Highland 28th Ward
I have been struggling with what to write to the ward as part of our May message. I started several notes but have not felt right about the topic of the message, some of these thoughts might be finished later. My wife wanted to teach the lesson this week and she suggested that we watch a movie with the kids and proposed watching “The Shack”. I’m not much of a reader but love movies and this movie were on my list of movies to see.
What a wonderful story that captures a glimpse of how God sees each of his children, loves all even those that have done wrong. We sat down, engulfed in this wonderful, heart retching story written by William Paul young. I looked over at my family, saw relief, tears, pain, and struggle. I cried, sobbed all the way through. If you have not read the book or seen the movie, find a time to view it or read it with your family, then talk about your feelings with your loved ones.
I was so moved that I needed to sit down and do some research about the author? He is not a member of the church but has a strong understanding of the character God.
I hope and pray that we can always recognize all the goodness in god. I found a talk that the author gave about the filming of the story. He explains the experience of bringing two friends on to the set who were still in the midst of grief from the loss of a loved one and they saw the filming of the scene that had an eminence impact of the lives of these two individuals. He acknowledged that this was not a simple circumstance, their experience was orchestrated by God because of His Love for us.
Here are a few quotes from the William Paul Young, that is worth writing down and fit good within the message that I struggling to put into words. “God is only Good!” “There is no shadow in the character and nature of God.”
God is Love, God is Love and is always present in our lives. Christ is the only one capable to judge us and will only judge us through the eye of love and understanding. Through the gift of free agency, God allows evil and opposition but is not the creator of evil or contention. The refining fire of our experiences makes us stronger and allows us to grow. It also can allow us to have a snapshot of the Love that God has for us through raising a child, feeling of their pains, understanding their agency, and becoming as Christ is, willing to give our own life as an atonement for them. This is only a snapshot, a glimpse of the Love of God.
Remember to “Keep your eyes on me…”, even Jesus Christ, Savior and King.
One of my favorite verses in the Book of Mormon, when Lehi is giving his final counsel to his family; wisdom and guidance we can learn from.
2 Nephi 2:24 – 28
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who aknoweth all things.
25 aAdam bfell that men might be; and men care, that they might have djoy.
26 And the aMessiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may bredeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are credeemed from the fall they have become dfree forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the elaw at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
27 Wherefore, men are afree according to the bflesh; and call things are dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to echoose fliberty and eternal glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be hmiserable like unto himself.
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great aMediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
I have told some of you. I have pondered what it means to be a Judge in Israel. I have come to understand that the role of the Judge is about “Coming to the Truth.” Then, once the truth is known, helping the person that has come to me find wholeness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is not about identifying the wrong. Coming to the truth is different than judgment or condemnation. In fact, they are not the same at all. Coming to the truth can only be done by expressions of love, longsuffering, walking in the other’s shoes, understanding and seeing what God sees, and then serving, helping, crying, loving, and identifying God.
Let us be grateful for so much. Please let me in. Please let us help. Here is a poem titled: “The Wrestle” by David Tensen.
I found you, beyond, the ‘why’.
Far from the ‘why not’.
Worlds from the ‘why me’.
You held a space for me
beyond answers to questions
my pain had, as if you knew information
was never going to heal or resolve or fix my suffering.
Instead, you agreed to wrestle
through many nights.
Never letting go.
Always with me just like you promised.
Refusing to surrender I eventually realized
that wrestling with God was not a crime.
That I was, in fact, being held.
Being healed.
Being transformed
by finding you beyond answers.
Being blessed by holding on to you
in my doubt and frustration and never letting go.
And you never let go.
And you overcame me in the end.
And we both won.
I testify of the Love our Father in Heaven has for each of us. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Our Father in Heaven is aware of you and knows you personally. Christ is standing, with arms stretched out ready to receive us into his countenance.
In his holy Name, even Jesus Christ, Amen
Love,
Bishop Jeff Anderson