...With Sunglasses

I have received another challenge to relate the gospel of Jesus Christ to sunglasses. After a lot of careful consideration I came up with this. I hope my analogy appeases the challenger:

Sunglasses are nothing more than tinted glasses. The effect of sunglasses is that our eyes are overshadowed to the light, dimming, and sometimes even changing the colors of what we see around us. Christ has said "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) Satan tries to deceive us. He overshadows our eyes, just like sunglasses, so that we can not see the true light, or the effects of the light. Until we take off the sunglasses, or disregard the temptations of Satan, we won't be able to see the beauty of the light of Christ.

...With Settlers of Catan

I've always loved the game Settlers of Catan; however, the worse side of me tends to come out when I play. I had the opportunity recently to play with a group of missionaries and a member of the church, Brother Carlos. For a while the game was going smoothly. Everyone was playing nicely, but the more we played the more independent I became. I wouldn't make trades unless it would be to my benefit, and I sabotaged the progress of others. Meanwhile, Brother Carlos was generous in his trading and would consider the needs of the other players.



Brother Carlos and I stayed neck and neck the entire game, competing to see who could gain and maintain their points. I was determined to succeed on my own, even if that meant I had to block other people in the process. We got down to the final round, I had the cards I needed to win and my turn was coming up. Brother Carlos, just two turns before me, however, had the support of the other players because of the way he had been playing the game. In a last effort they all pitched in the cards he needed to defeat me.

I didn't understand how that could be fair. I had worked so hard to win, and I did it all alone. Yet, the more I thought about, it the more I realized that's why I didn't win. We need the help of others. It's the same way in life. Sometimes we have the tendency to be independent, and focus on our own needs and goals. But we can't do it alone. We need to be mindful of those around us. We need to depend on their help and help them in return; to be willing to be kind and serve everyone, even if it doesn't seem to be to our advantage. 

We can't do it alone. Not only do we need to all work together, but we need to turn to our Savior for help as well. He can see the bigger picture and direct us on what to do and how to do it. We may be able to get a long way without Him, but we can never win without His help. Without the Savior's sacrifice and atonement for us we cannot succeed.

...With a Cheese Grater

In my last blog I issued myself a challenge to relate any object back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since then I have only received one object: a cheese grater. Hopefully this analogy satisfies the challenger:

We all go through the cheese grater of life. Our lives are those blocks of cheese, shaped just the way we want them. We are satisfied with our block, but sometimes the Lord finds it needful to send us through the cheese grater. Piece by piece we feel our life is getting shredded, but those trials, the cheese grater, shapes us into some one completely different. Through those challenges the Lord changes us so that we can be instruments in His hands in another cause, just as important, but different than before.

...With Symbols of Christ

I'm a firm believer that everything points back to Christ. When I was about the age of fourteen I had a Sunday School teacher who challenged us to choose one thing that week and see how it pointed back to Christ. Her object was to show that everything we receive is to help us grow closer to Christ.

I remember wandering down the hallway at school looking at the lockers, the tiles, the backpacks, trying to understand how each item could relate back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I struggled to see how it was possible. How could everything  point to Christ? Then, as I was sitting on the swing at the park the challenge presented itself in my mind again. I looked at a tree and noticed how the branches pointed upward -- towards Christ. A tree grew up towards God! I understood. Excited, I began to ponder about the swing I sat on and how that pointed to Christ. I swung higher and higher -- towards the heavens! I understood.

Later in life I had a friend who had served a mission. He told me of a game he and his companions used to play as they walked: relate any object back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He showed me some examples: the posts of a fence being those who support one another and keep that "fence" of the gospel up and a light pole being a beacon in the darkness like the gospel is for us through trying times.

Now, a missionary myself, I have fun playing the same sort of game. I love looking around me and seeing evidence that there is a God and that all things point to him. I love a challenge, so leave a comment; ask me to relate a particular object back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's see Christ in everyone and in everything!

 

...With a Burden

I was recently reading through old things I've written and came across a small comment I made years ago: When you carry a load you need to keep your head bowed and your knees bent. What an interesting correlation between physical and spiritual burdens! Look at this man carrying a load of sticks on his back, you'll notice that indeed, the only way it is possible is because his head is bowed, and his knees are bent.




Now think of your own challenges in life. Sometimes the problems get heaped on your back one stick at a time. Sometimes they seem impossible to carry. But it IS possible! Just keep your head bowed and your knees bent. God is our relief. When you turn to him he will "ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs" (Mosiah 24:14) How incredible! All we need to do is turn to God in constant prayer. Keep our knees bent, our heads bowed.