I have been thinking about this post for several days now, and I feel that I need to write it before the motivation leaves completely. But I must warn you that it is late and I am tired, so I hope that this makes sense, and my thoughts come across as I want them to.
While I was on my mission I was at lunch with a old hunting buddy, John K., he told me and my companion about a concept that I thought would never apply to me. Well, as you can guess, I am learning and experiencing that concept right now; and I will share it with you.
The above image is of a ball at rest. It has no direction, no power, no motion. This is a difficult position for a person to be in. It takes a lot of effort to remain motionless.
This second image of a ball rolling down the hill, this makes sense, it is a natural and known reaction that we expect. But what keeps the ball rolling? I know that there is a Newton law that would explain it, something like an object in motion will remain in motion until acted upon to stop it, again, something like that. My view, is that the ball continues to "coast" because it is going down hill. It may find some flat spot, and in that case the ball will slow and eventually stop, but as long as the ball in on a declining slope, it will continue to travel on course.
And what happens when a ball is placed on a hill, and expected to go up it? Well, we have learned by experience, and I am sure that Newton is in there somewhere too, that the ball will go up the hill until it has lost all of its momentum, inertia, and power. When that happens, the ball will for a split second stop, and then begin to roll back down to where it came from. Unless the ball is again given additional power, inertia, and momentum, in that case it will continue on its path up the hill.
Now you are asking yourself why would RT be thinking about these simple ideas of physics, and why would a hunting buddy be teaching about them at an all you can eat buffet in St. Louis? Well replace the ball with a person, with yourself. Now, instead of being on a simple hill, imagine that the slope has to do with your personal growth, experience, and direction in relation to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How often are we in a stationary place? How often do we find ourselves not going any direction, up or down? I would dare say that it happens several times in our lives, I know that it has happened in my life more times than I dare think about. But I am finding that in my life, if I am not moving forward, I am falling back; if I am not going up, I am going down; I am "coasting".
I have been thinking about this topic for several days because I have been noticing that I am not going up. There are several different red flags that have been raised recently that have helped me recognize my direction. But I will admit, that the hardest part about changing my direction is the understanding that I am going to have to put forth the effort to stop, and then to start again going up hill. It is not easy for anyone, especially if one if feeling like they just need to rest from the hard work of going up hill all day every day. But when true reflection is allowed, the number of positive rewards for working daily at going up hill eclipse the tiny reward of going down hill, which is perceived rest.
Now I know that to think that I, or anyone, that must make that transition of down to up and continued up, can and must do it alone, and by one's own power is crazy and a lie. It is impossible. It is hard enough for me to travel forward on a level plane for any significant distance that to imagine that I could go up hill makes me want to not even try, other than for bragging rights (which would be short lived and insignificant). There is a force that continually helps each of us go up hill. A force that is strong enough that no matter how fast we are going down hill, we will be able to stop immediately, and change direction. This force has no limit on its consistent and over whelming power. It has no regard for the persons age, gender, race, political stand point, hair color, how many hairs they have, or if they like vanilla ice cream the most. The only requirement it has is our will, our desire. If we don't want to change direction, it won't force us; if we don't mind and or enjoy going down hill, it can't convince someone that going up is better. We have to want it, even if that is all the power we have is to want it, this force can and will, and does assist us in that very moment.
This power is the atonement of Jesus Christ. There is nothing that compares to, rivals, or even can explain the awesome power, and eternal love of the atonement.
Why have I been thinking about this topic? Because I have experienced it, again, recently.
When I started this post, I was prepared to write only about the illustrations of a ball/person traveling on different planes. But as you have read, more than that came out, and I hope that it made sense, and was well connected.
We all have times that we travel down hill, it is both human, and expected. Also expected is the desire to change direction and head back up hill. It is hard, tiring, painful, and sometimes confusing, but we can continue if we rely on and use the endless loving force of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
I am sorry if this sounds preachy, or warm and fuzzy, but like I said, I needed to write it and see it.
