If Worse Comes to Worst, We're Skrewed

Happy Birthday, Dad! It is seventy years ago today that my father was born.

I realize that several of my posts address my father's life and impact on me. I guess that just says how much he means to me.

Silly Pun (my dad liked these too): If your father is from Canada and your mother is from Chile, does that make you a Canachile (pronounced: can-a-chili)?

OK, the groaning can stop now.

The Universe is Expanding; that should ease the traffic

At the end of the week, my wife, son, mother and I leave for Europe. We have been looking forward to this trip for months. And while many say things like "you deserve to go on vacation" I'm still just a pedantic stick in the mud -- I don't DESERVE to go on a vacation. I WANT to go on vacation. I can AFFORD to go on vacation. I may even NEED a vacation. But DESERVE is just such a strange sentiment.

And maybe I'm the only one who thinks about such things. But the only thing anyone DESERVES, outside of life and liberty (which are God-given gifts) is the chance to prove himself. And when we have been proven, can we merit any deserts? Or even any desserts? We cannot truly make claim to the first, and we probably don't need the second (however much we may desire it).

But enough pointless ranting for today. I'm very happy to be going. And I intend to leave cares and worries behind. At least that is what I am trying to do. Unfortunately, in order to go on vacation, one must work extra hard to finish everything needed to be done and then I know that as soon as I get back, there will be a mountain waiting for my attention.

I guess that is the price we must pay in order to play. Work is still a four-letter word.

The title to this post is from Steven Wright. I just like it. I have no intention of expanding on it.

However, there is a topic about which I do wish to rant or muse -- global catastrophic fear. My wife was watching a Discovery program the other day about our "global footprint". It was a program that graphically detailed the amount of goods, etc. that each person consumes, uses, or discards in one's lifetime. It was interesting and informative and the graphics were very well done (it took hours to set up all of the pints of milk they laid out to show the amount consumed by one person over the course of his average life). But while it gave you this guilt trip about how much of a "footprint" the average person makes, it gave no answers.

And that is because there are no answers. Yes, we should be aware of what we consume and we should be conservative, and even change our lives and lifestyles if appropriate, but this overwhelming guilt and fear that man is destroying the Earth has got to stop. The Earth was made for man, not the other way around. And I think we lose track of what is important. "There is enough and to spare." Not that there is enough to waste, and wasting resources is sinful in my opinion, but we shouldn't be working ourselves into a fit about the Earth drying up (or flooding or whatever). We should use the knowledge we have to be the best we can be. But becoming fearful of the future is just as sinful as wasting resources.

I'm tired of the constant bickering on this topic. Maybe they bicker because they do not understand the full picture (and few people do understand it). The bottom line is this -- the world will end, there will be catastrophes, those who are prepared have no need to fear, and the others will die. There will be suffering and joy. There will be acts of selflessness and selfishness. There will be money made and lost. And many people will live through it in one way or another, right or wrong, better or worse. The only real difference is that we can prepare for what is to come and we can know that the endgame will be "great and terrible."

So stop bickering. The polar ice caps are melting. The seasons are more severe. We should do what we can to be more economical and profitable (yes, it all comes down to spending resources in the end). And we should stop hating everyone else who doesn't believe the same as we do. If they refuse to see the light in front of their faces, they will be burned in the end.

What is the worst that could happen? Death? Death isn't so bad -- I've seen a lot of people die (or at least, I've attended their funerals) and I can tell you one thing is for sure -- EVERYBODY is going to die sooner or later. The only question you need to ask is "if I were hit by a truck today, could I face God and not shrink in shame?". The rest of it all -- did I do everything I needed to do, did I love enough, did I prepare enough, did I teach enough, etc. etc. etc. -- is all minor drivel in the end. The only thing that matters is can you face your Maker today and be able to enjoy His loving embrace. He will take care of the families we leave behind. Yes, we can do things to help make that transition easier on the "survivors". And maybe I will write about that process in another post. But we should tune our focus today, feel joy today, put aside fear today, live life today, and be prepared for the only test that really matters. All else will fall into place behind.

Ordination to High Priest

I am not usually the kind of person that feels comfortable writing about accomplishments or milestones in my life, and I am not all that comfortable now. Yes, those who know me would probably scoff and say something about being conceited or some such, but I really do feel a bit of guilt when I mention that I've been ordained to this or called to that. I have no problem telling people that I'm an amazing accountant. That is a little odd, isn't it?

Bottom line (since I have very little time): tonight my Uncle ordained me to the office of High Priest. It was an extremely moving and emotional experience and the blessing pronounced helped in ways that made me know that my Uncle was inspired (there was no way he could know about that which I privately struggle and yet those concerns were addressed in a very personal manner).

Since the Bishop asked me if I was ready to be ordained, I have studied the office of High Priest and I have been impressed by this holy calling and that others consider me worthy of it. The words of my Uncle (or, more appropriately, the words of my Father in Heaven spoken through my Uncle) confirmed to me that the Lord and Our Father consider me worthy of this office. And now I will live up to Their trust and fulfill the duties associated with being a High Priest. It is a little odd, but I actually feel different -- revitalized, more powerful, more holy since being ordained earlier tonight. During my drive back to work I could feel the calm power of the priesthood in me. It reminded me of when I was ordained an Elder and when I was baptized. These are cleansing ordinances for a man -- and they make him a man of God.

There is so much more that I feel, but cannot express in words tonight. I fear that if I don't write something, I will lose this opportunity to express myself. And thus I am sharing this very personal and holy moment with you. I do not write it here to boast, but just to make it known, if only to me, that tonight I felt the changing power of the love of our Father in Heaven and His Son, our Savior.

Tasteless Joke

You've been warned...

Did you hear about the lawyer with diarrhea?

He thought he was melting.

For some reason, I just needed to share that one. There may be others coming. Again, you were warned. And do you know how hard that word is to spell?