Weird week! Many much thoughts. Buckle up or go play on facebook instead.
First big idea:
I have become so accustomed to noise! There are long, beautiful, quiet country roads in between little clusters of cities in my area and the other night as I was sitting in the apartment I stopped and realized how much was going on even when no one was talking! There isn't even a tv or radio in that apartment. Lights, AC, refrigerator and who knows what else creates a constant hum. This may seem like a super random observation, but I started thinking about how all of the noise creates comfort sometimes. Even I seem to sleep better when there's a fan going- something to block out the silence and random interjections that may come. Then I started to wonder if I ever do that emotionally or spiritually! Of course the answer is yes. It's so much more scary to handle the reality of questions unanswered. It's much easier to drown out doubt with noise. This week I'm trying to get rid of the extra. If there's a question about purpose of life, why would I listen to what everyone on this side of the planet has to say? Why should I run around in circles? This week is a renewed effort to go to the source with questions and concerns. Clear away the extra.
Second and really big idea:
Last week I mentioned that a man came to church out of the blue. This man ended up becoming quite the problem. Since after 8 months of emailing I assume only those who really care are still reading these, I'll be frank. He quickly turned slightly obsessive and after a little research, we discovered he wasn't being taught in his home area because he's a registered child molester. Clearly everyone deserves a chance to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe that this man is outside of the bounds of the Atonement. There IS such a thing as a wise idea though :) Luckily without too much on our part, by the end of the week he texted us saying he has decided to stick to his Catholic roots. No more problem for the Brockport Sisters.
And yet too late for my mind! I started thinking about the spectrum of insanity. We refer to mental instability in general terms of black and white. But at what point is someone insane? When I'm a little sleepy sometimes I don't think straight. When I'm upset or hungry or prideful I don't do things that a perfectly sane person would. For those who seem to have too much of an imbalance to successfully function in society, what was the purpose of that? It seems that we were put on this Earth with varying degrees of instability. With every punch that life gives out it seems sometimes we move a little further down. Thus the phrase, "You're driving me crazy!" :) I kept thinking about our run-ins this week, wondering when we're allowed to walk away from anyone we meet and label them as "nuts." It seems pretty obvious that sometimes people don't see things clearly, but this is a pretty foggy world. I'm reminded that it's in a foggy world that the beacon of light- even the Savior of all the world- stands out more clearly. Maybe it's those who are a little nuts who can recognize Him the best.
The members in Brockport are super kind! We are being taken care of well, so no worries about anything. There are a ton of anti-mormons in the area which has been interesting, but I guess there's a balance to everything. This week we realized that the area of Brockport is a third of the Rochester zone, and the Rochester zone is a fourth of the Rochester Mission. Whew! And we've got a pretty busy day planned so I think that might be all for this week. Sorry it's so intense.
Love love,
Hermana Ray
Random extras:
-We don't have bed bugs and everyone else does! Poor souls
-Sister Wall is seriously the best. AND she knows some ASL so while we walk we alternate between her teaching me ASL and me teaching her Spanish! It's great
First big idea:
I have become so accustomed to noise! There are long, beautiful, quiet country roads in between little clusters of cities in my area and the other night as I was sitting in the apartment I stopped and realized how much was going on even when no one was talking! There isn't even a tv or radio in that apartment. Lights, AC, refrigerator and who knows what else creates a constant hum. This may seem like a super random observation, but I started thinking about how all of the noise creates comfort sometimes. Even I seem to sleep better when there's a fan going- something to block out the silence and random interjections that may come. Then I started to wonder if I ever do that emotionally or spiritually! Of course the answer is yes. It's so much more scary to handle the reality of questions unanswered. It's much easier to drown out doubt with noise. This week I'm trying to get rid of the extra. If there's a question about purpose of life, why would I listen to what everyone on this side of the planet has to say? Why should I run around in circles? This week is a renewed effort to go to the source with questions and concerns. Clear away the extra.
Second and really big idea:
Last week I mentioned that a man came to church out of the blue. This man ended up becoming quite the problem. Since after 8 months of emailing I assume only those who really care are still reading these, I'll be frank. He quickly turned slightly obsessive and after a little research, we discovered he wasn't being taught in his home area because he's a registered child molester. Clearly everyone deserves a chance to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe that this man is outside of the bounds of the Atonement. There IS such a thing as a wise idea though :) Luckily without too much on our part, by the end of the week he texted us saying he has decided to stick to his Catholic roots. No more problem for the Brockport Sisters.
And yet too late for my mind! I started thinking about the spectrum of insanity. We refer to mental instability in general terms of black and white. But at what point is someone insane? When I'm a little sleepy sometimes I don't think straight. When I'm upset or hungry or prideful I don't do things that a perfectly sane person would. For those who seem to have too much of an imbalance to successfully function in society, what was the purpose of that? It seems that we were put on this Earth with varying degrees of instability. With every punch that life gives out it seems sometimes we move a little further down. Thus the phrase, "You're driving me crazy!" :) I kept thinking about our run-ins this week, wondering when we're allowed to walk away from anyone we meet and label them as "nuts." It seems pretty obvious that sometimes people don't see things clearly, but this is a pretty foggy world. I'm reminded that it's in a foggy world that the beacon of light- even the Savior of all the world- stands out more clearly. Maybe it's those who are a little nuts who can recognize Him the best.
The members in Brockport are super kind! We are being taken care of well, so no worries about anything. There are a ton of anti-mormons in the area which has been interesting, but I guess there's a balance to everything. This week we realized that the area of Brockport is a third of the Rochester zone, and the Rochester zone is a fourth of the Rochester Mission. Whew! And we've got a pretty busy day planned so I think that might be all for this week. Sorry it's so intense.
Love love,
Hermana Ray
Random extras:
-We don't have bed bugs and everyone else does! Poor souls
-Sister Wall is seriously the best. AND she knows some ASL so while we walk we alternate between her teaching me ASL and me teaching her Spanish! It's great
-We acquired a plant named Bernie! Someone we talked to on the street was gardening and had some extra little guys so she offered us one!
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