Boldness - 17 March 2012

"I look and see my dreams before me – daunting, the Path there; steep and rocky, the Way; comfort beckons me remain here, whispers I need not venture such difficulties – surely, it says, I have enough right where I am. True, my life is blessed and my comforts many; yet, how can I stand dauntless unless I face and o’ercome the daunting? How can I make my living in the Heights if I do not travel up the steep? How shall my feet and other muscles ever grow strong and mighty if the rocks do not demand more of them than comfort now demands? No, I cannot remain here…my heart is not in these lowlands, though I have known them long…my soul is in the Heights. If a journey does not demand of a man more than he presently has the journey is not worthy of his efforts. Onward then, step by ever onward step…To the Heights!"

I wrote those words earlier tonight; as I read them I wonder that I wrote them, that I was able to put the sincerity of my feeling behind those words...these are not trivialities, not idle syllables - these things have the power, if allowed, to define a life, my life and my Life.

Of all who read this, I have a unique perspective on the matter as principal participant. Perhaps some who read this will figure into the tale someway or another, perhaps not. I hope this entry finds resonance with some beside myself, though this writing is effective if such is not the case.

What I know is that these last weeks have been a roller coaster for me. Within the last month I have experienced genuine hope and vision of an incredible future; I've felt the prescient glory of victory, of ascendancy over challenge. I've also felt near hopelessness, weakness, fear, doubt...that's a lot to take into one person.

Why didn't the positive emotion last, or why, we might ask with equal force, is the negative emotion giving way now? In either case, the emotional/mental/spiritual state has arisen from the law I've lived. You see, there are principles that bear into one's life all the effects one experiences. Putting one's self in a position to receive certain things must necessarily draw into one's life those things one has put one's self in a position to receive. Interestingly enough, the law is impartial, it simply gives according to the majority of one's desire, thus, when I stood, exalted, upon my hills of dream (as says a favorite poem), I stood there because my overriding desire was to be happy and to move forward, because I was cultivating an environment where those feelings, thoughts, and actions could flourish - though all else remained unchanged around me I was changed and so enabled to bear that change to the world; similarly with the inverse effects of the negative: I received no differently than I requested. There was no change between order and delivery, though I might have believed I'd actually ordered something else at the time...honest reflection shows my state to be the product of my own doing, all change or the lack of change being according to my own will, which, under God, is indomitable.

Through the instrumentality of certain exterior sources near and dear to me and in light of the ever rushing tide of time in which I presently live, it has come into my being that changes need to be made, changes for the better. By virtue of certain circumstances I have previously chosen it seems to me that small changes will not suffice, there must be a transformative effort, and such things always require dramatic energy to be expended, particularly in the initial stages of the change being sought.

My point, friends, is that I'm charging out, and I know not exactly where I'll have to go. There are certain things available to me to accomplish this transformative rise, but the specifics are dark to me...still, the darkness cannot hinder my charge...nor slow the upward, onward march thereafter. To say I know what's going to happen would be a lie. I have a feeling, just a feeling, that things will work out for the best, but it is a peaceful feeling, a feeling I've come to recognize as the signature of God, indicating the presence of His hand. What the feeling actually is, is this: As I give my best I'll receive His best - and that's a guarantee I can march with o'er any terrain.

As I indicated before: "If a journey does not demand of a man more than he presently has the journey is not worthy of his efforts."

So it is written, so it must be done. Pray for me my friends, as I pray for you; we need all the Help we can get!  :)

A Vision, a Promise, an Insight.

A shorter entry tonight, my friends, but an important one to be made.

While sitting alone and considering the needs of my Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class, I considered sharing with them the fact that I had decided to make a blog of my my own and commit to regular updates. I thought of the need to share with them things of value, in the realization that expecting anyone to take of their own 24 hours and invest any portion reading what I have written here means there rests upon me the obligation to provide content that will generate significant return on that investment.

Under the weight of that realization I chose to make a commitment: Every entry I make here will be written with the intent to provide something of value, something that builds, uplifts, and inspires the Highest within us to enter a bit more fully into daily living. I want my readers to find this a place for simple Truth to have a resting place, a place one can go to read stories from a common man just changing the world for the better one day and one life (often my own) at a time.

I know sometimes I just need somewhere I can go, someone I can turn to to get some uplift, not to hear about how bad things are, how hopeless "it" is, etc. but to hear the old, yet new every time I hear it, counsel that there is, as said Master Samwise in the midst of darkness, light and beauty no shadow can touch, and to read or hear someone say with all conviction that - for all of us - Happiness is attainable in the pursuit thereof. We should cultivate uplifting sources to which we can connect with those who share our vision for becoming the best we can be - "the more the merrier" never had truer application than in this circumstance.  :)

I do not commit to daily entries here, though this will sometimes be my pattern; I will write as often as I have something meaningful to say, and I know the people in need will find what God grants me to offer others. I'm just a regular, simple son of God, figuring life out with Father's help; I'll do what I can to help all my brothers and sisters, or, in other words, all mankind with any upright desire. So it is. S.D.G.

Here is an insight I was able to frame into words, the original impression of which burst upon my mind 10 March 2012, in the mid-afternoon...it will not give up all its meaning immediately, but a little pondering will do the soul good:

"The fairest gem can do no more than cast back the light it is surrounded by; change the light, change the fire."

Till next time.  :)

To the Heights!

My friends,

I welcome you to my digital mountain top.  :)

By nature, this is and shall be a work in progress; it will be updated as I am updated: "precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little". (Isaiah 28:10)

I endeavor, here, to record things of value: heavy things and light things. I hope, for each who takes time to read this, that riches are found, even the "fairest gem that the riches of worlds can produce"; if you are engaged in the pursuit of this gem of Truth yours truly is "the noblest desire." (Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, No. 272, 1985 Edition)

The chosen title of this blog, "...the trumpet sound..." denotes the clarity I pursue in writing and living and the unmistakable boldness I exercise here and everywhere. The phrase itself is a derivation from the sixth verse of an old hymn that has remained a personal treasure to me since the years 2005 and 2007 while I was leading the lives of others to change and experiencing the changing of my own life in ways we all could have scarcely imagined as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission; the hymn's title is "Hark! Listen To the Trumpeters!" I share the hymn-text in full, my hope being that you can catch a little bit of the fire I receive when I sing or recite these stirring words:

"Hark! listen to the trumpeters! They sound for volunteers, On Zion's bright and flow'ry mount Behold the officers. Their horses white, their armor bright, With courage bold they stand, Enlisting soldiers for their King, To March to Zion's land.

It sets my heart all in a flame A soldier brave to be; I will enlist, gird on my arms And fight for liberty. We want no cowards in our bands, Who will our colors fly, We call for valiant-hearted men, Who're not afraid to die.

To see our armies on parade, How martial they appear! All armed and dressed in uniform, They look like men of war. They follow their great General, The great Eternal Lamb; His garments stained in His own blood, King Jesus is His name.

The trumpets sound, the armies shout, They drive the hosts of hell, How dreadful is our God, our King, The great Emmanuel! Sinners, enlist with Jesus Christ, Th'eternal Son of God, And march with us to Zion's land, Beyond the swelling flood.

There on a green and flow'ry mount where fruits immortal grow, With angels all arrayed in white, We'll our Redeemer know. We'll shout and sing forevermore, In that eternal world, While Satan and his army too Shall down to hell be hurled.

Lift up your heads, ye soldiers bold; Redemption now draws nigh; We soon shall hear the trumpet sound That shakes the earth and sky. In fiery chariots we shall rise, And leave the world on fire, And all surround the throne of love, And join the heav'nly choir."

(Text: Anonymous)

So, with clarity, the trumpet-call of Truth sounds here and around the globe. Our course is set, even in the title of this first entry: To the Heights! To the Heights we are bound, for only there is our Happiness found.

Soli Deo Gloria!