I know, I know. It's been a long time. I got caught up in life and didn't slow down enough to come back to my blog. I wanted to share this video, though.
I love how personal and applicable Elder Bednar's lesson is. He illustrated so clearly how sins of omission not only halt progress, but cause backsliding. If we're not consciously choosing the Lord, we don't progress.
One of the most beautiful things that I noticed about his object lesson was something that he didn't call attention to, but I've found that it's very true in life: progress within the Lord's territory is unrestricted. We are free to move backward and forward as much as we'd like. We can move to the side, take a meandering course, whatever we choose.
Movement on Satan's side is pretty free too. Elder Bednar would not have stopped the boy from wandering around deeper in, but returning to the rug required great struggle, only possible if the boy could overpower him. Which he could have. The right leverage, the right coaching, and he could have regained the freedom to return to the rug. That's how the Atonement works. It gives us the added strength and knowledge to overcome the sins that hold us back.
Anyway, I just wanted to share. :)
In other news, I am happy and content. I've been at my job for almost six months now and have only had one horrible day so far (which, thankfully, had nothing to do with my office or my team -- just a snarly document that I was so tempted to destroy with fire). I actually got into a conversation last night about career versus motherhood, because a friend of mine, when I asked her what she was going to do with her master's degree, mentioned that she'd rather be a mom and that she didn't really want a career.
I used to feel that way.
Don't get me wrong, I still want to be a mother. But I don't resent the fact that I have a career, either. I'm enjoying it a lot, and will probably keep a toe in it when I do become a mom. I'm so looking forward to that.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying the freedom of wandering around in the Lord's territory. I'm putting that freedom to the test, sidestepping, slipping, sidetracking, coming back and going in deeper. But here's the thing about all of that: it's still the Lord's territory. Despite my weaknesses that may cause me to lose ground or slip back a little closer to the line, I'm still on His side, and there are blessings built into that that can't be taken away. Personal revelation comes when I ask. Inspiration is available even when I don't. The Spirit whispers encouragement. I am immediately and overwhelmingly blessed the second I stop sliding and take a step further in.
But don't ever forget that all the help of heaven is available to get lost souls back to the Lord's side.
