Day 26:
I'm grateful for the past and all it has to teach us and all
the opportunities of the future.
In detail:
I love history. It fascinates me. I can spend hours
pouring over old newspapers. Or wandering through a historic site or
cemetery. I love that people are (and were people) in every time, no
matter the different circumstances the live(d) in. It is astonishing to
see how things have changed over time and how they've stayed the same.
And it is empowering to know that we have the opportunity to shape the
future. And to leave behind our wisdom and experience for those who study
history in the future.
Day 27:
I'm grateful for the modern amenities of life. Even
though the past fascinates me, I would really miss the conveniences of this
generation.
In detail:
As a child I was always interested in the concept of life in
a different time or place. In fact I used to dream of creating resorts
where people could book a stay in an authentic medieval castle or old west
town, or ancient Egyptian palace. In my plans there would be two options
- authentic rooms with the amenities of the time or “themed” rooms but
with all the modern conveniences. Even as a kid I realized I liked
the benefits of modern technology.
There are a lot of things I take for granted: modern
plumbing, or the fact that if I really had lived in ancient Egypt I
would probably have been given some menial task inside since I would have been
virtually blind without modern glasses or contact lenses, to name a couple. So, as
much as I’d love to experience the past, I am very, very grateful for the
blessings of living in this time.
Day 28:
I'm grateful for books and the ability they have to
transport me to a completely different time or place, from the comfort of my
own couch.
In detail:
To go along with my last post, as I’ve said, I’m happy to
live when I do. But I also have a drive to understand and experience
different places and time. To understand the lives of others who
live in different circumstances than my own.
And I can – through books. I don’t often pick the
“classics”. I usually find them rather depressing. But
even in a fluffy fantasy novel or a YA trilogy, I can gain a new understanding
of some piece of the human experience. And I can do it all curled up
on my own sofa.
Day 29:
In detail:
I hope it doesn't seem that I left my testimony as an afterthought in this month of gratitude. In fact, I intentionally left it to the end, as a culmination of the things I'm grateful for. Because after all, when I look at all the things I posted about earlier, so many, if not all, of them are directly related to my understanding of my Heavenly Father's plan for me and the blessings he's given me.
I can't find a post in this whole month that isn't a blessing from my father. And I only wish I knew a way to fully express the gratitude in my heart for those blessings and for the understanding of their source. I've said before to friends and family when discussing my conversion, subsequent inactivity and reactivation that I was perfectly fine and happy when not active in and focused on the gospel.
But I've also said that the depth and breadth of my life at that time was nothing when compared to what my life is when it's centered on and founded in the gospel. In fact there is no comparison. Just unending gratitude and a desire to press on.
No comments:
Post a Comment