Trusting God

Yes, I am back. Don't be too shocked. I don't have any pictures, but I am feeling much better. Really you don't want pictures. My house is a little ( okay, a lot) scary. I am very discouraged at the snow outside, but other than that, I am up and going this morning. So, I was reading a commentary on the Old Testament this morning for my personal religious study. There are some very disturbing stories in the Old Testament and really, it's not my favorite book to study as a whole. I do enjoy certain parts of the work, but reading from beginning to end is difficult for me. Anyway, I read a statement that was: "Trusting in God is the foundation for wisdom." Now, I pondered this statement for quite awhile. Yes, I realize the can of worms that I opened upon myself. I realize the statements and arguments that can be thrown at me for this statement. Thus, I am presenting this blog post not as argument, but rather as a testimony of what this means to me. Frankly, mean, rude, derogatory, and any other statements won't affect my feelings on this. I am very religious. I feel that my religion is a large part of my life. However, I feel (hope & pray) that I am tolerant of others and their personal beliefs. I am the only person in my family that is LDS. I'm more than okay with this. I have wonderful brothers and sisters-in-law that I wouldn't trade for the world. My family may not understand me, but they love me and accept me and I them. Not only family, but I have many friends as well that believe differently and I love them no less than those friends that are of my same religious beliefs. So, that being said, this post is not for arguments sake. Rather it is me expressing how I find this statement to be true for me. I won't argue against other's point of views. Really, this is just a personal thought. I am grateful for my religion because I feel it does give me wisdom. I realize that some may feel that those who follow any organized religion are blind and simply do not question. I don't believe that this is the case for me personally. I have no problems with the restrictions that my religion puts me because I can honestly see how they benefit me. Now before anyone sends a sheep baa in my direction let me explain. I follow no commandment out of fear, obligation, have to's, or worry. Rather I do it out of love. I have been asked to abstain from certain items, and I'm okay with that because they are harmful for the body. I am asked to give service and I can see how when I do serve those around me, I am the one that is changed. Often I have struggles, some are bigger than average and others are smaller and when I choose to have faith, then I allow myself to seek wisdom. When I can release control and take a deep breath, often I am more able to see solutions. often I am able to see the most important piece of wisdom for God. People were/are given agency. They have the right to choose. People are also given laws to protect the overall population. For the most part, people are given the right to feel, choose, and act with little intervention. Obviously, there is a point in which the laws of the land step in, but that point is allows for a lot of agency. We clamor for our freedoms and rights, and yet we cast the responsibilities of our actions on others. I can be as simple as "he made me angry." No one makes us hit, lie or lash out (usually excluding the mob). Normally, we choose how to react to others. We choose to become angry, we choose to react or act. The greatest thing that I need is faith. Faith that I am a better person. Faith that I can choose to act or react. But mostly, faith that others have their agency to gain wisdom on their own and in their own way. Now, this is not easy when someone wrongs us, uses us, or hurts us. In fact, nothing gets my temper up than someone hurting my loved ones. Yet, I have faith. Faith that justice will be served, faith that mercy will be given, faith that I can be the person that I long to be, and faith that I am a good person in the process. I am who I am because of the freedom to choose. I choose to follow God and Christ. I choose to be a Christan because for me, this path has brought me peace, knowledge and freedom. More so than any other path I have chosen. Okay, I will end the ramblings now. Thanks for indulging me. I hope you all have a great day!