Reclaimed

This past week I have thought a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I've pondered how I use it in my life. I've thought about how I should be using it and begun to do so. Learning about the Atonement is one of my very favorite things. It's simple enough for a child to understand the basics of it, yet at the same time something we can all continue to learn about. Which is what happened this past week.

I watched a Mormon Message entitled, "Reclaimed." We are taught in this video that when the Lord forgives us of our sins we do not need to go back, and indeed should not return to dig up the past. As we repent the Lord polishes us into something more beautiful. In the video Elder Bowen tells of a beautiful park that used to be a landfill. He gives an explanation that is wonderful and I invite you to watch it. However, what I learned is that Jesus Christ makes my mistakes and sins into something beautiful and useful. If I continually beat myself up about the past then I am not allowing Him and the power of his atonement to take affect in my life. When Christ says he has forgiven me I need to believe him. I must let him mold me into something beautiful.

Record Keeping

Have you ever wondered or given thought as to why we feel the need to write things down? Why do we record our day to day happenings? Why is it such a joy to find old records and learn about someone who has passed on? There are multiple reasons why. The reason may be different for every person. It could be we write because we don't want to forget. We may write because it's a way to work through things in our lives. Or perhaps we write because we feel we can give something to who ever will read it. As for searching for older records, maybe we want to learn from the past. Or it could be we search for evidence we are not the only ones going through certain experiences. For whatever reason recording our experiences is something most of us do.

According to prophets there is great reason to record our life experiences. First off, many prophets declare they do not understand why they feel the spirit prompting them to keep a record. Never mind a second record in addition to their historical record. I can think of various instances also where prophets explain they write in order that their children may know Christ. That they may know their ancestors believed in Christ and hoped their children would also be led to believe in him. Reflecting upon this has caused me for some weeks now to reconsider why I keep a journal.

When I write who am I writing for? Why do I write down what happened during my day? Is what I write going to be profitable for someone at some point? By my writings does the reader know I believe in Christ? From what I write are they able to come to know me and feel what I feel? If I'm not writing for the purpose of one day profiting someone than why do I write at all?

So, next time you go to write something, I would invite you to think what you hope your future reader will gain from it.

Success!

This morning I ran a 5k. Which is kind of amazing since I only started running a month and a half ago. Growing up I was not very athletic. Exercising was not my thing. I did not enjoy getting all sweaty and being out of breath. Hiking or canoeing was the extent of my exercise. Yet I've always had a dream to run a marathon. How would I ever do that if running even a quarter mile made me out of breath. A few months ago I expressed to some friends how I wanted to be better about exercising regularly. At that point it meant going on a mile walk. Gradually it increased. Then somehow my roommate found out I have a dream to run a marathon. With a lot of encouragement and goading she convinced me to sign up for a 5K. I still recall the day I ran my first mile. It was an awesome feeling! I thought my legs would give out and I'd pass out from breathing so heavily. My friend was so good about pushing me and keeping me going and then celebrating with me when I made it. Once I made it once it became almost addicting. I wanted to see if I could do more. If I could run up some hills. If I could run faster and/or longer. Then this morning came and I ran that 5k! The whole time I imagined my friend by my side encouraging me and telling me, "Okay let's run to the stop sign. Alright great job! Now let's run to the red truck. Awesome! Now that light post. You're doing amazing!"And at the finish line I ran faster than I ever have to make a good time and give it my all. I feel so empowered! I am on the road to success! Well, I succeeded this morning. I am stronger than I thought. I can do things I always wanted to do but never thought I would be able to do. Or even find the drive to do so. Now that marathon seems just a bit closer. And a little more attainable. I think we are more successful than we realize or give ourselves credit for. We are more like Christ than we know and perfection is closer than we realize and can see.