The things kids say....

Isn't it great some of the things that kids say? AT&T even now does commercials with this in mind, entitled, "It's not complicated, faster is better." With this post I wish to just relate a couple funny and profound things that I have heard kids say lately.

The first one was a couple weeks ago as I helped my friend coach swimming. The kids are great, but trying to keep them all swimming and doing the right set, can be a bit of a hand full at times. Believe it or not kids get distracted very easily. Whether it's because they are talking to friends, goofing off, or just plain tired, there is always some kid trying to get out of swimming the given set. This experience happened with one of my friend Tyler's kids. A great little Asian seven year old in the middle of the set jumped out of the pool and with great hopes to get out of the set and holding his chest, said, "Coach Tyler......I think I'm having a heart attack." Holding back a little bit of laughter Tyler went through some of the symptoms of a heart attack with him. After the boy affirmed three or four of these symptoms Tyler asked, "Does your stomach feel like it's warm or on fire?" The little boy grabbed his tummy in deep thought and after a few seconds of looking like he was making an important decision, looked up to affirm that it did when Tyler interrupted his response with a good coaches, "Ah! You aren't having a heart attack. Get back in the pool." This experience made me laugh ore than anything, but also reminded me of the innocence and good humor that kids have that I think we could all strive for.

 

The next is an example of how it's interesting that on a dark and gloomy day, how a snot faced, long haired, innocent little kid can say just what you need to hear and bring a little sunshine into your day. The other day while mowing lawns, after a streak of a bit of a rough time in my life, I was feeling a little down and in need of just a little pick me up. While getting our lawn mowers tuned up by the neighbor to one of our clients, a little boy with long blond hair looked out the window and noticing my Superman t-shirt, yelled out, "Hey Superman!" With a smile and a little chuckle I said my, "Hey!" back. With a big smile on his face, the boy then said, "Are you going to help some people today?" Without a sufficient answer, I could only smile and say, "Ya I'll try!"

This got me thinking....why do I think my problems are so big? Why don't I stop worrying about myself and really look for someone that I can help. Isn't that what a super hero does anyway? One reason that people connect so much with super heroes is not just because they have abilities and powers that anyone would love to have, but because they take the pains, disappointments, and heartaches that we all have in life, and use them to help others. This experience to me was rather ironic. This young kid was asking me if I was going to go help anyone, as if I had super powers, yet he as an innocent little boy, knowing he had no powers, was helping me with a simple question. One does not need to have powers, knowledge, or to even be big, muscular or an adult to help out. This world is pretty full of problems and people looking for answers and hope. We could all be helped out if we all had a little bit more sincere desire to know what is going on in other peoples lives, humor, belief, and wonder, as I have seen demonstrated in these two kids.

What Bugs You?

As some of you know I am interested in bugs. Their behavior and what they do fascinates me. Yesterday on campus I found and collected some ladybug larvae on my way to work. Most people like ladybugs and actually view them as beneficial, especially if you own a garden. Most people though, would be grossed out if they encountered it's less appealing larvae that is black and orange, spiky, worm like with six legs, and resembles a small scale version of a monster you'd see in a sci-fi film.

I had them in a plastic bag because that's all I really had to catch them in. I caught four to observe and study. As I worked I kept them in my locker. After work I retrieved the bag and noticed that one of the bigger larvae was eating one of the smaller larvae. This phenomenon may be gross, but is common in insects. If kept hungry, many insects will become cannibalistic and eat those around them. This made me think of another experience I had with a pray mantis that I was keeping. Pray mantis are also usually considered as cool bugs and good for the garden. Pray mantis, like ladybugs, also eat other bugs as there food source. So it is quite fun to throw in crickets, flies, and other bugs, and watch the pray mantis hunt them and eat them. On this occasion I watched the pray mantis, on the roof catching crickets to eat. As it would catch one and eat it, the crickets hungry associates left on the bottom would gather around and eat the parts falling from their buddy being eaten above.

Some would be grossed out by this and horrified at the scene of such behavior; but in observing these bugs and incidents it got me thinking, are we as humans really that different from these bugs? Of course for the majority of the time when we get hungry we don't eat each other, but what about our other hungers and appetites? Our other physical, emotional and mental needs and desires such as, the need to feel loved or the desire to be recognized. How are those hungers being fed? To have these appetites fed do we "eat" our fellowman? Meaning do we use, abuse, or misuse others or our relationships with them to get what we need? Just like the crickets that were eating their fellow crickets remains, we sometimes throw our fellowman to the curb to get what we want. The problem with this type of lifestyle is that it will eventually catch up to you. Can you guess what happened when the pray mantis finished the cricket it was currently eating? It didn't have to go far or even try, it just picked up the next one out of the group of the eager crickets awaiting more parts to fall; and so the cycle continued.

So are we really all that different from insects or other animals? In the question of how did man get here initially, there are a few theories. One of the more predominant ones being evolution. Though with it's fame, it is commonly misunderstood or represented. The theory of evolution does not state that we came from monkeys, but states that we have a common ancestor. Here, I will not indulge in either trying to prove or disprove the idea or theory of evolution. I will, however, talk about the idea of common ancestors. This part of evolution brings forth the idea that all living things are all then inherently related. This makes sense seeing it from a spiritual perspective and with the belief that we were all created by the same Creator.


Then the question remains, is there anything that differentiates us from insects or other living things and if so, what is it? I would definitely agree with the view that, though we are similar or related to other life down to even having DNA, the building block of life, we as humans have something that is different and unique. Continuing in the spiritual perspective of things, we are not just a physical body, but a spirit child sent from God as well. Both combined make up a soul.

Whether our body came from evolution or some other means, doesn't matter. However, the idea of being related to other life forms with the observation of the insects eating one another, does show how each of us has the natural man to face. What our body wants to do naturally. It's appetites and hungers have to be fed and our physical body doesn't really care how that happens, as long as it happens. Like mentioned before though, we are all not just physical bodies, but spirits as well. It is our spiritual identity as children of God that does care about how we feed these hungers. It craves and needs a lifestyle that builds our relationship with God and creates positive relationships with others around us. Both the physical and spiritual needs can be filled by living the gospel of Jesus Christ. He taught and set forth the pattern of how to live our lives properly. In such a way that we can feed our physical bodily needs while feeding our spiritual needs all in the correct manner. This is not easy, but true discipline over both, the physical and spiritual, and the proper relationship with both creates true happiness.

Going back to the thoughts of the ladybug larvae, it allows us to go from spiny larvae who eat other bugs and each other, to something like a beautiful lady bug. This change and transformation isn't easy. All caterpillars and larvae grow and grow until they reach a point in their lives, like all of us, that we have to decide if we are going to change or not. This is initiated with a choice, but it is followed by a process of change. Larvae of insects then have to go into cocoons or similar things to spend time in a process of change. We too make the decision to change that is then followed through with a process. Feelings like, we aren't really moving anywhere, that we are vulnerable, or that all of the sudden we are restricted in all these things and can't really move or be free, may arise. This is probably a little bit of what the larvae in a cocoon feel as it changes; not being able to travel from place to place or even really move outside of the cocoon. If, like the caterpillar or larvae, we bide our time though, and take the necessary steps to change, we can emerge from what may seem like restrictions to a life full of freedom, happiness, and light; just as a larvae who does the adequate things and spends the time to change, emerges as a beautiful butterfly, ladybug or other insect that is full of color, life, and light. This is what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers me and I am grateful to have it in my life.

The newest bug to my collection. This Sphynx Moth was caught early this morning in front of the library here on campus. There are great wonders and Gods creations all around. You just have to be willing to notice!

More Kinder in America!

Just when you thought life couldn't
get any better....the creamery has
another Kinder candy called,
 "Kinder Country." I don't fully know
what's in it seeing as in the left picture
it's all in German.
But! In the right picture doesn't,
that just look yummy!



Sunset Brings Spring Flowers

I took these pictures with my

phone while walking home from campus.

It's amazing how simple things like

a beautiful sunset or spring flowers

can really remind us of

the beauty in the world, who we are,

 and who is watching out for us.....

A great scripture is Alma 30:44

     of the Book of Mormon

All things denote that there is a Supreme Creator

 

Sometimes life is wonderful and fun.

Sometimes life is just rough.

It's always great to remember though

that with every winter sunset

is promised a sun filed spring day.





Just like how lifes rough times

will eventually come to an end;

bringing with it

days filled with color and flowers.

So don't forget to take sometime this spring

to take a minute and look around

to be grateful for the beauty that is ours.