I'm not even sure that the change that is needed is in the church, maybe I am the one who needs to change. Some things here are by-the-book but most things are the spirit-of-the-law. I've been noticing lots of differences, the most being the lack of commitment. The same five families do most of the work it seems, which is very sad. Then I started to realize that maybe the reason the same five families do everything is because they do not LIKE how anybody else would do them.
I've come to realize that I do have a purpose here and that any change will be slow in coming - both in me and in the circumstances. As I drove home from church today, I had 30 minutes to ponder what had happened at church today. I realized that I had already been thinking about the solution during sacrament meeting, before anything had even come to the surface. I still need to stand tall as an example on moral and ethical standards that are universal to the church regardless of culture. Even if that does not make me popular or well liked. How I go about doing this is still unclear, but hopefully the Lord will provide me with that knowledge along the way.
My last thought was that culture is important. I thought about The Other Side of Heaven when the missionary gets to the islands and realizes that many of his efforts are ineffective to the local populace. He adapts his style and proves he is "one of them", making his teaching effective.
The question is then...what is the answer? Do I need to change to the local culture or does the current thinking here need to change? Since this area seems to be different even than other mid-west states it makes me wonder...
I heard something wonderful yesterday at church and thought of it again when I read your post. Our Stake President asked a young man if he was satisfied and challenged in his calling as a stake clerk. He replied, "No, it's not challenging to me but there are other ways I can be challenged. I don't have to have a calling to reach out to my neighbor, I don' have to have a calling to serve someone in need, I don't have to have a calling to build up the ward." Subsequently he was released and called to be the Elders Quorm president :) But I found it so profound for me. I've been stuck in Primary and Scouts for too long and feel very disconnected with the ward, but I don't have to have a calling to reach out to other sisters in the primary who feel the way that I do. I don't have to have a calling to be a better visiting teacher. I don't have to have a calling to do service for the elderly in our ward. I can just go and do because there are things that need to be done. I hope you find your answers!
ReplyDeleteWow. That is a real conundrum! I just know that you are making a difference for good, wherever you are and however you serve. Hang in there, and be sure to love while you stand for truth. You are awesome! {{{hugs}}}
ReplyDeleteBuzy Bee - Thanks for the reminder that there are so many ways to serve and make a difference in my ward, neighborhood, and community. I need to remember that not everything is through my calling in YW.
ReplyDeleteMama Rachel - I appreciate your reminder of "love". I sometimes come across harsher than I mean to, so this is an area that I can surely improve on. In fact, I have not said or done much out of worry about how I am coming across. I also know that example is what makes a larger statement than what I say.
The thought that comes to my mind, is that the reason for your being there is two fold...one part of the reason is so that you can lead and guide, serve, be an example, help affect change in others. The other part, is so that others can lead and guide you, serve you and yours, be an example and help affect change in you. And I'm not saying that those changes will be because you lower your standards of truth or relax your faith in the gospel, but rather that those changes might come, as a result of having your faith and your commitment to the gospel challenged in the ways you have mentioned. Heavenly Father knows you completely, and He knows your testimony! He will sustain you, as you stay true to what you know is right! He will also sustain you, as you allow yourself to be an instrument in His hands!
ReplyDeleteYou are such an inspiration to me! I KNOW that others are watching your example and that they are learning from you, as I am...even if you sometimes feel like you are walking the road alone! My favorite words to live by..."Keep on Keepin' On!"
Hugs and Blessings, Celeste!
I am praying for you! :0)