Sometimes the ideas for Pete Chat come very easily. I'll be watching something or having some conversation and I think oh that is blog worthy or the world needs my opinion on that. That occurred just the other day at church. Now as a YSA (young single adult) in the church I find (especially here in Virginia) that there is a big emphasis on getting married. We had a combined lesson for Priesthood/Relief Society and the topic was Hope.
Sister Barker who is married to Brother Brian Barker (not to be confused with Brian Davis Barker of Cincinnati). She asked the congregation what they had hope for. Some people said, I hope for a good job, I hope to increase my education, I hope not to have any cavities when I go to the dentist. Now these are all worthwhile things. Peoples lives and their ability to increase their knowledge and good oral hygiene are good things, but are they really things you hope for?
As I was sitting on the front row (Sauble Style) I raised my hand and Sister Barker handed me the mic. I hadn't really formulated my thoughts as I started speaking but I felt like they came together well enough. Here's my point. Hope to me is when you want something but there is nothing you in your power can do. And here is the way I put it. I hope the Angels win the World Series, I know that no matter how bad I want it there really is nothing I can do but watch and hope they win. Getting a good education, or having no cavities is very much something I can control and I can do something about if I really want to. I think a lot of people probably dismissed my point but I think it was valid. Dan mentioned (can't quote him verbatim) that if we put our hope in things like "I hope I get a better job", or "I hope I get into this school", or "I hope I get a new BMW" we will find that once we obtain these things that we are likely to be disappointed. Instead the focus of our hope should be on less tangible things that we can't do for ourselves.
So I may be way off on this but I thought it was something interesting to think about. I hope you enjoyed it.
6 comments:
Peter, you're just really cool. I completely agree. I hope that the Angels win the World Series so that you will be happy. And, I hope the Jazz win the playoffs, No just MAKE the playoffs!!
I liked that deep though! I will not think of what I hope for...
Quote:
"I hadn't really formulated my thoughts as I started speaking . . .
Unquote:
Why does that not suprise me in the least?
Dan Quote:
" . . . I hope I get a new BMW" we will find that once we obtain these things that we are likely to be disappointed."
Sorry Dan - Marc got a new BMW and all he thinks is "I love my BMW" - he has not been disappointed, but if it makes you feel better to think you may feel that way if you got one too, go on fooling yourself.
Sarcasm over.
i dont get it.
You are a wise man, my friend.
Let me defend my honor here - the BMW comment was an add on made by Peter - there was no reference to German automobiles in my comments during the combined meeting.
What I meant by my comment is sometimes, myself included - we think I'll be happy when X happens. Then X happens and we look around and find - we still aren't enjoying the level of desired happiness.
What my comment meant was - we should really tie our hope to the atonement - and not necessarily to temperal things that change with the tides. Sometimes you need a constant to bind things. Or better put hope placed in the sure thing, something that can settle our accounts and lesses our inadequacies is really what we should strive for. Everything else is a footnote.
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