a broken heart and a contrite spirit
i am of the opinion that good things always happen to me. while mentally knocking on wood, i will tell you that "nothing bad ever happens to me" by oingo boingo has ever been a type of a theme song for me. clearly, things have disappointed me in the past (usually caused by my own efforts,) but i have rarely been so affected by an event as to cause true anguish. i am currently in a state of anguish.
i should also preface by sharing one of my favorite quotations. it comes from a journalist named jenkins lloyd jones, by way of gordon b. hinckley. it goes as follows:
"anyone who imagines that life is bliss will waste a whole lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
the fact is that most putts don't drop...most beef is tough...most children grow up to be ordinary people...most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration...most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
life is like an old time rail journey-delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts; interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
the trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."
i have a face full of cinders.
last sunday i was released from my calling in the bishopric. i knew that i had an appointment scheduled with the stake president, so i wasn't surprised when he did release me. on the other hand, i was overly disappointed when told the reason for the release.
earlier that same morning, bishop currit read me a letter detailing how ward boundaries in the stake were being realigned to more closely mirror school district attendance zones where possible. as soon as he read the word "school," i knew that my life was being upended.
this was surely the worst news i have received in a very long time. for over 30 years, my wife and i have been members of the san marcos ward. like all others who have ever been compelled to begin attending new congregations, we have very close friends that we can not imagine seeing on a less-than-once-a-week basis. as a whole, the masseys are very upset. in an effort to refrain from disparaging the ward we will soon attend, i will only say that over the years i have disagreed with a great many things that have emanated from the kyle ward.
when i got home, we decided to -over lunch- discuss the positives of this change. i'm sure we came up with a couple. i do know that each of us already know someone active in this ward. we will not being walking in cold. that is a good thing. i'm not sure what else qualifies as "good." i'm sure they will teach true doctrine, so that will be helpful. as long as no one wants to steal any of MY books, we should be fine.
the way i see it, every now and then we all have to take a beating.
must be my turn.
i should also preface by sharing one of my favorite quotations. it comes from a journalist named jenkins lloyd jones, by way of gordon b. hinckley. it goes as follows:
"anyone who imagines that life is bliss will waste a whole lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
the fact is that most putts don't drop...most beef is tough...most children grow up to be ordinary people...most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration...most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
life is like an old time rail journey-delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts; interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
the trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."
i have a face full of cinders.
last sunday i was released from my calling in the bishopric. i knew that i had an appointment scheduled with the stake president, so i wasn't surprised when he did release me. on the other hand, i was overly disappointed when told the reason for the release.
earlier that same morning, bishop currit read me a letter detailing how ward boundaries in the stake were being realigned to more closely mirror school district attendance zones where possible. as soon as he read the word "school," i knew that my life was being upended.
this was surely the worst news i have received in a very long time. for over 30 years, my wife and i have been members of the san marcos ward. like all others who have ever been compelled to begin attending new congregations, we have very close friends that we can not imagine seeing on a less-than-once-a-week basis. as a whole, the masseys are very upset. in an effort to refrain from disparaging the ward we will soon attend, i will only say that over the years i have disagreed with a great many things that have emanated from the kyle ward.
when i got home, we decided to -over lunch- discuss the positives of this change. i'm sure we came up with a couple. i do know that each of us already know someone active in this ward. we will not being walking in cold. that is a good thing. i'm not sure what else qualifies as "good." i'm sure they will teach true doctrine, so that will be helpful. as long as no one wants to steal any of MY books, we should be fine.
the way i see it, every now and then we all have to take a beating.
must be my turn.
posted by cm at 2/05/2010
