Random Beauty and Daily Wonder

It's probably clear that I'm thrilled with poppies.   Color!  It touches the spirit.  It lifts and encourages.  Not just color, but also color contrast.  Symmetry.  Shape.  Beauty.  

We are often put off by how very seldom the empty lots and the curbsides are trimmed; but then on the other hand, we're greeted with random beauty everywhere we go.  

Or in the case of the photo below, random beauty and calculated ugly...

But then, speaking of gracing the landscape:

To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I took the bottom photo...I may have...We never get tired of seeing and pointing out the reflection of the statue of Christ right in the center of the temple, as seen through the front windows of the Visitors Center.  And as for the stream, I believe I may have referenced Ezekiel 47?

For me, it really is "life-giving" to enjoy these views and feel these feelings of joy and peace, every single day while working here.

Couldn't resist taking this photo of the rearview window of a van.  We had just left an open market; we visited three on our Pday, purchasing artichokes, a potted basil plant, and some jewelry.

I know I've posted photos of Carlo before.  Blaine and his companion Jack Ward left a little card with the church's address on it at the shop where Carlo worked in Rome, forty-six years ago.  Now we're old buddies.  His sister-in-law Maria may or may not have been amused at Blaine's efforts to be on a par with her.  She is a great spirit and a great intellect, even in a small body.  

The young single adults of Italy had a conference last week, and spent a great deal of time on the temple square site.  Carmen is the daughter of some of our dearest friends in Naples, Nunzia and Salvatore Tucci.  Wonderful to see her and other YSAs from around Italy.

You may have seen this caricature of Blaine and me; I've added it as my Facebook profile picture.  It was drawn by one of our multi-talented sister missionaries, Sorella (Sister) Deschine.  We have singers, musicians, multi-linguists...they're amazing.  Many of them performed in the Easter Concert that was presented last Friday and Saturday.  Both were very well attended, by Italians as well as by American tourists and others.  We're portrayed as if we're singing, but I think it's supposed to be us "flapping our lips", as Blaine likes to call it.  No, really, I have to say, he is such a dedicated, prepared missionary.  He's always willing and ready to discuss any principles, to assist the sisters, just to do whatever is required.  I'm so proud of him.  And of his precious tablet!  (His IPad is chock-full of topics with relevant scriptures, videos, maps, you name it.  Johnny-on-the-spot).

I am SO happy to say that we do get a chance to communicate with family often.  Two illustrations:  Abbey in a cool coat she bought on their Semana Santa spring vacation in northern Spain, which she told me about as we spoke with them via Whatsapp, as they were traveling home, then sent me a photo; 

...and Slate's baptism, in Katy, Texas.  He's shown here with his bishop, and with Andrew.  I am so grateful that we were able to participate.  It was wonderful to be part of this milestone in Slate's life.

I've been thinking a lot lately about miracles vs. normal, everyday life.  For one thing, as Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge pointed out in this marvelous talk at BYU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSEsLtwKzvw), EVERYthing about mortal life is a miracle - it's just so "normal" that we don't realize how miraculous it is.  "The healing of the withered hand is not nearly as amazing as the existence of the hand in the first place. If it exists, it follows that it can certainly be fixed when it is broken. The greater event is not in its healing but in its creation."

There's a wonderful series of videos in our visitors center, called "The Storms of Life".  One of the many take aways that have come to me from watching several times, is that when "miracles" happen, it's not as if we "live happily ever after."  When the tempest and the winds were calmed, there was still a boat full of water, which had to be baled out; the occupants were still wet through; they still had to navigate to their destination, etc.  

In other words, "normal" life goes on.  The wonder and joy continue, if we receive them.  I wrote in my journal recently, "I love Walter Rane's painting of the blind man whose eyes Jesus anointed with mud [John 9].  It's very awkward-seeming; not a miracle done with a flourish, but just very human, a little odd.  We all expect (or at least I do) to act and speak as if we're filled with spiritual eloquence and grace 'at all times and in all places.'  Instead...awkward, imperfect, normal, human.  That's how most things get done."

(no copyright infringement intended)

May we SEE wonder in all things.  Alleluia.

proof positive

Wonderful thing for Sunday, March 29:

Sometimes I don't know how much to share about a person's life.  Suffice it to say that the young Nigeriana the sisters have been teaching has had some pretty serious issues.  In the process, however, she has chosen to be humble, faithful, and teachable.

In her presence, I feel that even though we are sharing precious gospel truths with her, we are priveleged to converse with an angel.  I love to see someone who is being true, no matter the history, no matter the pressure, no matter the distractions, no matter the appearances.

We feel humbled to have this privilege to see her soak up every truth of the Gospel.  It reminds us that we can be more faithful too, like her.


Fun thing:

To say I felt intimidated by the thought of directing half the Young Women of the stake in in an activity, by myself, would be putting it mildly.

I'm glad I girded up my loins, knowing that the Lord always comes through.   Imagine writing it as my fun thing!  What beautiful young women, every face a shining light.

holy ground

Wonderful thing for Tuesday, 10 March:

The sisters asked us to go with them to teach a young woman who had "just happened" to come with Kenneth to our home evening week before last.  We had all been impressed with how naturally she took to the things we discussed relative to eternal marriage, and she had told the sisters she would let them know when she was settled enough to receive them (just came to the area from Rome, though she is from Nigeria originally).

True to her word, she contacted them and they set up an appointment.  Not being familiar with the area, she told them "Via Pomeria", assuming where she lives is still part of Prato.  Well, there is a Via Pomeria in Prato - but the suburb where she lives is called Montemurlo, and there's a Via Pomeria there, too.  It took three phone calls from the Prato Via Pomeria, before we finally talked with someone in her apartment building who knew where to direct us!

It was so worth the effort though - her humble and open heart received, like the proverbial sponge, everything we discussed.  She was pleased and grateful to accept The Book of Mormon.  She said that she had always shied away from being baptized, even though she grew up in a Christian home, but when challenged to pray to know if The Book of Mormon and the other things the sisters will teach her are true, and if she receives an answer in the affirmative, to be ready to be baptized April 11, she did not hesitate to agree.

She told us we were God's messengers, but around her, we felt as if we were walking on holy ground.

fun thing:

I went out with just a sweater!   Spring is on the way!

colds and warms

Wonderful thing for Thursday, 26 February:

One wonderful thing is that even though we had to stay home because of this cold/flu that won't let go of Blaine, there are still wonderful things going on!

Last night I was making calls to people who haven't been to church in a long time, which means they have no idea what Pathway is.  It's very refreshing when someone like that sounds glad to hear your voice.  This brother also sounded enthusiastic about Pathway - only trouble is, he works in Padova, and is only home in Florence occasionally.  He said that situation will resolve itself in about a year, so I told him the program will still be around then, and that it's also in Milano.

These experiences give me more confidence; more than that, they give me more charity, more desire to be bold in sharing.  What we have, people need.  If I approach others in "a spirit of meekness, with solemnity of heart" (D&C100:5-8, awesome scripture passage), and with faith and courage, doors will open and lives will be blessed - mine especially.

Fun thing:

Only about 12 or 13 days to go before exercising for a half hour, along with wii fit, will become a habit.  I plan to get out and walk two or three days a week when the weather turns consistently nice.  I like working with the wii...it's just that banal but catchy music I'm not crazy about.

sweet and bittersweet

Wonderful thing for Tuesday, 17 February:

I almost wrote her name, but she should remain anonymous; she is an excommunicant and deserves privacy.  She is, however, the wonderful thing.

We have a list of all the GANS in Pisa, and have been asked to visit them, especially those who don't come much.  Our job, as we see it, is to be mentors, "coach", to get to know them and to encourage and love them.  We went down the list Monday, trying to make appointments.  We had discussed the list with the bishop and the Institute director, and marked the "low hanging fruit" - those who are most likely to respond.  We made an appointment with one of them for yesterday, and agreed to pass by the store where another works.  We then went to the next set of check marks, those who have not been heard from in quite awhile.  We also got an agreement to introduce ourselves at the store where another one of the young women works.

Then we saw this name written in at the bottom of the list.  She has been excommunicated but she comes to GANS activities with her boyfriend, who is "abbastanza bravo".   We called.  She was happy to hear from us, and readily agreed to meet us at the central station, which is near her grandfather's house, with whom she stays during the days of the week before she goes to school in the evenings.

She hastened to be sure, when first we met, that we knew she isn't officially a member, that she has chosen to live in a manner that she knows to be contrary to the laws of God - but that that's the choice she has made and she isn't willing to change that decision.  There was no belligerence in this admission; it was more just to get it out in the open so that there was no deception on her part.

There are a lot of underlying circumstances, of course - there always are.   What impressed us was her openness, her sweetness, her also readily avowed love of God and of the Gospel.  Our hearts ached for her.  We shared with her that we also have issues that plague us, which we are continually trying to ameliorate through prayer, repentance, renewing our covenants, etc.  We promised her that we also are painfully conscious of our sins and weaknesses when we kneel to pray.

We challenged her to, if she can do no more, at least "check in" every morning and every night with her Father in Heaven.  If she continues to do this, we promised her that she would know that He has not forgotten her, that He truly loves her, that He is right there, ready to bless her.  We told her that we will keep in contact; she was pleased to hear it.

Really, there is a very thin line between the "saint" and the "sinner".

fun thing:

We found vanilla!  And jalapeno-like peppers!  And okra!!??!  as well as cheaper peanut butter, all at Doris' store.  She is from Nigeria, and operates a store with "exotic" food.  This Friday there's a Carnevale festa at church; I have vanilla and saffron; I'm supposed to bring a "dolce".  Google, here I come.

Grace sufficient

Wonderful thing for Friday, 6 February:

The fact that, even though we're up to our eyeballs in Pathway right now, and managed only a small amount of prep time to teach our class yesterday, it went well anyway.  This was due, I would say, to the fact that the Lord blessed Andrea, our prospective missionary, for her faithfulness in coming.  It may also be that He honored our earnest efforts to lay the groundwork for this amazing program (Pathway), and leant us his grace in our weaknesses.  It may have had something to do with the all-important subject matter - the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost.  Perhaps He was encouraging us all to persevere.

We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants that "if we receive not the Spirit, we shall not teach."  In the past sometimes , I have not received the Spirit because I judged myself unworthy in cases similar to this.  I know the lesson would have been even better had we managed our priorities just a little better; we can always work on that.  I  have learned too, though, to have more confidence before the Lord, despite my weaknesses.  I can acknowledge my imperfections before him, and still expect his blessings.

I believe that the Lord is really invested in our success and happiness, and is willing to do even the smallest things to encourage us along the path.  I am humbled and touched by his kindness.

Fun thing:  fun things often revolve around eating...nevertheless, I LOVE a salad made with yummy fresh greens (especially valeriana, never ate it in the States - anyone ever had it?), those incredible Sicilian oranges, extra virgin olive oil, toasted sesame seeds, and ground sea salt.  Those times when we don't eat till 9 and want something light - it's perfect.  Blaine is not a mix-your-greens-with-fruit man.  He ate a sandwich on schiacciata (kind of like focaccia only thinner, oilier and saltier) with pesto instead of mayo or mustard.  Something to be said for that too.

Lick This World Hollow

There have been articles written recently about "Mormon intellectuals" growing disappointed over some issue or other, and leaving the Church, one of the most notable being a Church leader from Sweden who grew alarmed over plural marriage and Joseph Smith (see http://en.fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith/Polygamy).  There are other issues, of course - withholding the priesthood from those of African descent, opposition to calling it marriage when two of the same gender unite, etc. - but I do not propose to confront those issues directly (for in-depth treatment of those topics, see https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng ).

 I do not claim to be able to respond succinctly to questions about many of those issues.  What I can report on, is the fruits of "Mormonism" in my personal life and in the lives of those to whom I am close.  What I can claim is that a root which bears fruit this sweet cannot be bitter.

A wise priest out of The Book of Mormon, Giddonah, posed these relevant question to Korihor, an Anti-Christ:  "Why do ye go about perverting the ways of the Lord? Why do ye teach this people that there shall be no Christ, to interrupt their rejoicings? Why do ye speak against all the prophecies of the holy prophets? (Alma 30:22)"

Though I do not have the authority of Giddonah and am not labeling anyone Anti-Christ, still I find the questions applicable here, particularly the one about interrupting rejoicing.  I would alter the question a little bit:  Why do you teach this people that His Restored Church is a sham, and that His prophet is a charlatan, to interrupt their rejoicings?

from http://lukerichards.blogspot.it/

To illustrate my point, I'd like to recall a passage from C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair.  To set the scene:  the protagonists find themselves fighting the powers of enchantment of an evil queen, who is using her arts to persuade them that Narnia does not exist but is only a figment of their imagination, and that her "underworld" with its dark sorrow is the only real world.  A brave though quirky character named Puddleglum sacrifices his health and safety to break the enchantment.  This is his reply (after stomping on the witch's fiendish fire to quench its power):

One word.  All you've been saying is quite right I shouldn't wonder.  I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it.  So I won't deny any of what you said.  But there's one thing more to be said, even so.  Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself.  Suppose we have.  Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones.  Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world.  Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one.   And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it.  We're just babies making up a game, if you're right.  But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow.  That's why I'm going to stand by the play world.  I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.  I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia.

Now - let me see if I can correlate this to the subject at hand.  When I read articles such as those referred to, the effect on me is kind of like that foisted upon our unhappy heroes.  I am tempted to go all dull-eyed and agree, "There never was a sun:"

"Oh yeah.  There's all that controversy.  I don't know how to respond to the clamor.  People are pointing the finger of scorn.  Am I a fool?  Is everything I believe really a fraud?  Am I really, as the brother from Sweden put it, 'in a bubble' threatening to pop?"

That's when I choose to do the Puddleglum thing; I stomp in the fire.  I remember my covenants:  that I have promised to keep the commandments, to stand as a witness, to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth, with all my heart, might, mind and strength - to remember the Atoning Sacrifice made in my behalf, and that I have promised to take upon me That Dear Name, and to serve Him all my days.
I go to my knees.  I open my scriptures.  I study with a believing heart.  I look for opportunities to do good. I listen to wise leaders like Giddonah and Thomas S. Monson.  I remember my own experiences:  countless answered prayers; overarching comfort and peace in times of great anguish; power and grace beyond natural ability when I knew nothing else to do and nowhere else do go; epiphanies and enlightenment giving me vistas beyond human comprehension; the miracles in the lives of those upon whose sacrificial foundation the life I live today is possible; the rock-solid testimony I have been given by the power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:3-5) of the divinity of Jesus Christ, of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration, and of The Book of Mormon, together with The Holy Bible and the other scriptures of the Restoration, as the word of God.

As I do these things, principles such as those espoused in the 13th Article of Faith rise like pregnant suns before me:  "We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

I remember all my blessings, and I make a choice to hold on to that supposed "play world", because it licks this world hollow.

So here is my reply to the good brother from Sweden and to anyone else who feels smothered in doubt or who points the finger of scorn:  Why do you seek to interrupt my rejoicings?  What is it about this "underworld" in which we presently find ourselves that you find preferable? You say "that it is not reasonable (Helaman 14:16-23)" that God would need to restore His church through a modern prophet, that He would give commandments to his prophet that are "hard things (I Nephi 16:1)" to bear, that a prophet would behave in such-and-such a manner (knowing the lives of the ancient prophets were no less controversial in the eyes of some, often centuries removed, whose standards are themselves questionable).

Before I respond to that, I quote from my good friend Puddleglum again:

"But you can play the fiddle till your fingers drop off, and still you won't make me forget Narnia; and the whole Overworld too.  We'll never see it again, I shouldn't wonder.  You may have blotted it out and turned it dark like this, for all I know.  Nothing more likely.  But I know I was there once.  I've seen the sky full of stars.  I've seen the sun coming up out of the sea of a morning and sinking behind the mountains at night.  And I've seen him up in the midday sky when I couldn't look at him for brightness." 

These remarks put me in mind of Paul's teachings on the faith of Abraham and others:

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. - Hebrews 11:13-16

From this I learn not to trust what is "reasonable" by the standards of this world.  Sometimes I feel like a stranger and a pilgrim; but, spiritually speaking, I can say that I have seen the sky full of stars, and the sun in the midday sky when I couldn't look at him for brightness, and all this through my membership in and allegiance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I may feel suffocated by life in the underworld at times, but I know "Narnia" is there, that despite what appears to be so, my true home is real.

I will follow this admonition to Emma Smith, the wife of the prophet:  "And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better. (Doctrine and Covenants 25:10)"

I will trust that:  "...whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God. (Ether 12:4)"

I will also say this:  These references come from books of scripture that are derided and downplayed by people who say they were brought forth by a charlatan.  How can we, living in a polluted world of diminishing moral absolutes, charge a man living in another era with immorality, with any kind of validity?  Hear instead the words of a contemporary, Parley P. Pratt:

This said Col. Price placed us in a room without beds, chairs, or any other convenience, and chained seven of us all together, with a kind of trace chain, extending from one man’s ankle to another, and fastened round one ankle of each with a padlock.  In this situation we were guarded night and day by about ten men at a time, who stood over us with loaded pistols in hand.  At night we were all stretched on the floor in a row upon our backs, and tried to sleep, but the hard floor, the cold, and the inability to change our position because of our chains, and the noise of the guards effectually prevented sleep.

In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep, till the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies, and filthy language of our guards, Col. Price at their head, as they recounted to each other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had committed among the “Mormons,” while at Far West, and vicinity.  They even boasted of defiling by force, wives, daughters, and virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women, and children.

I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice, that I could scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards, but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay next to him and knew he was awake.  On a sudden he arose to his feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, or as the roaring lion, uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:

“SILENCE—Ye fiends of the infernal pit.  In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute, and hear such language.  Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS MINUTE.”

He ceased to speak.  He stood erect in terrible majesty.  Chained, and without a weapon,–calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he looked down upon the quailing guards, whose weapons were lowed or dropped to the ground; whose knees smote together, and who, shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.

I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was suspended upon a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations;  I have tried to conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones, and crowns; and of emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms, but dignity and majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains at midnight, in a dungeon, in an obscure village of Missouri.

A great and virtuous woman of the time, who knew him well, Bathsheba W. Smith (married to the prophet's cousin), said of Joseph Smith, “I know him to be what he professed to be—a true prophet of God, and the Lord through him restored the everlasting gospel and every ordinance and endowment that will lead us into the celestial kingdom.”

While there are many other witnesses, these two will suffice for now.   To me it is no wonder that the tree that has grown from those roots bears sweet fruit.

The prophet Alma in The Book of Mormon, speaking of faith as a seed producing a tree from which one can pluck the fruit that is the love of God asked of the experience, "O then, is this not real?  I say unto you, Yea, because it is light, and whatsoever is light is good, because it is discernible. (Alma 32:35)"   That is the real world I speak of.

I rejoice in the fruit of the tree; I will hold to the rod that leads to it.  I will stand by this "play world;" I am on the side of Jesus Christ and and of his prophet Joseph Smith even if there is no Jesus Christ and no Prophet of the Restoration; I'm going to live as like a Latter-day Saint as I can, even if there is no Kingdom of God on the earth today - although I testify that these things are indeed so.

The Savior of the World Himself was the target of derision, and many of his early disciples found his acts and words "too hard."  He asked Peter and the others,

Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

I feel the same way about all that I have spoken.

So [says Puddleglum], thanking you kindly for our supper, if [my brothers and sisters] are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives [living for what we know and believe].  Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's small loss if the world's as dull a place [as the one you claim is real].

The everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ licks this world hollow.

Merry Christmas`

I feel it incumbent upon me to be a voice crying in the wilderness, just in case there are any out there who think that the unmistakable good will that pervades during this hoiday season has no direct connection to the birth of Christ. I have noticed over the last few years, a marked increase in other "reasons" to celebrate, an effort to diminish the Christian "reason for the season."
Kwanzaa is completely worthwhile; the celebration of Hannukah is totally legitimate; the winter solstice is awe-inspiring. They can enhance the season's enjoyment.
However, the effort to try to remove Christ from Christmas will yield a commensurate loss of Christmas spirit; the celebration will seem somehow empty, the good will, not "enough:" endeavors to engender those feelings will echo somewhere in the chambers of the heart that have been emptied of the one Eternal source of joy.
Humanity is not solely of the animals, not fully of the genus "mammal." Evolution is a principle of science, but is not All in All. As the poet Wordsworth expressed, "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:/ The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,/ Hath had elsewhere its setting,/And cometh from afar:/ Not in entire forgetfulness,/ And not in utter nakedness,/ But trailing clouds of glory do we come/ From God, who is our home:/ Heaven lies about us in our infancy!"
I believe that the best scientists have much in common with the greatest poets, and perhaps even with the prophets. I believe that there is really very little that separates the spirit of inquiry from the beckoning of Mystery. One blogger, Rich Blundell, shared this observation: "A scientist's Christmas has humility and dignity both. It is humble enough to admit that our knowledge of the sacred will always be incomplete, without the need to declare 'war' on anything but ignorance. There is plenty of mystery to celebrate and plenty of ignorance to fear - Merry Christmas."
This year, I suggest that instead of denying the "knowing" deep within every human soul, that we instead acknowledge it, that we, as it were, give room for it. See where it leads. Celebrate it all, and celebrate Him who is the Source of it all. "Come in, and know me better, man!"