The Man I Want to Become.

I wonder sometimes if the idea of being an honorable man, a man who stands for he believes in and is the pillar of his family, has past into category of being quaint and old fashoined. Whatever happened to men that honor God, treat women with respect, who would die to protect others, and who are loving yet firm fathers?
Fortunately, I've had the privilege of being surrounded by men of this caliber my entire life. By watching them, I've learned what I should be. From my earliest memories, I've seen my father, grandfathers, and uncles do the things that many men scoff at doing.

I've seen my father work so hard to provide for us, and come home to help mom with chores and play with us kids even though he was tired. This didn't happen as often as I imagine that he would have liked  because he often had to work two jobs, but I always knew he loved us. And now in the past few years I've watched my older brother Clin become a great example of a loving yet firm father. He laughs and plays with his daughters but also is teaching them to be be obedient and faithful children. Then of course is my grandpa, I know for a fact that in the nearly 60 years that he and Grandma have been married, he's not once raised his voice to her and that he still does the dishes side by side with her. I know that they counsel together in all the things they do as equals and that he is still falling in love her. My hope is that I can become worthy of standing with such men someday as a husband and father.

Now there are many other men that have been examples to me in this regard, I previously mentioned my uncles, but I should point out others too who have shown me what I should become. My brother in law Jason adores my sister and is a wonderful father. My mission president taught me so much and showed me that I could be a capable leader if I depend on the Lord. And to all you Neals (especially Bucky, Robert, and Dave): I love you as if you were my own family; please know that you have inspired me to be a better man.

If you translate directly from spanish, the apostle Paul said to the people of Corinth, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I am of Christ." And Christ himself asked the Nephites, "What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am." In this mortal life  I never have had the privilege of being in the company of Paul, or sitting and learning at the feet of the Master, but I when I imagine what they were like, it's the traits of those men who have taught me. Or rather I feel that these are men who have learned and are still learning to be the men that their God would have them be.

A man should be strong, and yet unashamed of weeping at the appropriate moment. He should be willing defend what he believes to his very last breath but still respect the opinions of others. He should be bold and lead others around him to righteous places, and still be humble enough to follow the counsel of others. He should be strong in his opinions, but willing to admit his faults and change to correct them. He should be unshakeable in his faith and obedience to God and should love his family with his whole being.

I wonder if there were more men who were like this, in what state would we find the world today?

And so this is my call, my pleading. On this day that we have set apart to recognize fathers and father figures, I stand as a man who is still far from becoming what he wants to be and implore others to become the manner of men that we ought to be. Let us become husbands, fathers, sons and brothers who are the strength and foundation of society and will be able to stand before our God unashamed of what we are.

Let's Rock!

Before I say anything else, let me just say that Jack Black is awesome. I just finished watching School of Rock and I think that I want to be in a rock and roll band so I can melt some faces... But you know, in a good way. Now with that said, I'll move on to the true topic.

I like to describe myself as having an indomitable spirit. I really think that I am an awesome person. Some may even say a little narcissistic, but I'll just call it a good strong self-esteem. I'm not going to let anything that anybody else does or says bring me down. It's just who I am. I believe that I, being who I am, am worth something. And while I previously mentioned being narcissistic, that isn't the point. It's not just me. All people are capable of being worth something. And it's not anything that anybody else can measure. How much money you have, what you're studying to become, or what career you are in, or where you live that matters. We can all rock and be awesome and be the kind of people that other people admire.

A friend of mine once told me thatsomething she learned. She told me that it doesn't matter what you do, you could sweep floors for a living. What matters is that no matter what it is you do that thing to the very best of your ability. In fact, she said that if you sweep floors, you should sweep floors so well that angels take note and say, "There is a man who labors well and is valued above all."  And to my dear friend, if perchance you read this, sorry I slaughtered your quote. But the vibe is still there.

The point is that thing that makes a person great isn't what they do, but the manner in which they do it. Now how exactly this is accomplished, I'm not sure. I'm still working on becoming awesome, although I am quite close.I think that it has to do with working as hard as you possibly can at whatever it is that you are attempting. And not only that, but you have to enjoy it. I know that I will never rock at sales. My heart just isn't in it. I feel that I'm amiable person, that I'm decent at communicating and pretty good at getting people to do what I would like them to do. But I don't like doing sales, so I'm not going to excell in that. However, I do like helping people, so then I know that when I get into my chosen career path someday, it will be something that I will be able to strive at.

And so I say, don't worry about what other people think. Do what you love and be the best at it. Work at it so hard that it makes you come home exhausted and ready to sleep. It's what I did on my mission, it's what I try to do now. Love what you are doing and love the people around you that are building you up. Rock at teaching, kick butt at checking in guests or driving a taxi. Learn to express yourself in whatever you do as if it were an art. Even if you don't make a dime, peope will see that and want to be around you.

Now with this, there is a warning. Don't overdue it. There must be balance in all things. If you the "live-to work" type, make sure that you live to live to and go do something not work related from time to time. Wrestle your dog, go swimming, or cuddle on the couch with someone you love. Or if you're more like me; more of the "work-to-live" type; make sure that be amazing at who you are includes working hard and being professional at work.

In the end it all just boils down to loving what you do and who you are in every moment.

So remember to work and laugh and joke and never give up.

Dreams

The dreams of man are an intriguing thing. They can be a place of refuge from the stress and cares of the world. They are a veritable trove of creation, desires, happiness, and love and yet can be a den of fears, worries, and can even disrupt our peace in our waking lives. 

I've experienced all these in my own dreams.

I often dream of what may be, or at least what I wish will come to be. 

I'm just a simple man though, I don't dream of wealth or power. In fact, of late I've dreamt most about things like fatherhood, owning my own home, and of course, riding a velociraptor around the city while hunting down killer polar-bears with laser-shooting eyes. (That one was very strange... I think maybe I ate too many frozen burritos before going to sleep) 

The point is, I wonder if the desires I have in my waking life cause me to dream these things or if the dreams I have, have led me to have the desires of my waking life. 

The more I think about it, the less I'm sure of either one being exclusively right. 

And so I dream, and dream I must. For without it, the stars would not shine to me, and my heart would fail.  It's when I sleep that the love in my heart shows me what path I should take. The only time the creative part of my souls is as active is when I go to the temple. And that usually only applies when I go with specific questions in mind that I have previously studied out. Often my dreams feel like answers unbidden. They come to me and show me what I should be seeking, what I didn't even know I could have. 

I think that God knew that I would not always know which questions to ask and so from time to time He gives me a nudge in the right direction. Often using my dreams to cause me to wonder, and speculate, and eventually come to Him with the decisions I've made and more questions. 

Anyway, that's all I really have to say about that. Other than I think that listening to Mozart makes me overly-philosophical to a point of unintelligible incoherence. Sorry if I made no sense this time. I'll write a more normal blog next time... maybe.