Gods and Goddesses

I have been reading Sheri Dew's great book, No Doubt About It, in which she talks about the amazing truth that everyone on the earth is a child of God. She quotes C.S. Lewis as saying, "it is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which...you would be strongly temped to worship...It is in light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another...Ther are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortals horrors or everlasting splendours" (The Weight of Glory, 14-15).

Just Ask!

I've always had a hard time understanding that if our Heavenly Father is omniscient and knows what we need, then why are we sometimes actually required to ask in prayer for something, rather than Him just giving it to us.

Yesterday, my little boy asked me if he could wear a sweatshirt instead of a jacket to school.  I knew perfectly well that it is about sweatshirt season, but forgot to tell him that.  All he had to do was ask.

I'm not saying our Heavenly Father is forgetful or anything, but the experience gave me a little insight on why we do need to ask sometimes.

Be Still...

Both in the world and personally it feels like I am often losing footing in all of the turbulence. With earthquakes and economic woes in the headlines, at home we are trying to find employment and make plans even though there are severely limited options right now. A few weeks ago I was trying to plan for every eventuality and I starting losing sleep and feeling pretty horrible. Questions like, "how can I do it all?" or "how is this possibly going to work out?" kept running through my mind.

One day I was working myself into another frenzy when the thought quietly crept into my head, "be still and know that I am God" (D&C 101:16). I realized that I had been believing that I could plan my way and foresee every dip in the road. This reminder that I need to trust in the Lord has brought me the peace for which I longed. I still don't know what we will be doing after graduation. I still don't know how long economic troubles will plague our nation. I still don't know why people are suffering from natural disasters. But, I do know that I am not in charge and the Lord has a path for each of us. I hope that we can all feel peace and guidance of our Heavenly Father in our lives.

Here is an excerpt from my favorite hymn, Be Still, My Soul:

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side...

To guide the future as he has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds sill know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.