Necessary Pain

When we are Living in Truth we jettison all Unnecessary Pain, but we can still expect to encounter Necessary Pain. Necessary Pain will always be part of a mortal world. But unlike Unnecessary Pain, when we encounter Necessary Pain and endure it well there are actually benefits and blessings that come to us. Research has shown that strong emotional events such as a death of a close friend or family member, a child who does something wrong, or even life events that also have a positive side to them such as sending a child away to serve a mission while painful can lead to deeper self-awareness and to spiritual and physical well-being if we endure them well.

None of us go through life without stress, loss, or sadness. Those are Necessary Pains in life. But if we turn to the Savior in prayer and scripture study, patiently wait to be healed, and accept what’s happened, we learn more about ourselves and about life.

We all know that when we’re experiencing Necessary Pain, it feels like it will never end. But the Savior uses time to help us heal so that we again begin to feel the happiness in life. When we experience this it becomes for us the greatest miracle the Savior has ever performed.

Telestial Cultural Shock

I’m excited about all the comments you’ve left about what you are grateful for. Just reading them fills me with good, positive feelings. Thanks.

I’ve been very busy the last two weeks. I am starting another series of the Living in Truth Workshops. This time I’ve developed a four-page handout to go with the classes and I think it will help to convey the ideas better. I do appreciate all the comments and suggestions all of you have given me that have helped me refine these principles. Thank you.

One of the first people to read a rough draft of a chapter and offer suggestions was my son-in-law, Ferg. In the chapter I explained how sometimes in life we feel a strange disconnect or dissonance that is difficult to explain. For example, one of the things that causes this disconnect is time. Sometimes time goes so fast and other times it goes so slow, but if you stop and ponder on time, it seems like an unnatural thing. I think the reason is that our spirits lived a long time in a state where time did not exist and now as we travel through this mortal world based upon time, it isn’t natural to us. It is like a fish being out of water.

After Ferg read this chapter he sent me a note saying that he called these kinds of experiences Telestial Cultural Shock. I loved that phrase! It summed it all up so well, and it is now part of the book. As you go through your week, pay attention to the things you encounter that are part of a Telestial world that will not be part of a Celestial world. There are many and it is a good exercise to recognize them for what they are. As you discover them, leave a comment about what you discover.

The Blessing of Time

Happy new day! Isn’t time wonderful! Yes, it has its down side, there is never enough of it and it goes way too fast. But, let’s concentrate on the good stuff. Time is cyclical. Day follows night and night follows day and day follows night. Likewise, Monday will come again and so will April and another year will begin. Why am I excited about this? Because it means we get a new start each day. Even if yesterday was a terrible day, today is new. No matter what happened last week or last month or last year, you get to live in today and it is all new!
Think of one wonderful thing you want to do today and do it. Don’t let your mind wander into the past. The past is gone. In the past, you may have been unhappy or hurt or frightened or any other negative thing, but unless you bring that negative baggage with you into today, it is over. Think about that for a minute. The past is over. Today is new. You may have been the victim of some terrible thing at one time, but unless you continue to relive it over and over in your head, you are no longer a victim. Time has moved on and it is over. Rejoice! Shout for joy!
Celebrate today by doing something wonderful. Smell the lilacs. Soak up the sun or feel the rain on your checks (which ever is available to you today). Really taste your breakfast cereal. Feel the silkiness of a toddler’s hair in your hand. Listen to the birds sing. Breathe deep and experience the air filling your lungs. Call a friend just to listen to the music in her voice. Sing your favorite song. What ever you choose to do, be present. Don’t let your mind wander into the past. Stay present–experience today in all its wonder.
Time really is amazing. No matter what last winter brought you, this is a new spring and there is going to be another summer. If you let go of the past, you can enjoy the present.