Time stands still on Thursdays

Missionary training hasn't changed him

As noted previously, upon learning that Thursdays would be The Missionary formerly known as The Boy's 'day off,' it was immediately our new favorite day of the week. Today is Thursday and it is still our favorite day of the week. We didn't hear from him until early afternoon which threw the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML's day for a bit of a loop.

His letter, which is now posted at his blog, was positive and reflects the musings of a young man in the process of growing up. There's a lot of ground still to cover (one need only look at me, his father, to know growing up takes awhile) but it was great to read his thoughts on what he's learning and experiencing.

The wait to get these emails is, at times, agonizing. Time literally stands still on Thursdays as we wait to hear from him. The wait's been worth it each time though. His personality shines through in all that he writes. I knew it would. That makes me happy.

He'll be in training for three more works and then he'll be in Mexico, when we think Monday will become our new favorite day. Until then, we'll stick with getting all kinds of excited about Thursdays.

Flummoxed

I find myself a bit flummoxed (is that not one of the greatest words the English language has to offer?) as I write tonight. The call to action I heard on Saturday and wrote about that same day has ruled much of my thinking since then. In that time, as I found myself in Midtown and the East Village, it feels like the homeless population has quadrupled. It pains me to realize that my handing out a couple bucks here and there is not to going to solve the monumental issue that is poverty in this country. I just can't figure out what I can do to make more of a difference.

I've been to the Sisters of Charity Mission in Kolkata, India and have seen the legacy of Mother Teresa in action. The work of these missionaries is as awe-inspiring as is gut-wrenching the epic poverty and suffering they are trying so hard to alleviate. Although it was brief but powerfully rewarding, I worked in philanthropy long enough to know the good organizations from the bad. I know there are so many out there trying to right what is, to me, a fundamental wrong. No child should go to school hungry. No mentally ill (and can we please get over that stigma) person should be left on a street corner. 

We can do so much more for our brothers and sisters. This nation is still such a land of abundance and opportunity, regardless of what the 'truth tellers' on Fox News may say. This isn't a Red State / Blue State issue. This is about people who hurt and who need help. Not one of us can say we haven't hurt or needed help. How lucky we have been to have had the resources and support network to get through those moments. 

I guess my flummoxed state comes from the overwhelming nature of the challenge and the fact that there are so many ways to help. If you've found an organization or someway to help your fellowman, I would love to hear about it. 

Do Something

@www.bibleandbusiness.com

Every six months, in April and October, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in all corners of the world gather for sessions of what is called General Conference. It's ten hours worth of teaching over two days. The October session is going down this weekend and that's how the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML have spent today and will spend it tomorrow - in learning. And watching the Twitter blow up over the hashtag #ldsconf. Apparently, we Mormons love us some Twitter action during Conference.

These sessions of conference are amazing opportunities to be taught and 'fed' by those I believe to have been called of God at this time to provide revelation, guidance, and teaching. Sometimes, I walk away from these sessions feeling awash in guilt for all the things that I'm not doing, but I mostly come away from them feeling strengthened or challenged to do more. As the first two sessions wound up today, I am feeling challenged to do more.

In a powerful address by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, we as members of the Church were challenged to do more, much more, for the poor of the world. He reminded us in no uncertain terms how Christ taught that the poor shall not suffer. We must do more to help alleviate or end that suffering. He challenged us to stop withholding from the poor because we feel that they've brought their circumstances upon themselves. We are all guilty of bringing something upon ourselves and none of us, Christian or not, can stand in judgement of another like that. We must, whether we be rich or poor, do what we can to help those who cannot help themselves.

Elder Holland spoke of the work of Mother Teresa, her work, and the work of the Missionaries of Charity. He told the story of how Mother Teresa responded to someone who asked her how she could carry on her work in the face of insurmountable odds. She said that her work was about love, not statistics.
BAM!

In the end, we may not be our brother's keeper, but no matter your belief system, we are our brother's brother. We can take care of one another. It's time to step it up and to help stop the suffering of those who have nothing or suffer. We can make a difference. It doesn't have to be huge. But one act of kindness makes a difference. Let's each do something about it. Let's make a difference.

Maps

The High Holy of Maps - this is a 'rite of passage' picture

For as long as I can remember, maps have been a source of endless fascination for me. Now, it's not like I have hundreds of maps laying about or adorning the walls of my man cave. I have no man cave and I'm too borderline obsessive compulsive to have unfolded maps strewn about. Nor was I so fascinated that I decided to dedicate my life's work to cartography.

That said, maps did me a huge favor from a very early age. They helped me to see that there was a world out there that was far different from the world I knew and I wanted to see it. From time to time, I would pour over maps, figuring out where I would go and how I would get there. I wound up spending a lot of time buried in airline route maps that were embedded in timetables. Yes, I grew up in a day when you had to have a timetable from all the carriers in your hand if you wanted to know when there was a flight to London on a Wednesday. Those were dark days. Let's not speak of it again. As I poured over those maps, I plotted how I'd get to where I wanted to go. My mind ran wild thinking of what I might see and do in those far-off places. I've been very lucky because I've been able to get to most of those places. What an amazing place this world is!

I got to thinking about maps earlier this week on our new favorite day, Thursday, because we heard from The Missionary Formerly Known as The Boy and his letter, now posted on his blog, had a few pictures including the one featured in today's post. He's standing in front of the large map that is found in the MTC and he's pointing to his mission. It's essentially a law from on High that every missionary while in the MTC plants him/herself in front of the map, pointing to their mission, and gets a picture. I did it nearly 30 years ago. On that subject, in one of his notes, Elder Lyons pointed out that he knows the MTC is really old because I was there. Nice.

Anyway, as I looked at this picture of him, it made me think of how his world view is going to change as he gets to Mexico and makes it his home for two years. His world view will change and so will he. I'm excited for him. In spite of the challenges this world faces, it's still an amazing place.