Ideas that Can Change the World...Mark 9:24

There is something about this story that hits me in the heart every time that I read.  Personally, the verse has changed me and it epitomizes what the gospel does for us as individuals.  Because of the impact of this simple statement of faith, I think that its words resonate an idea that can truly change the world.

It may have been a while since you stumbled on this one so let me refresh your memory with the back story.  In this chapter Jesus meets a man who has brought his son that has been cursed with a "dumb spirit".  The father brought the son to the disciples of Jesus to have the spirit cast out but the disciples were not able to do so.  Jesus asked for the son to be brought to him.  Jesus then asks how long the son has been in this condition and the father says that he has been like this since he was a child.  After the father begs for compassion and help from the savior, Jesus teaches him that "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."  And then we read...

 

As a father, there are so many things that hit hard in this one verse.  I think of a struggling father who has felt years of pain and agony as he has watched his son suffer.  I think of the hope that he had harbored, believing in the miracles that he had heard Christ and his disciples performing.  Then I picture the man straightway crying out, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief".

What a tremendous example this man is to me.  Too often, I think I become somewhat complacent in my own faith and testimony of what I know to be true.  I sometimes think that I am living off of "borrowed light" or spiritual strength from experiences in my past.  What this verse teaches me is that I should be going to my God and asking for help in those areas where I lack faith, and there are plenty!  This idea of asking God, through the Atonement of His Son Jesus Christ to help me in "mine unbelief" is a principle of salvation and if we apply this teaching to our lives, we will become better husbands, fathers, and men.  Indeed, this idea can change the world as we know it.

Blowing up the box

Labels are interesting things.  They are pretty much unavoidable.  No matter where you go you are going to have interactions with people and those people are going to make quick snap judgements about who you are.  They will believe that they have you figured out after the very first meeting.  After that they want you to stay inside of the box they just created for you.  The interesting thing about that is we tend not to venture too far from that box for fear of going through the painful labeling process all over again.  So we stay inside the prescribed area trying our hardest to be what they want us to be.

Even more odd than the labels given to us by strangers are the labels we give ourselves.  We spend so much time around other people and feeling like we need to impress those people that we pick up on the labels they might like and we start to live inside the self induced box.

I have the uncomfortable reality right now in my life to be surrounded by all new people.  I have left my friends behind and now am in a strange new place meeting strange new people every day.  So now I am going through the process of being labeled and given the box that people expect me to live in.

Change is good though.  I am forced to either accept what others want me to be,  or try to be what I think they want.  Or we have another choice,  be who we are.  I have learned over my years in service that there isn't a label or box we have to live within to be a positive force in peoples lives.  As long as I remember the one truth,  I am a child of God,  I can be whoever and whatever I want and still do good.  Labels mean nothing as long as I remember that.    So for those of you wanting to know who I am here you go:

I am

1. Punk Rock Listening
2. Skateboarding
3. Loud music jamming
4. Sports loving
5. Sarcastic
6. movie crying
7. General Conference loving
8. fun loving
9. love to laugh 
10. lullaby singing
11. kid loving
12. story reading
13. homework helping
14. hug and kiss giving
15. husband 
16. father
17. Gospel loving
18. scripture reading 
19. God loving
20. Wife loving
21. Son of God

I am sure there are some labels people want to add to the list that I can't print on this G rated blog.  Being different is good.  We don't have to fall in line. Those things that make us unique are what makes the Gospel work.  Those experiences that make us unique are what has the real impact in peoples lives.  Those things that make us unique are what makes people either embrace us or move on.  It's OK if people move on and don't want what you are,  such is life.  We don't need to sell out who we are and what are life experiences were in order to fit inside of a box.  The only thing that matters is that we stay true to being Children of God and the teachings of the Gospel.  If we can do this everything else will fall in line.