Selfishness

I loved and really needed to hear the talks today in sacrament meeting, particularly the reference to this talk by Elder Neal A. Maxwell - "Repent of [Our] Selfishness":

"Selfishness is really self-destruction in slow motion....Each spasm of selfishness narrows one’s universe that much more by reducing his awareness of or concern with others.  Some selfish moderns need a Copernican reminder that they are not the center of the universe either!.... 

"Selfishness...causes us to be discourteous, disdainful, and self-centered while withholding from others needed goods, praise, and recognition as we selfishly pass them by and notice them not (see Morm. 8:39)..... 

"In contrast to the path of selfishness, there is no room for road rage on the straight and narrow way....Unselfishness is best grown in the family garden, and, likewise, diligently performing seemingly ordinary Church duties can further help us to overcome selfishness. The unselfish are also more free. As G. K. Chesterton said, if we can be interested in others, even if they are not interested in us, we will find ourselves “under a freer sky, [and] in a street full of splendid strangers." 

"Meekness is the real cure, for it does not merely mask selfishness but dissolves it! Smaller steps could include asking ourselves inwardly before undertaking an important action, Whose needs am I really trying to meet?....  

"Individual selfishness is finally acculturated. Then societies can eventually become without order, without mercy, without love, perverted, and past feeling (see Moro. 9)..... 

"Selfishness is actually the detonator of all the cardinal sins. It is the hammer for the breaking of the Ten Commandments, whether by neglecting parents, the Sabbath, or by inducing false witness, murder, and envy....Some of the selfish wrongly believe that there is no divine law anyway, so there is no sin (see 2 Ne. 2:13). Situational ethics are thus made to order for the selfish..... 

"Of unselfish George Washington it has been written: “In all history few men who possessed unassailable power have used that power so gently and self-effacingly for what their best instincts told them was the welfare of their neighbors and all mankind.”  Power is most safe with those, like Washington, who are not in love with it! A narcissist society, in which each person is busy looking out for number one, can build neither brotherhood nor community..... 

"In contrast, as I close, consider unselfish Melissa Howes, whose comparatively young father died of cancer several months ago. Just before, Melissa, who was then nine, was voice in family prayer, pleading, “Heavenly Father, bless my daddy, and if you need him more than us, you can have him. We want him, but Thy will be done. And please help us not to be mad at you.”"

Selfishness and pride truly are universal sins, but that makes it so much more important to be vigilant and humble enough to desire to change and work on doing it, with the Lord's help.  I think the reason this talk stood out to me so much was because lately I've been thinking about different forms of selfishness and Elder Maxwell's words are so clear and direct and a great reminder.

So, what do you do to focus on being selfless?

Christmas Trees

This year while setting up my Christmas tree and helping my mom and sister with theirs I was very grateful for the little reminders of experiences in years past.  Most importantly, of course, Christmas trees are symbols and reminders of Christ and the blessing of everlasting life that He offers each of us.  I'm grateful for that reminder and incredible blessing!

I also think that there is something really special and sweet about the story of each Christmas tree.  Just like each person has a story to tell, full of unique experiences and challenges and meaningful symbols, each tree stands as a witness of someone or something special.  We all have a story!  I'm grateful for the unique stories and the opportunities we have to bless others and learn about and love others!  There is so much good in the world and so much to learn and so much to love!  :)

Hache

I've always seen myself as an "Asian" language learner.  I love Asia!  I enjoyed learning Japanese in high school.  I LOVE and still speak some Korean!  I have learned a little bit of Chinese.  But, tonight I'm pretty excited about the Spanish class I just started and I'm pretty sure it will not only be a great help to know some of the basics personally and professionally, but it might be more a part of me than I thought.....for example....

The Spanish alphabet (at least as explained in about an hour) is very similar to English.  They have three extra letters - ch, ll, ñ.  A few of the letters make a slightly different sound than we're used to in English.  Most notable in my mind is h - hache.  It's ALWAYS silent!  For example hola!  Since 'h' is a significant part of me, I now feel more okay about my life as an introvert.  :)

That's all.  Adiós.

Missionaries

For some reason and many reasons and all of a sudden, today I am particularly grateful for the wonderful opportunity I had to serve for eighteen months as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It's almost been 12 years since I returned, but that decision and experience has blessed my life in more ways than I can count or that I probably even know.  I'm grateful for the wonderful people I was able to serve with - companions, other missionaries, leaders and members who taught me so much!  I'm grateful for those that I met and taught and loved and served and learned from.  I'm grateful for the beautiful and wonderful places and neighborhoods that I got to know so well in South Korea.  I love Busan and Daegu!  I think there is at least one person or lesson or experience or scripture or place or blessing I'm reminded of from my mission everyday.

I LOVE this video - Mormon Missionaries!  This is what missionaries are and what they do.  For two years after returning from my mission I worked as a teacher at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.  Here's some information and a video that depicts what life is like there as thousands of missionaries prepare to go to all of the world to teach of Jesus Christ.  Here's a fun way some missionaries recently shared the joy of the Plan of Salvation!  :)  Recently Michael Otterson reported in the Washington Post of More Mormons on a Mission.

I'm excited each day when I think about the opportunities I have to continue to share my love for the teachings and Church of Jesus Christ.  Recently at a stake conference meeting our stake president asked all of the missionaries to stand up and sing a musical number, Called to Serve.  We are a unique stake because we have a whole branch of full-time church and family history missionaries, so I think everyone was looking to them to stand up, but the stake president waited for all of us to stand - we are all missionaries.

I recently read a WONDERFUL book by Clayton Christensen called The Power of Everyday Missionaries.  There is much we can do to reach out to those around us in love.  The best way to be a missionary is to love and invite and include and be friends with everyone.  There is power in living the gospel and not being afraid to share how it blesses us with others.

So, go forth and let your light so shine!!  :)

July Trip - Israel, Italy

I've been looking forward to using my passport for three years and was so grateful for the "break" and opportunity and time to visit a couple of places that have been at the top of my list for a long time....and for the chance to explore with my dad!  We had a nice long-layover in Paris with time to explore and then spent 4 days in Israel and 7 days in Italy.  It was wonderful!

Here's our trip by the numbers:

• 11 full days
• 10 nights
• 4 countries - France, Israel, Italy, Vatican City
• 15 cities - Paris, Jerusalem, Galilee, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Greve in Chianti, La Spezia, Porto Venere, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Siena
• 5 hotels
• 5 planes (nearly 14,300 miles)
• 14 trains (at least 625 miles)
• 6 buses (at least 125 miles)
• 2 bikes (at least 50 miles)
• 80+ miles of walking
• 4 sea contacts
• 1 friend
• 3 family members
• 7 maps
• 2100 pictures
• lots of sunscreen, a gelato a day and many memories

Here are some of my favorite highlights:

• Ramparts Walk around the old city walls of Jerusalem
• swimming in the Dead Sea
• Galilee - Jordan River, Capernaum, Church of the Loaves and Fishes and Church of St. Peter's Primacy (both right on the lake), Mount of Beatitudes
• visiting the Western Wall on Friday evening at the beginning of Shabbat
• The Garden Tomb on a peaceful Sabbath morning
• church at the BYU Jerusalem Center
• Garden of Gethsemane
• night walk around Rome - Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter's Square
• biking through Tuscany (Firenze to Greve in Chianti) with a serendipitous stop at the Florence American Cemetery on the way back to the Piazzale Michelangelo
• bus ride and swimming at Porto Venere
• hiking the Cinque Terre (from Vernazza to Corniglia and from Vernazza to Monterosso)
• watching two Italian fathers set up a sleeping area/fort (complete with beach umbrella) at the Rome airport for their children to sleep - and then watching everyone else smile as they walked by :)

One of my favorite things about traveling is the opportunity to learn by seeing, observing, experiencing.  Here are a few lessons learned and/or things I want to learn more about:

• The world is a beautiful place! There are so many beautiful, historic, important places to explore.
• There are so many good, interesting people in the world.
• There are many diverse, very distinct and passionate cultures. It was fascinating to learn more about and observe the Jewish, Muslim, and Italian cultures! 
• It was interesting to see the distinct quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem - switching from Hebrew to Arabic. People seemed to get along, even with VERY apparent differences.
• It was fascinating to watch the devout Jews and how they worship and live.
• Muslim also have noticeable practices and customs - it was fun to watch the preparations for Ramadan in East Jerusalem.
• Italians aren't known for being efficient, but they enjoy life. Relationships, family and gelato seem to be important, too. :) 
• There is so much I want to go home and study more thoroughly - especially Israel's history, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• I have never seen so many OLD cities and civilizations with such LONG histories. Incredible!
• I don't understand why people smoke.
• It's kind of nice to be disconnected for a bit, but internet cafes are harder to come by it seems - communication is crucial and such a part of our life now.
• I enjoy traveling with my dad - we enjoy similar things and it was fun to spend time together.
• It's nice to be home! Traveling always makes me appreciate home, family, where I live and what I do.
• Travel is tiring, but so rejuvenating and exciting - there is so much more to see and learn....and so nice to have a little break from the regular routine.