"The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us.
I recognize we are fallen men and women living in a mortal world and that we might not have the presence of the Holy Ghost with us every second of every minute of every hour of every day. However, the Holy Ghost can tarry with us much, if not most, of the time—and certainly the Spirit can be with us more than it is not with us. As we become ever more immersed in the Spirit of the Lord, we should strive to recognize impressions when they come and the influences or events that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost" Elder Bednar's conference talk
So, I have been thinking a lot about this talk, especially lately. The harder I try to get my life focused on being more me, more divine, more pure, the more I want to watch Southpark.
It is the eternal striggle, isn't it?
So for assignment three I am going to concentrate on things that make me feel more divine, and boot out as many things that cause the Spirit to withdraw from me as I can. Hence the no more Southpark. (Reno 911 is still ok, though, right?)
Here is a partial list of things that harsh my mellow, spiritually speaking:
1. 900 degree heat
2. Gigi getting four incisors at the same time
3. Cookie magazine--the most pretentious thing I have ever witnessed. It makes Salt Lake Magazine look like the Reader's Digest
4. Eating no sugar
(It is good when my list isn't things like "the crack den I normally hang out in" and "the porno I am shooting," right? It means I am more advanced, right?)
So, I am going to keep booting. Luckily, I have so many more positive things to concentrate on--but I want to be more actively conscious of when the Spirit retreats. I want it to be the minority of the time I am awake.
On an entirely different note--here is what no sugar has done to me. Driving home from purchasing more bacon I passed a funeral parlor. This is what I thought: "What are all of those goth kids doing in front of that funeral parlor?" Three blocks later it hit me--"Oh wait--they are mourners dressed in black."
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Stalled divinity--assignment 3
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13 comments:
You sure are getting "deep" lately.
It's kinda freaking me out.
Feel like I should send over a therapist guy.
Luv,
LuckyRedHen
P.S. You know I mean that in the sincerest of ways. Thankfully I really don't need to explain that because you know better of me.
Um, but I feel the Spirit when I eat sugar. . .
You kill me--great post!
Good luck in your quest. You're a deep lady. (well, I thought that until I read the part about the goth kids. . .seriously, have a candy bar!)
LVC told me last night to buy Haaagen Daaaaaaas Mayan Chocolate. I bought it. I ate some. Tears were shed. Hearts were touched. The Spirit was felt. When sugar enters your life again, I recommend this uplifting treat.
ps - southpark hurts my soul. always has. I've tried to watch it, but can never make it beyond three minutes.
I think this means no more Nip/Tuck for me.
Here are a few things that are good with no sugar:
1. Blue Bunny orange/raspberry no sugar added bars
2. Dreyers Fudge Tracks (no sugar added)
3. Russell Stover sugar free mint truffles (although they will give you the runs if you eat too many.)
4. Fresca
I think I'd rather have sugar than the runs, azucar.
Funny about your goth hovering... the other day while passing a downtown SLC building I noticed a bunch of people hanging outside the entrance (no, it wasn't a homeless shelter). Everyone was dressed at least business casual. There was a similarity that stood out fast. Everyone was FAT. I'm not talking fluffy or pudgy; FAT. Wierd. There were 30+ people standing around in their fatness and I couldn't figure out why (there was a single non-fat person in the midst). Then the sign appeared above the building entrance "NBC's THE BIGGEST LOSER try-outs." Well then it made sense. Except then I started to wonder what the "try-out" would consist of.
NBC: Name please?
FATTY: Buddy Farfeneugen
NBC: How much do you weigh?
FATTY: 423 lbs
NBC: Do you like being fat?
FATTY: No.
NBC: Ok. Thank you.
well, if you can't have sugar, sometimes those product will do in moderation. I did not like the borderline, not at all.
p.s. LOVE the NBC auditions
My Jesus watches Southpark religiously ;)
Shannon--you were in that list.
LVC and Jen--that ice cream is fabulous. Even better with Magic Shell. I feel the spirit with sugar,too, but not when I have gained 45 pounds since I was married. Hence the freaking South Beach freaking diet.
Sugar--have you tried Werthers sugar free candies? I can't taste the hideous artificial sweetener. Also, diet Canada Dry with Limes is close enough to a Sounic Rickey to pass the time.
Also--I don't mean that these are your assignments, or your nad things or whatever. I just feel like I should write what I have been going through.
Jen,
This topic kept me up last night.
Lately I've been trying to identify what the Spirit feels like on a daily basis. Mostly, I think it's a general feeling of well-being and assurance that life is beautiful.
I think, for me, on a daily basis, The Spirit tells me the difference between what matters and what doesn't matter. And I think most things DON'T matter as much as sometimes think they do. (I mean "matter" as in relationship to my emotional/spiritual energy state. Another way of contemplating "Do I care or don't care?")
This has come in handy in trying to deal with body issues! I can cut stuff out of my diet all day and still stay the same weight. Letting things go in my heart allows me to let things go on my body.
This thinking has helped me to be happy with my body TODAY rather than hope to love it in the future. Which is something I never thought possible. Still, there are days were The Spirit tells me that eating certain foods won't help me to be kind and charitable. And I eat them anyway, and become a miserable soul.
I am waxing poetic today. I think it might be because I am staying in Steve Covey's old house. His spirit is upon me and I am glorious in word and thought.
What matters or doesn't matter to you? You Guruess.
You crack me up always. Love the post and the quote/talk. I remember sitting in Randy Bott's sharing the gospel class and someone asked about what music was appropriate to bring on a misison. He told us that we didn't need to be told like back in the day - how many steps to walk on Sunday... but the simple test is - are you going closer to or further from the spirit.
That's I how I run my life...on days my brain and body are in the same wakefulness. ;-)
Ah... Southpark - I don't catch it often enough...but I've always like the political/social commentary. Clever clever.
Something that's always helped me feel the spirit is little, silent prayers of gratitude during the day...when we notice the little things that make our lives great - all the other stuff is hot fudge.
I love that we are on parallel deep-thought tracks.
But I'm trying hard to surface from the depths because I need to enjoy my summer while I can. The other night with the blogger girls was a breath of fresh air.
My kids watched the Biggest Loser once and made me promise I would never go on a show like that.
Like they had to ask?
But part of me is always a bit jealous of the "winner."
AMEN to the Cookie magazine quote. That thing is ridiculous! And yet, I found myself pondering as I flipped through it: "Hmm, I might be able to find a good deal on that on ebay..." "Oh why didn't I REALIZE that I needed this??!!!!!!! and this!! and that!! ohhh and this! Why don't I look like that??! Why doesn't my kid look like that???!" You get the picture. Tossed it. Yah so it wasn't "offensive".... it certainly wasn't uplifting!
P.S. No sugar, huh? How's that going? I tried cutting back on sugar last month. Not even eliminating.... just cutting back. Sugar began speaking to me. Yes, speaking.
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