My sleeping is very messed up. Took some Zzzquil, lets see if it works. I just realized, 10 minutes after consuming my "shot" that there's 10% of alcohol in it. That's more than my favorite Moscato / Riesling wines I used to consume before I was a member!
That made me think of something.
Today in church we discussed the word of wisdom in RS. It's something near and dear to my heart. It was the biggest cause of frustration for me as an investigator, and to be completely honest, it still is hard sometimes. As such I try to abstain from speaking to people about my religion because I know, inevitably, it will lead to some thing or another regarding the word of wisdom and why we follow it. I'm not the best example in that regard.
I learned God gave us the word of wisdom to benefit and bless us, not to restrict us in any way. Although it isn't something new to me, somehow I was able to view it in a new light today and for once I think I comprehend why he gives us that commandment. I wanted to write about it so 1) it sticks, and 2) when I have trouble abiding by it in the future I can look back and remember how I felt today in RS.
Why do we need the word of wisdom?
1. Our blessings / benefit
If you actually listen to the word of wisdom - abstaining from coffee, tea, alcohol, drugs; getting a moderate but sufficient amount of sleep, nutrients etc. - it is all really basic common sense. It's what all the doctors tell us we should do. Heck, it's what our moms tell us to do.
"Eat your vegetables."
"No, you can't have ALL that candy honey."
He wants us to be happy and lead healthy lives.
2. Obedience
- He wants to see if we will obey His laws even if they may seem miniscule or strange because we are unable to comprehend it at this very moment.
God gives us challenges to stretch us to help us reach our full potential.
- One of my favorite people once told me this when I was going through a trying phase in my life which has really stuck with me:
"Only when we are challenged and stretched in uncomfortable ways are we able to grow and reach bigger better things. View this as an opportunity instead of an obstruction to your learning and growth."
He isn't a member but boy did he hit the nail on the head. - In Chinese Sunday school I also learned that Jesus gave his people in the Americas commandments to sacriface burnt offerings but later changed it to test their obedience. He was seeing if they have faith. Although God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow, the ways he uses to teach us are different based on our varying spiritual needs. He wants to see if we will obey him even if the laws he presents do not make sense at that point in time. Tricky, but makes sense.
- A benefit of obedience is to be an example to others - our siblings, children, parents, friends etc. That to me is the biggest testimony to others about our beliefs. Actually following it. Actions speak louder than words.
My girlfriend shared in RS: "God gives us these commandments that even the weakest of the saints may keep them." Take heart friends, we can all do it!
Another thing I got from church today, specifically at sacrament:
Learn to incorporate a sense of humor and laugh at yourself in difficult times. If you have to go through a trial, you might as well be positive about it. Thanks for sharing, it spoke to me.
We can't change our circumstances, but we can change how we choose to face it.
It's a brand new week. I'm going to try to be better about following the word of wisdom - Temple. Lets go :)
No comments:
Post a Comment