It's amazing what touch can do.
As the therapist works to ease
muscles warped by stress and pain
I am assailed by smells
of hot desert sand
juniper
and sagebrush
even though that sense has been lost
over forty years now.
It's amazing what sound will do
when the chords of a hymn
release warm memory
of star-filled sky when we sang
an exuberant anthem
of universal glory.
Song remembered over millennia of time
by hearts that hear.
karla freckleton burkhart
december 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Christmas
It's nice to have Christmas in the winter even though the birth was in the spring. We need something to celebrate in the dark time of the year and what could be better than to celebrate the Prince of Light?
In 1992 the Tabernacle Choir went to Israel. We left the morning of the 26th and were there until January 6 of 1993. Israel is an interesting place on many levels. We were making a video so we traveled to several spots but one very revealing spot was Shepherd's Field. We were taken to a place not usually visited by tourists so that we could film without spectators. I had always imagined the place as rolling green hills, a few trees, a peaceful place. Instead was steep, craggy, rocky hills with very little grass and only twisted, stunted trees.
Not the place familiar to imagination but when we stepped off the buses we all knew, without exception, we had been there before. Indeed, all mankind was there. We were the multitudes. When the choir sand that December day, the hills echoed all around and was heard up and down the valley.
With something as spectacular as angel song, why weren't more people aware? Simply because they weren't looking. Remember, there hadn't been any prophets for a long time. No one was reminding people of the signs of the Messiah's birth. Although, I'm sure there were a few sincere people, most were just looking at day to day life.
On this continent the prophets were telling of the wonders. Samuel was giving bulletins right up to the time of the birth. There were a lot of people in the know. Even those who were denying woke up to facts when the signs began. Nothing like losing a night and having a strange bright star to catch your attention if you're even slightly aware.
Yet, the star was also seen in Palestine. Why weren't they aware? And, are we aware today of the signs being given. You see, if people aren't looking spiritual signs, anything can be explained. And indeed, God does work by natural laws so I'm sure there are scientific explanations for today's signs. But, that does not make them any less valid.
The fact is, that a child was born. Not in a gentle environment where cleanliness prevailed and the mother was attended. But in a shelter where animals lived. A child grew. Not in a spacious home. Not even as nice a home as a very small home of today. But still, a home where he was taught and loved. It was a very poor family as evidenced by the custom of presenting the first born in the temple and giving a lamb as the passover sacrifice and a dove to signify peace. If the family was very, very poor, they could give two doves instead of a lamb. It's significant that Mary and Joseph did this. They were poor, alone, and unpopular. Jesus was always the lowest of the low. We are told that He descended below all. His whole life was like that.
He did all this willingly in love. Yet even today, people reject Him. DC 88:33.
When people reject the gift they are rejecting the very one who can give them life. They are rejecting once more the babe. Luke 1:7 says it was not just that there was no room in the inn but it says there was no room for them in the inn. They were rejected even at the time of the birth of our Lord.
When you have a very bad day, as we all do at times, remember, his days were always full of rejection and disappointment. He couldn't even be homesick – he had no home. He could have given up. He had the power. He never gave up. We must not give up. When we focus on the things that go wrong in our lives we are actually directing ourselves toward that goal. What we think determines what we do. So many of our mistakes are because of our own skewed perspective. We keep making mistakes, not because God wants us to be miserable but because we are directing our thinking to that result. We must program our minds to follow in His steps. we need to accept responsibility for whatever is going on in our life. If our experiences are based on thoughts and emotions we have chosen in the past, then we are responsible for our thoughts in the present. You are the one who thinks your thoughts. Your thoughts do not think you. Our Father gave us Choice and Accountability. It is up to us to fill our thoughts with the positive. His time on Earth was spent looking forward at eternity. We must focus the same way.
Our perception of something going wrong is just that, a perception, and that is all. It may be a misguided perception based on a lack of understanding or on false beliefs. In the bigger scheme of things, in God's perspective, Nothing EVER goes “wrong”. God does not make mistakes. He is not “out to get someone.” He does not have it in for anyone because they are bad. His creation is perfect and the goal of His creation never wavers. It is, has been, and always will be perfect, precise, and unfailing ALL the time. It is only when our wrong perceptions stir up emotions that attract circumstances that you perceive life as “going wrong.”
It is important that you express and recognize gratitude for the fact that everything in your life is a miracle and you are part of the creation of your life.
My perception of any event or circumstance is based on a memory of something in the past that I've stored subconsciously and that can be consciously changed if it is not in harmony with what I wish to accomplish.
A child was born. We can live in eternal joy if we really desire.
In 1992 the Tabernacle Choir went to Israel. We left the morning of the 26th and were there until January 6 of 1993. Israel is an interesting place on many levels. We were making a video so we traveled to several spots but one very revealing spot was Shepherd's Field. We were taken to a place not usually visited by tourists so that we could film without spectators. I had always imagined the place as rolling green hills, a few trees, a peaceful place. Instead was steep, craggy, rocky hills with very little grass and only twisted, stunted trees.
Not the place familiar to imagination but when we stepped off the buses we all knew, without exception, we had been there before. Indeed, all mankind was there. We were the multitudes. When the choir sand that December day, the hills echoed all around and was heard up and down the valley.
With something as spectacular as angel song, why weren't more people aware? Simply because they weren't looking. Remember, there hadn't been any prophets for a long time. No one was reminding people of the signs of the Messiah's birth. Although, I'm sure there were a few sincere people, most were just looking at day to day life.
On this continent the prophets were telling of the wonders. Samuel was giving bulletins right up to the time of the birth. There were a lot of people in the know. Even those who were denying woke up to facts when the signs began. Nothing like losing a night and having a strange bright star to catch your attention if you're even slightly aware.
Yet, the star was also seen in Palestine. Why weren't they aware? And, are we aware today of the signs being given. You see, if people aren't looking spiritual signs, anything can be explained. And indeed, God does work by natural laws so I'm sure there are scientific explanations for today's signs. But, that does not make them any less valid.
The fact is, that a child was born. Not in a gentle environment where cleanliness prevailed and the mother was attended. But in a shelter where animals lived. A child grew. Not in a spacious home. Not even as nice a home as a very small home of today. But still, a home where he was taught and loved. It was a very poor family as evidenced by the custom of presenting the first born in the temple and giving a lamb as the passover sacrifice and a dove to signify peace. If the family was very, very poor, they could give two doves instead of a lamb. It's significant that Mary and Joseph did this. They were poor, alone, and unpopular. Jesus was always the lowest of the low. We are told that He descended below all. His whole life was like that.
He did all this willingly in love. Yet even today, people reject Him. DC 88:33.
When people reject the gift they are rejecting the very one who can give them life. They are rejecting once more the babe. Luke 1:7 says it was not just that there was no room in the inn but it says there was no room for them in the inn. They were rejected even at the time of the birth of our Lord.
When you have a very bad day, as we all do at times, remember, his days were always full of rejection and disappointment. He couldn't even be homesick – he had no home. He could have given up. He had the power. He never gave up. We must not give up. When we focus on the things that go wrong in our lives we are actually directing ourselves toward that goal. What we think determines what we do. So many of our mistakes are because of our own skewed perspective. We keep making mistakes, not because God wants us to be miserable but because we are directing our thinking to that result. We must program our minds to follow in His steps. we need to accept responsibility for whatever is going on in our life. If our experiences are based on thoughts and emotions we have chosen in the past, then we are responsible for our thoughts in the present. You are the one who thinks your thoughts. Your thoughts do not think you. Our Father gave us Choice and Accountability. It is up to us to fill our thoughts with the positive. His time on Earth was spent looking forward at eternity. We must focus the same way.
Our perception of something going wrong is just that, a perception, and that is all. It may be a misguided perception based on a lack of understanding or on false beliefs. In the bigger scheme of things, in God's perspective, Nothing EVER goes “wrong”. God does not make mistakes. He is not “out to get someone.” He does not have it in for anyone because they are bad. His creation is perfect and the goal of His creation never wavers. It is, has been, and always will be perfect, precise, and unfailing ALL the time. It is only when our wrong perceptions stir up emotions that attract circumstances that you perceive life as “going wrong.”
It is important that you express and recognize gratitude for the fact that everything in your life is a miracle and you are part of the creation of your life.
My perception of any event or circumstance is based on a memory of something in the past that I've stored subconsciously and that can be consciously changed if it is not in harmony with what I wish to accomplish.
A child was born. We can live in eternal joy if we really desire.
Monday, November 29, 2010
This is the time of year when we are expected, almost commanded to be thankful. And we wish we could feel excited and full of gratitude 24/7. However, there are times we just have a hard time feeling it. Maybe we've been let down by someone we thought was there for us. Maybe the world gets in the way and financial problems overwhelm us. Maybe the physical just isn't what we expect. Maybe we feel alone in a crowd. Or maybe we are just so stressed and so completely tired we have trouble feeling anything at all.
I don't know about you, but I've been in all those places. Yes, even on our mission where one could expect maybe a little more “help”, I've felt deflated and lost and very, very tired.
Yet we are told, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things' (D&C 59:7). All things means just that: good things, difficult things--not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy.
When you are in a sincere state of gratitude your energy is one of acceptance and harmony. Expressing Gratitude for any situation draws you to more of what you are expressing gratitude for.Any time we are not expressing gratitude we are in essence, focusing on NOT WANTING that outcome. Whenever we do that, we naturally move towards what we are focused on.
Athletes practice mentally, actors envision their role, what we think becomes what we do. Why then, don't we preprogram our minds for success?
You are the one who thinks your thoughts. Your thoughts do not think you. Our Father gave us Choice and Accountability. It is up to us to fill our thoughts with the positive.
Our perception of something going wrong is just that, a perception, and that is all. It may be a misguided perception based on a lack of understanding or on false beliefs. In the bigger scheme of things, in God's perspective, Nothing EVER goes “wrong”. God does not make mistakes. He is not “out to get someone.” He does not have it in for anyone because they are bad. His creation is perfect and the goal of His creation never wavers. It is, has been, and always will be perfect, precise, and unfailing ALL the time. It is only when our wrong perceptions stir up emotions that attract circumstances that you perceive life as“going wrong.”
It is important that you express and recognize gratitude for the fact that everything in your life is a miracle and you are part of the creation of your life. Perception becomes personal "fact" and may be quite different from actual fact. We have the ability to change our perceptions and aline our facts to be more what we need them to be. If we look as a day "lost and horrible" because we have some disappointment in our plans it is only our perspective that is off.
Obviously your perception that everything is wrong and the whole day lost is not right. However, based on your thought pattern and perception, the day is lost. Unless you are able to change that perception, you will have a horrible day. In fact, if you remain in this state, you will literally attract additional events, conditions and circumstances to you that will make certain that you have a horrible day. You may even pick a fight with the next person who has the audacity to speak to you. This is a classic case of ungratefulness. No silver lining.
God loves each of us unconditionally exactly the same and only gives us what we are asking for based on our frame of mind. The scriptures say, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” That applies to daily life. By learning to control our emotions and show gratitude every, single day we attract situations where gratitude is more easily felt. We can't control everything that is going on around us in our world but we can control our mind and our perceptions. We control how we react to the things that happen.
As Gordon B. Hinckley said in August of 1982, “Our society is afflicted by a spirit of thoughtless arrogance unbecoming those who have been so magnificently blessed. How grateful we should be for the bounties we enjoy. Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism.”
Make this holiday season what God would want it to be. Look for the blessings in each day. Aline your thinking with that of the Father who loves us all and to whom we dedicate this time of year.
I don't know about you, but I've been in all those places. Yes, even on our mission where one could expect maybe a little more “help”, I've felt deflated and lost and very, very tired.
Yet we are told, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things' (D&C 59:7). All things means just that: good things, difficult things--not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy.
When you are in a sincere state of gratitude your energy is one of acceptance and harmony. Expressing Gratitude for any situation draws you to more of what you are expressing gratitude for.Any time we are not expressing gratitude we are in essence, focusing on NOT WANTING that outcome. Whenever we do that, we naturally move towards what we are focused on.
Athletes practice mentally, actors envision their role, what we think becomes what we do. Why then, don't we preprogram our minds for success?
You are the one who thinks your thoughts. Your thoughts do not think you. Our Father gave us Choice and Accountability. It is up to us to fill our thoughts with the positive.
Our perception of something going wrong is just that, a perception, and that is all. It may be a misguided perception based on a lack of understanding or on false beliefs. In the bigger scheme of things, in God's perspective, Nothing EVER goes “wrong”. God does not make mistakes. He is not “out to get someone.” He does not have it in for anyone because they are bad. His creation is perfect and the goal of His creation never wavers. It is, has been, and always will be perfect, precise, and unfailing ALL the time. It is only when our wrong perceptions stir up emotions that attract circumstances that you perceive life as“going wrong.”
It is important that you express and recognize gratitude for the fact that everything in your life is a miracle and you are part of the creation of your life. Perception becomes personal "fact" and may be quite different from actual fact. We have the ability to change our perceptions and aline our facts to be more what we need them to be. If we look as a day "lost and horrible" because we have some disappointment in our plans it is only our perspective that is off.
Obviously your perception that everything is wrong and the whole day lost is not right. However, based on your thought pattern and perception, the day is lost. Unless you are able to change that perception, you will have a horrible day. In fact, if you remain in this state, you will literally attract additional events, conditions and circumstances to you that will make certain that you have a horrible day. You may even pick a fight with the next person who has the audacity to speak to you. This is a classic case of ungratefulness. No silver lining.
God loves each of us unconditionally exactly the same and only gives us what we are asking for based on our frame of mind. The scriptures say, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” That applies to daily life. By learning to control our emotions and show gratitude every, single day we attract situations where gratitude is more easily felt. We can't control everything that is going on around us in our world but we can control our mind and our perceptions. We control how we react to the things that happen.
As Gordon B. Hinckley said in August of 1982, “Our society is afflicted by a spirit of thoughtless arrogance unbecoming those who have been so magnificently blessed. How grateful we should be for the bounties we enjoy. Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism.”
Make this holiday season what God would want it to be. Look for the blessings in each day. Aline your thinking with that of the Father who loves us all and to whom we dedicate this time of year.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Season Change
The summer and fall have been so wonderful and full of beauty it is hard for me to see the season change. However, change it must and today is much colder with a skiff of snow on the lawn. I wish I could say my garden was ready for winter. I do have the potatoes in and the cucumbers got nipped some time ago, but the tomatoes! This has been tomato year and I have been much too busy with the mission to keep up. I'm sure there are numberless globes of yellow, orange, and red out there on the verge of freezing if not already frozen. Plus, there are countless green tomatoes that, normally, I would create yummy creations from but this year will be wasted.
Even though much of the bounty of the earth under my stewardship has gone to waste this year, I hope and pray that the bounty of our mission service has not. We have met such wonderful people and have come to love them all dearly. Some have moved away and not kept in touch. Some have returned to church and happy activity. Some are still dragging their feet saying they should do it and someday, maybe. Some like us to come for the visit but have no intention of changing their lives.
And that is the crux of the matter -- change. How many of us really like change anyway? We settle into a comfort nest and even though there may be sticks and stones that trip us and poke us we wedge ourselves in and figure that is as good as it gets. Then, when someone wants us to move out of our comfort nest, we resist. They may tell us how much more comfortable, how much more satisfying the new spot will be but we are so settled in our space that it is hard to imagine. Plus, we've made friends with those in our vicinity. If we leave, will anyone else like us the same as they have? Often it is friends that keep us in our place. Often it's friends that keep us from rising above like crabs in a pot, we pull each other back.
So I look out the window today and wonder what I'll do about the new weather outside. Then I'll go find warmer clothes and get ready for the day.
Even though much of the bounty of the earth under my stewardship has gone to waste this year, I hope and pray that the bounty of our mission service has not. We have met such wonderful people and have come to love them all dearly. Some have moved away and not kept in touch. Some have returned to church and happy activity. Some are still dragging their feet saying they should do it and someday, maybe. Some like us to come for the visit but have no intention of changing their lives.
And that is the crux of the matter -- change. How many of us really like change anyway? We settle into a comfort nest and even though there may be sticks and stones that trip us and poke us we wedge ourselves in and figure that is as good as it gets. Then, when someone wants us to move out of our comfort nest, we resist. They may tell us how much more comfortable, how much more satisfying the new spot will be but we are so settled in our space that it is hard to imagine. Plus, we've made friends with those in our vicinity. If we leave, will anyone else like us the same as they have? Often it is friends that keep us in our place. Often it's friends that keep us from rising above like crabs in a pot, we pull each other back.
So I look out the window today and wonder what I'll do about the new weather outside. Then I'll go find warmer clothes and get ready for the day.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A special baptism day
We had the opportunity of attending a very special baptism. It was one the sister missionaries were in charge of. Elder Bednar had befriended the man and so did the baptism, confirmation, and spoke at the service. He was so gracious he even had pictures taken with the missionaries.
Please Don't End Summer!
School starts next week, officially ending summer. I'm afraid for the end of summer, not as much for myself, although I dread even the thought of winter, but for all the children I see who never had a real summer vacation.
Kids now seldom get to roam through woods and fields unsupervised. Many don't have a good climbing tree close at hand.
One of our favorite past times was to go to the school playground and play on the tower. I don't know or care what the real name was but it was a tall pole, taller than a house with chains hanging down all around from a disk at the top. The chains had two handles one above the other at the bottom. The purpose was to hang onto the handles, run around the pole, and swing. What we did was take turns being the “flyer”. Everyone would wind the chains around the pole except the flyer. The others would pass under that chain so that it stayed on top of the wound up chains. Then everyone would start running in a circle. The result would pick up the outside person and send them in a parallel orbit about 25 feet in the air. Of course, you held on with everything you had, to avoid being launched like a frisbee.
Funny, I never heard of anyone getting launched but eventually the tower was taken out because of safety fears. The teeter-totters, merry-go-round, and all the other really fun equipment were also taken out. Now the playgrounds are surfaced and we hear all the time of kids getting hurt. When they were dirt, you expected to get hurt and to be tough.
We all went bare-foot in the summer and had feet like shoe-leather. We rode bikes bare-foot without helmets. That meant that often we had very skinned toes but, that was just the way it was.
We swam in creeks with no life-guard. The only “sun block” was a tree. Turning bright red and peeling was to be expected.
Now kids play much safer games and I worry. When do they really have summer fun?
Kids now seldom get to roam through woods and fields unsupervised. Many don't have a good climbing tree close at hand.
One of our favorite past times was to go to the school playground and play on the tower. I don't know or care what the real name was but it was a tall pole, taller than a house with chains hanging down all around from a disk at the top. The chains had two handles one above the other at the bottom. The purpose was to hang onto the handles, run around the pole, and swing. What we did was take turns being the “flyer”. Everyone would wind the chains around the pole except the flyer. The others would pass under that chain so that it stayed on top of the wound up chains. Then everyone would start running in a circle. The result would pick up the outside person and send them in a parallel orbit about 25 feet in the air. Of course, you held on with everything you had, to avoid being launched like a frisbee.
Funny, I never heard of anyone getting launched but eventually the tower was taken out because of safety fears. The teeter-totters, merry-go-round, and all the other really fun equipment were also taken out. Now the playgrounds are surfaced and we hear all the time of kids getting hurt. When they were dirt, you expected to get hurt and to be tough.
We all went bare-foot in the summer and had feet like shoe-leather. We rode bikes bare-foot without helmets. That meant that often we had very skinned toes but, that was just the way it was.
We swam in creeks with no life-guard. The only “sun block” was a tree. Turning bright red and peeling was to be expected.
Now kids play much safer games and I worry. When do they really have summer fun?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Something There Is That Loves a Rock
Something there is that loves a rock
that stands immobile through storms
and persists protectively steady.
My neighbor would move rocks,
piling them like laurels to industry--
his arsenal against time.
Does he think rocks will eat his carrots,
that he must ban all rocks from his garden?
A child knows the safety of a rock,
without instruction, he seeks for his--
a rock to speak comfort to him,
a rock that fits hand and pocket,
a rock he knows as constant
in a world of muddled change.
Peaceful granite hills stand over my valley
where men erect towers to busy-ness,
towers that soon crumble and crack
and must be taken down and built again
so that men can work in synthetic shadow,
scraping synthetic life from synthetic rock,
until time ends and only mountains
go on.
Karla Burkhart
that stands immobile through storms
and persists protectively steady.
My neighbor would move rocks,
piling them like laurels to industry--
his arsenal against time.
Does he think rocks will eat his carrots,
that he must ban all rocks from his garden?
A child knows the safety of a rock,
without instruction, he seeks for his--
a rock to speak comfort to him,
a rock that fits hand and pocket,
a rock he knows as constant
in a world of muddled change.
Peaceful granite hills stand over my valley
where men erect towers to busy-ness,
towers that soon crumble and crack
and must be taken down and built again
so that men can work in synthetic shadow,
scraping synthetic life from synthetic rock,
until time ends and only mountains
go on.
Karla Burkhart
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
I read an article this morning that got me thinking more about my own pioneer ancestors. I had family in many of the famous stories that you hear about. I read in my family stories about moving, building a house, managing to acquire basic needs and then having to move again and again. I read about family who didn't make it across the plains. I read about a young girl stripping willow bark by the stream for food at the moment the rescue party finally reached them. I read about how she later realized that her husband was actually one of the rescue party. I read how she struggled the rest of her life to walk on feet that had been frozen. I read about people who left the church because of hurt feelings or because of misunderstandings and I wonder if I would have remained faithful under the circumstances. How easy it is in hind sight to condemn people who made wrong choices. How easy it is to let pain and hurt of the moment challenge our testimony. Yet, circumstances are not what makes up a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. Early leaders made mistakes but the church was still true. Leaders today make mistakes but the church is still true. I do not know all truth and I make mistakes but I am learning and I am very grateful that I don't have to know it all today. I have an eternity to learn and improve and maybe, with all the help I am able to receive, I will reach the state where I will not make so many daily mistakes. Maybe I will someday be able to grow without the constant steps backward. Whatever the future holds, this I know, the gospel is true, Christ lives, He atoned for the world, and I will make mistakes today.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Our mission so far
Our mission, as all missions, has been full of joys and full of trials. Living at home makes housework and yard work a constant challenge which means we don't exactly follow mission guidelines each day. We do try to follow the schedule as closely as possible but our mornings must include mundane jobs like pulling weeds and even striping wallpaper. The regular mission schedule includes temple attendance on Wed. afternoon, service projects Thur. morning, and weekly planning Fri. mornings. We have changed that a little. We go to the temple on Sat. mornings so we don't always go on Wed. unless there are missionaries who need a ride. We figure our yard is our service project for our neighborhood and Friday weekly planning is tucked in anywhere we find a moment. The daily and weekly planning are very important but we figure after 45 years together we can get it done much quicker than the younger missionaries. We still like to get out into the field by 1:30 as many days as possible. We sometimes have appointments in the mornings, however, which is hard for the other missionaries to do. We have one that is 10:00 every Friday and I think it was given to us because the younger missionaries didn't want it to interfere with planning time. Of course, Sunday is the longest day, often there is a meeting at 7:30 am with two or three blocks of meetings to follow. We try to go to at least part of all the blocks in a building and just vary the buildings each week. Then the afternoon usually has one or two appointments in it. After that, we spend time with grandchildren.
Much of our work is with less-actives which means it is slow going. Many people were baptized as children and then were never taken to church. That means they are really investigators who know nothing. Some left the church in their teens and so have strange ideas and prejudices. Some are even returned missionaries who got swept up in life and lost their way. They are very difficult because they have a load of guilt on top of apathy. Some people for one reason or another, missed church for a period of time and got out of the habit. They never had a strong testimony to begin with and only went out of a sense of duty. Now it is too easy to do something else. Each day for us is challenging and rewarding. We make friends with all we meet and try to gradually change their mind-set.
We have had one adult baptism because she was listening as we taught her grandfather. We never got far with him but she asked to be baptized. We have a couple of unbaptized children who want to be baptized but the parents are dragging their feet. It's "teach the children, pull along the parents".
In short, we have all the opportunities the "young" missionaries have except we are given those who need more time and TLC. We don't have to think about transfers every six weeks. We don't have to think about breaking in a new companion. We just have to juggle about 60 names and try to give each some of our time. Some have weekly appointments and some we drop in on. Some have prepared lessons and some get lessons on the sly -- they don't realize we are leaving a message.
We don't have meals arranged for us but we don't get as much exercise sitting in the car so we don't need to eat much anyway. In the summer we need a cooler to carry water and maybe sandwiches, juices, etc. We get quite tired of crackers and granola bars. We figure on both lunch and dinner in the field most days. Even though it is not a long, long way is is time consuming and gas consuming to go back home during the day. That eats up a couple of hours we don't like to give up.
Our family and friends had a little trouble at first but you just have to gently remind them you aren't available. It's harder with grandchildren but they also get used to seeing you when you can not when they want. We do schedule in important events with them. One of the funny side lines is that our ward doesn't seem to know what we are doing. We see senior missionaries doing our same job in missionary cases in other wards but our ward considers us just “gone”. I actually have a visiting teacher who mails me notes and invites me to come to church.
We've come to love the people we work with. We tell them that getting them to church is only the first part. We'll stick with them until they go to the temple, no matter how long it takes. We feel very close to many of the families. We have had some dramatic successes and some very slow successes. We have also had great experiences where we didn't know what to say but the words were given. We have learned to rely on the Lord in every little thing. He guides us and lets us know what we should do.
We would recommend this work to anyone would care to try it. Some of the senior missionaries we work with have health problems and this is the only mission they could have served.
All in all, this is a blessed journey and we are grateful to be on it.
Elder and Sister Burkhart
Saturday, June 26, 2010
"The parable of the Prodigal Son [Luke 15:11-32] typifies the condition of too many of our fellow men, who mistakenly feel that squandering their inheritance in riotous living will bring them happiness. But it also portrays those who make another type of mistake---feeling that their righteousness makes them superior to their less-disciplined brethren. Both brothers in the parable desperately need the Lord to free them of their burdens. This is the message of the parable.
"We learn from this parable that all of us, regardless of our status or condition, have an absolute need of the Lord's saving grace. We are all dependent on him for peace in this life and for eternal life" (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 33).
"We learn from this parable that all of us, regardless of our status or condition, have an absolute need of the Lord's saving grace. We are all dependent on him for peace in this life and for eternal life" (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 33).
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Truth
Words to meditate on.
Harold B. Lee
"Satan knows truth, but he has no intelligence, or he would yield obedience to that truth. Knowing the truth isn't the thing that saves us. I think that perhaps loving the truth is the only thing that can give one the capacity to avoid sin. The scripture doesn't say: 'If ye know me, you will keep my commandments,' but it says, 'If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments'" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 104-105).
Harold B. Lee
"Satan knows truth, but he has no intelligence, or he would yield obedience to that truth. Knowing the truth isn't the thing that saves us. I think that perhaps loving the truth is the only thing that can give one the capacity to avoid sin. The scripture doesn't say: 'If ye know me, you will keep my commandments,' but it says, 'If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments'" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 104-105).
Monday, June 14, 2010
Fear and Faith
When we live in fear, change becomes very hard if not impossible. Christ's atonement makes the ability to change possible. Fear is the opposite of faith.
Fear is a little like a cold virus, always around us but usually does not take over unless we let down. When I feel that scratchy throat feeling before the real sore throat takes over I know that a little cayenne pepper judiciously placed will prevent the cold and sore throat. Sometimes I am so engaged in what I am doing I don't pay attention to the things that are important and the cold takes over. When I was in college I was so worried about studies and friends that I failed to take care of myself and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. I then learned to take symptoms seriously —pneumonia can be life-threatening, you know.
Fear is out there all around us like a virus. There are times we feel discouraged and doubtful and afraid to take the initiative in introducing gospel topics into conversations with neighbors and friends. Those are also symptoms that needs attention. Such fear can also be life threatening.
Why do we fear? Often we fear the reaction of our friend. Often we feel we are too lacking in knowledge to defend our beliefs. Often we aren't sure enough what our beliefs truly are. But, when we are fearful we are usually hopeless. Without hope we become paralyzed. That fear is the failure of faith.
The power of faith can overcome and even eliminate fear. Moroni taught us in Ether 12:6, I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
The children of Israel following Joshua did not have a parting of the River Jordan until after they stepped into the waters. Then the water parted.
It's been quite awhile now, but we used to go rock climbing together and we joined a mountain-climbing club. Since I had never gone climbing before I enrolled in a class. The first time I was expected to rappel off a cliff I was very afraid. Why would I step backward off a cliff?
Thus we see that faith is a choice. Faith is a choice to believe and then act upon that belief.
There is a song the children sing, I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus. They sing it with all the faith of children who have been told something is true. They have a perfect faith that what their parents tell them must be so.
We often have the idea we are doing fairly well in life but often that is a delusion. After all we can do – which we find out is not near as much as we would have liked – Christ's gift of the atonement is our route to wholeness. We remain less that we could be until we learn fully how to accept this gift and use it in our lives.
Our need for the atonement isn't based alone on our sins. It isn't that we made a mistake yesterday and need to repent of it. We make plenty of mistakes – it is part of being human. Our need for atonement includes specific acts and thoughts but is so much more than that. Our need is so much greater.
The atonement can transform us altogether so that the very tendency toward our mistakes is no longer a part of our being. We say an angry word, we repent, we are forgiven, but we have shown that anger still has a place in us. It is the very tendency toward anger or resentment or despair or selfishness that resides in us that the Lord's atonement will cleanse if we open ourselves to his gift.
It isn't our obvious weakness; it is that we are still weak.
We are still tempted to go it alone. Sometimes we think we are so unworthy we can't come to the Lord now or conversely that we are doing well on our own and we'll think about it when we need help. The truth is we all need help and we all need it now or else we will be forever incomplete and full of limitations.
The atonement not only cleanses us but it empowers us. His ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts, but through the gift of the atonement, we can become at one with him until we have been completely changed and our thoughts and our hearts are like his.
We are not yet today what we will be tomorrow. Our journey will always be made not on our strength but on his. Choosing fear – like choosing faith – is a choice. President Hinckley said these words of wisdom many times.
It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. . . Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. . . If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.
The first three lines of that statement were part of his comments at the funeral of his beloved wife. I think if President Hinckley needed that reminder, we can also take comfort in our needing reminders. Moroni also needed help with his fears. In Ether 12 he described the fear that he wasn't up to the task. And he was right, he wasn't. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weaknesses that they may be humble. And my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
President Benson said, Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more our of their lives than they can.
The process of sanctification is to become more and more like God. Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that true worship is emulation. We can become like him with his help.
When we find ourselves fearful – when that cold virus is taking over – we should consider it a symptom of our need to return to the Lord so He can strengthen our faith. In faith, we are free of fear. In faith we take that first step into the River Jordan, we take that backward step off the cliff, we turn our thoughts outside our self and learn the needs of our neighbors so that we might help them come to Christ. And in so doing, we can come unto Christ.
Fear is a little like a cold virus, always around us but usually does not take over unless we let down. When I feel that scratchy throat feeling before the real sore throat takes over I know that a little cayenne pepper judiciously placed will prevent the cold and sore throat. Sometimes I am so engaged in what I am doing I don't pay attention to the things that are important and the cold takes over. When I was in college I was so worried about studies and friends that I failed to take care of myself and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. I then learned to take symptoms seriously —pneumonia can be life-threatening, you know.
Fear is out there all around us like a virus. There are times we feel discouraged and doubtful and afraid to take the initiative in introducing gospel topics into conversations with neighbors and friends. Those are also symptoms that needs attention. Such fear can also be life threatening.
Why do we fear? Often we fear the reaction of our friend. Often we feel we are too lacking in knowledge to defend our beliefs. Often we aren't sure enough what our beliefs truly are. But, when we are fearful we are usually hopeless. Without hope we become paralyzed. That fear is the failure of faith.
The power of faith can overcome and even eliminate fear. Moroni taught us in Ether 12:6, I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
The children of Israel following Joshua did not have a parting of the River Jordan until after they stepped into the waters. Then the water parted.
It's been quite awhile now, but we used to go rock climbing together and we joined a mountain-climbing club. Since I had never gone climbing before I enrolled in a class. The first time I was expected to rappel off a cliff I was very afraid. Why would I step backward off a cliff?
Thus we see that faith is a choice. Faith is a choice to believe and then act upon that belief.
There is a song the children sing, I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus. They sing it with all the faith of children who have been told something is true. They have a perfect faith that what their parents tell them must be so.
We often have the idea we are doing fairly well in life but often that is a delusion. After all we can do – which we find out is not near as much as we would have liked – Christ's gift of the atonement is our route to wholeness. We remain less that we could be until we learn fully how to accept this gift and use it in our lives.
Our need for the atonement isn't based alone on our sins. It isn't that we made a mistake yesterday and need to repent of it. We make plenty of mistakes – it is part of being human. Our need for atonement includes specific acts and thoughts but is so much more than that. Our need is so much greater.
The atonement can transform us altogether so that the very tendency toward our mistakes is no longer a part of our being. We say an angry word, we repent, we are forgiven, but we have shown that anger still has a place in us. It is the very tendency toward anger or resentment or despair or selfishness that resides in us that the Lord's atonement will cleanse if we open ourselves to his gift.
It isn't our obvious weakness; it is that we are still weak.
We are still tempted to go it alone. Sometimes we think we are so unworthy we can't come to the Lord now or conversely that we are doing well on our own and we'll think about it when we need help. The truth is we all need help and we all need it now or else we will be forever incomplete and full of limitations.
The atonement not only cleanses us but it empowers us. His ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts, but through the gift of the atonement, we can become at one with him until we have been completely changed and our thoughts and our hearts are like his.
We are not yet today what we will be tomorrow. Our journey will always be made not on our strength but on his. Choosing fear – like choosing faith – is a choice. President Hinckley said these words of wisdom many times.
It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. . . Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. . . If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.
The first three lines of that statement were part of his comments at the funeral of his beloved wife. I think if President Hinckley needed that reminder, we can also take comfort in our needing reminders. Moroni also needed help with his fears. In Ether 12 he described the fear that he wasn't up to the task. And he was right, he wasn't. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weaknesses that they may be humble. And my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
President Benson said, Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more our of their lives than they can.
The process of sanctification is to become more and more like God. Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that true worship is emulation. We can become like him with his help.
When we find ourselves fearful – when that cold virus is taking over – we should consider it a symptom of our need to return to the Lord so He can strengthen our faith. In faith, we are free of fear. In faith we take that first step into the River Jordan, we take that backward step off the cliff, we turn our thoughts outside our self and learn the needs of our neighbors so that we might help them come to Christ. And in so doing, we can come unto Christ.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sue
A dear friend passed away recently. We attended her funeral mass yesterday. Yes, mass. She had been investigating the church for some time and, I believe, was ready to be join except that she somehow felt it would be disloyal to her mother.
Sue was an very special person. She graduated head of her class from high school and went up from there. She was one of five siblings, one of which was her twin sister. She was so interesting to talk to with a great love for science. She had worked as a researcher and had a doctorate in Chemistry. She also loved the outdoors and being in the wilderness. Hiking was a love.
All this was made more tragic by a terrible disease that finally took her life. She lived over 15 years in constant pain with all her connective tissues breaking down. For several years she has been confined to a computerized wheelchair. She even had to have a neck brace to hold her head up. Yet, through all this she thought of others. She took care of others instead of thinking of herself.
According to her sister-in-law her mother was actually interested in joining the LDS church and had no problem with having her work done for her. I'm sure she and Sue are discussing that right now.
We miss Sue a lot. Somehow our discussions are going to be lacking a very strong spirit. However, I am so grateful that she is now free of pain and is with people who love her.
Sue was an very special person. She graduated head of her class from high school and went up from there. She was one of five siblings, one of which was her twin sister. She was so interesting to talk to with a great love for science. She had worked as a researcher and had a doctorate in Chemistry. She also loved the outdoors and being in the wilderness. Hiking was a love.
All this was made more tragic by a terrible disease that finally took her life. She lived over 15 years in constant pain with all her connective tissues breaking down. For several years she has been confined to a computerized wheelchair. She even had to have a neck brace to hold her head up. Yet, through all this she thought of others. She took care of others instead of thinking of herself.
According to her sister-in-law her mother was actually interested in joining the LDS church and had no problem with having her work done for her. I'm sure she and Sue are discussing that right now.
We miss Sue a lot. Somehow our discussions are going to be lacking a very strong spirit. However, I am so grateful that she is now free of pain and is with people who love her.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Faith and Science
I think that it is interesting how emotional people can get about science and religion. Yet, they are quite similar in ways. A scientist must have a large amount of faith to begin with. The steps to scientific discovery often mimic the steps to gaining a religious testimony. One must start with a question, something they don't really understand. They come up with possible answers but they don't really know. Then they read what other people have come up with. They talk to other people. They do research. With what they find out they come up with experiments, ways to prove what they now have faith in. Does any of this sound familiar? Check Alma 32:26-28. After the experiment, one either proves or disproves the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is valid the faith then moves to knowledge. See Alma 32:19. Once you have proved your faith you are obliged to live it. Knowing that walking off a tall cliff can be fatal will not save you if you do it anyway. Our knowledge will not save us if we do not act on that knowledge. All of our steps--questioning, study, experimenting, proving, are wasted if we do not act on our knowledge. Our actions show what we know to be true. That is who we are.
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Song is Eternal
If music is the voice of God then we were once all singers.
Do You Hear the Music?
If movement is vibration
and vibration has sound then
all matter sings. The blood
in the veins sings with a heart
beat accompaniment.
The trees hum a chorus in
multiple harmonies. The stars
sing through the universe
spinning etudes of sound.
The concert master directs
the progress, accentuates
important passages and leads
all creation to the dynamic,
final climax of one movement
segueing to the beauty of the next.
KDFB 2.22.10
Do You Hear the Music?
If movement is vibration
and vibration has sound then
all matter sings. The blood
in the veins sings with a heart
beat accompaniment.
The trees hum a chorus in
multiple harmonies. The stars
sing through the universe
spinning etudes of sound.
The concert master directs
the progress, accentuates
important passages and leads
all creation to the dynamic,
final climax of one movement
segueing to the beauty of the next.
KDFB 2.22.10
Friday, February 12, 2010
We're all familiar with the story of Peter walking on the water but let's analyze it a little. The men were in big trouble. Storms spring up on the Sea of Galilee quickly and can be very strong. We assume they were not using sails because that would have made things worse. Therefore, they were struggling with the oars. They probably weren't out in the middle of the water but far enough from shore to be in great peril.
When Jesus saw their plight, he took the most direct route to help them. He walked across the water.
Now imagine this scene from the men's point of view. They are in trouble and may all soon be drowned. Suddenly there is this "thing" coming across the top of the water, robes flying, hair flying. What do you think is going through their minds? The words in the New Testament are a great under-statement--they were afraid. Don't you think they were terrified? Wouldn't you be?
As soon as they realize who and what it is, impulsive Peter wants to go to him. Jesus answers him as he answers any who want to go to him, "Come". Peter then starts towards him. As long as he focuses on his goal, his Lord, he is fine. However, as soon as notices how wild the storm is and he looks away from his goal, he sinks. I've seen many paintings of this moment. Many show Peter in the water up to his waist. Now if you drop into deep water like a stone, are you going to fall in only to your waist? No, Jesus has to fish him out and he is entirely wet. Then the story leaves out some details. If the ship is tossing on the waves is it close by. Probably not. Have you ever wondered how Peter and Jesus get to the ship? I don't think Jesus carries him. I think Peter is refocused and he now walks there. Jesus gently chides him for lack of faith but then Peter rises to the challenge and walks on the water to the ship.
How often do we make mistakes, lose our focus, and think we are lost and will never make it. Yet, Jesus is there to fish us out and set us back on the path. We just have to refocus and go on.
When Jesus saw their plight, he took the most direct route to help them. He walked across the water.
Now imagine this scene from the men's point of view. They are in trouble and may all soon be drowned. Suddenly there is this "thing" coming across the top of the water, robes flying, hair flying. What do you think is going through their minds? The words in the New Testament are a great under-statement--they were afraid. Don't you think they were terrified? Wouldn't you be?
As soon as they realize who and what it is, impulsive Peter wants to go to him. Jesus answers him as he answers any who want to go to him, "Come". Peter then starts towards him. As long as he focuses on his goal, his Lord, he is fine. However, as soon as notices how wild the storm is and he looks away from his goal, he sinks. I've seen many paintings of this moment. Many show Peter in the water up to his waist. Now if you drop into deep water like a stone, are you going to fall in only to your waist? No, Jesus has to fish him out and he is entirely wet. Then the story leaves out some details. If the ship is tossing on the waves is it close by. Probably not. Have you ever wondered how Peter and Jesus get to the ship? I don't think Jesus carries him. I think Peter is refocused and he now walks there. Jesus gently chides him for lack of faith but then Peter rises to the challenge and walks on the water to the ship.
How often do we make mistakes, lose our focus, and think we are lost and will never make it. Yet, Jesus is there to fish us out and set us back on the path. We just have to refocus and go on.
Friday, January 22, 2010
musings
If you are a child of God, if God is really your father, then what traits did you inherit? And how does the knowledge that you have traits of your father affect your life? Science says we are a combination of inherited traits and traits formed by environment. We can see that easily from our earthly families. Look carefully and see it from your eternal family.
We had a wonderful baptism January 9. Erin was so excited and we took great pictures which my camera failed to save. So, I need to get pictures from others to post. She had some rocky times getting to the baptism date but she made it!
You can't coast or drift into God's Celestial Kingdom.
We had a wonderful baptism January 9. Erin was so excited and we took great pictures which my camera failed to save. So, I need to get pictures from others to post. She had some rocky times getting to the baptism date but she made it!
You can't coast or drift into God's Celestial Kingdom.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New Year
The new year always keeps me guessing every year. I found a quote by Roald Dahl, one of my favorite authors, that says it well, “For the last twelve months we have all been living in one year and now all of a sudden it is another. It is extraordinary how this tremendous change takes place in the space of a fraction of a second. As the clock approaches midnight on the thirty-first of December you are still in the old year, but then all at once, one millionth of a second after midnight, you are in the new. I have always found this sudden change from one year to another awfully hard to get used to, and all through the new January that follows I keep writing down the old year instead of the new one on letters and cheques and other bits of paper.”
If you’re feeling a bit biffsquiggled too, why don’t you try out this tasty recipe for ‘Fizzy Lifting Drinks’ from CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY to help January 2010 go with a BANG!
You will need:
Cream Soda
Vanilla Ice Cream
1.Close all the doors so that you don’t end up on the moon.
2.Pour cream soda into a glass.
3.Top with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream.
4.Drink.
5.Burp.
Hope you have a tremendous 2010!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)