noticing each other.

I recently read this article by Clayton Christensen, "The Burden of Our Beliefs." It is a blog post in the Washington Post, specifically focusing on "faith." I was really impressed by what he had to say and thought I would share it.

His point is all of us being human have things that would make us feel like a minority or that we don't fit in or for some reason don't belong. But in seeking to fit in and find peace and justification in our differences we should be careful and notice what our actions do to others who might also feel left out and alone.

He talks about this painting by Normal Rockwell and comments, "embedded within the faces and clothing of those in the collage is the message to look beyond ourselves--our rights, our hurts, our pain--[and let us remember to] 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'"

In this article he is specifically addressing the role of religion in relating to same-sex attraction. He explains, "often in the pain and desire to have what everyone else has, and be treated like everyone else is treated, we do exactly the opposite of the Golden Rule. Because we so desperately want to be 'normal' and feel the right to be treated 'normal,' we aggressively lobby for laws that specifically guarantee what we want for ourselves but ignore, in our selfishness, that many other minorities around us have the same desires, needs, and pains--simply manifested in different ways."

"Because we are truly all in this together, we all must succeed together. If there is a win for one minority we must not allow the natural course dictate that another will lose. When one loses, society loses."

"We are facing some difficult questions and decisions in our world and society. I simply hope that each of us will look to our left and right and see more of what others are carrying."

Read full article.

a wonderful example.

I just saw this video and really liked it. I am so amazed by the power of love and forgiveness!

Watch here.

the internet and multi-taskers.

I watched this video a little while ago and SO interesting.. definitely made me think.

What do YOU think? :)

watch here.

from what I remember they filmed a documentary at MIT about students who are expert multi-taskers. but they're finding that actually multi-tasking has some trade-offs, namely can't focus and don't retain a lot of information. that's probably why studying for the lsat was SO hard!.. distractions. inability to focus. trying to do too many things at once. oh my!

a new thought about legal work.

i love judge thomas b. griffith!!! he spoke to us yesterday and wanted to share 2 things that really stuck out.

1. he quoted jacob 2..

"think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you."

2. he was talking about public defenders and prosecutors..

"there is something about standing in a courtroom.. defending someone who is about to lose their liberty."

insight from my property book.

wow i really would have never guessed i would enjoy property so much! but it is so Fascinating! and i really liked this quote and think it applies to so many different things.

by margaret j. radin..

"If there is a traditional understanding that a well developed person must invest himself to some extent in external objects, there is no less a traditional understanding that one should not invest oneself in the wrong way or too great an extent in external objects. property is damnation as well as salvation."

insights from Abe.

yesterday at orientation Dean Rasband shared a great quote by Abraham Lincoln.

"Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but to test a man's character give him power."

thoughts about peace.

"But the peacemaker, O give ear to him! for the words of his mouth and his doctrine drop like the rain, and distil as the dew. They are like the gentle mist upon the herbs, and as the moderate shower upon the grass.

"Animation, virtue, love, contentment, philanthropy, benevolence, compassion, humanity and friendship push life into bliss: and men, a little below the angels, exercising their powers, privileges, and knowledge dwell together in unity; and a sweet odor is wafted by the breath of joy and satisfaction from their righteous communion." -Joseph Smith

:) 

feeling loved.

Why does Heavenly Father love us?

from Dieter F. Uchtdorf..

Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you. ⁷

God does not look on the outward appearance. ⁸ I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.

read more :)

so i had this really interesting experience on sunday. i remembered a few years ago i did this activity where i was blind for a few hours. that activity was SO amazing! really. it still really impresses me when i think about it.

i remember at the time i was sitting in a meeting at school in a large auditorium and had just crawled over several people to get to an empty seat.. remember i'm blind and can't see anything doing this. i sat down and started talking with the two people sitting on both sides of me, and i realized how interesting it was to get to know them without being able to see their face and ultimately make judgments.. e.g., how old they were, what they were wearing, whether they were married or single, etc.

instead, i just listened to them. and not only with my ears but i really felt like not being able to "know them" by seeing allowed me to know them by listening to and feeling their heart.

so for whatever reason i ended up doing a similar thing this past sunday. i was with a new group of people that i didn't know, but instead of judging them by all those things we tend to even define ourselves by, i just made things simple. i stopped doing all those things and i listened. i felt so much love for them. and it was a kind of love more than i am physically capable of feeling/having myself for any person. and i realized more the truth and reality of god's love for all of us. woooo weeeeeeee~~~ :)

banana ice cream/smoothie.

yumm this is so good! and so simple~

it's especially nice if you have old bananas that are about to go bad :)

delightful and fresh banana ice cream smoothie

2 frozen bananas

touch of milk

blend together to get delicious banana ice cream in seconds!

mm..

desires to do good.

President George Q. Cannon: “God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and determination to face the world, and all the powers of the evil one, visible and invisible, to proclaim the Gospel, and maintain the truth, and establish and build up the Zion of our God, fearless of all consequences. He has sent these spirits in this generation to lay the foundation of Zion never more to be overthrown, and to raise up a seed that will be righteous, and that will honor God, and honor him supremely, and be obedient to him under all circumstances.”

I listened to Elder Bednar share this quote this morning in a talk called, "Things as They Really Are."

What a powerful quote! And so crazy.. WE are among those with "courage and determination to face the world, AND all powers of the evil one.. visible and invisible. Courage and determination to proclaim the gospel, to maintain truth.. and to do so Fearless of all consequences."

Take courage and move forward. The future is as bright as your faith. :)

finding happiness :)

happiness is a little like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. if you go our deliberately to find it, you may have difficulty catching it. but if you will follow directions closely, you will not need to pursue it. it will overtake you and remain with you. -spencer w. kimball