekend.

   

Before Stake Conference happens (usually a few weeks ahead) we are given a reading assignment, one that goes along with the theme of the Confernece.  This Conference we were assigned to read a talk by Neal A. Maxwell (a former Apostle who died several years ago) titled, "According to the Desire of Our Hearts".   I loved the article; it seemed to fit in with exactly with the path that I'm trying to follow.  Elder Maxwell stated, "...what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity. 'For I, said the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts' (Doctrine & Covenants 137:9 and Jeremiah 17:10)"  

I really believe that what we desire is what we will eventually become and there are consequences to our desires, for what we focus on (coming from our desires) is what will show up for us.  This brings me back to the "layout" of my blog.  As you look straight at the page where the print is, it is clear and easy to see, but as you look past the page and even further out it gets blurrier.  My desire is to stay focused and on the path which will eventually lead me back to live with my Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.  There are all kinds of temptations to move a little more out towards the "blurriness" which may not lead me to "bad" things but to things that take me from my real "focus"(with my short attention span, at times, it's sometimes difficult to stay "focused" or to keep my thoughts 'focused")

  

We each have different experiences in life, and if we'll take the opportunity to learn from each experience then I believe we are able to grow.  I am learning that as I stay more focused on my righteous desires that there is a little different feeling inside of me, a little better attitude, a little more willingness and desire to to the right things.  I am nowhere near perfect and do not claim that my method of growing and learning has to be yours, but I am saying that as we have a desire to be closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ that small changes happen quickly; I can't wait to see what comes next!

*The article, "According to the Desires of Our Hearts is in the Nov. 1996 Ensign (Conference Talks) and can be found on lds.org under Church Magazines