Should We Be Reflectors?

Ok, here goes nothing. You have often heard space described as dark. You look into the night sky and see millions of little white dots surrounded by endless black. It would seem that most of space is empty. Stars and planets are millions of miles apart and the rest of space is empty, right? I disagree. Space if full of light. If you were to put a heavenly body (by this I mean anything that has mass and is floating in space) into space, it would be illuminated. You would be able to see it, would you not? Isn't that what the moon is? The moon does not produce light, it is simply an entity in space. We see it very brightly, however, because light is reflecting off of it. Well, in order for light to be reflecting off of the moon, logic and reason would tell us that the light was there before, it just wasn't reflecting off of anything and, thus, we couldn't see it.

The same logic would apply to the earth and all the other planets. Why can we see Mars from earth? Mars does not produce light. Why could the astronauts take a picture of the earth from space? The earth does not produce light. Let's say for a moment that the earth were 4 million miles further away from the sun, would it still be visible from a space shuttle? Of course it would! Regardless of where we put the earth, light from the sun is still going to reflect off it and make it "visible".

So, space is full of light, but that light is imperceptible unless it is reflecting off something. Is that true? I believe so. On earth, everything we see is only light reflected off an object with mass. Even the sky is light reflecting off our atmosphere. Light is everywhere, but cannot be perceived without objects to reflect off of.

I believe this has a gospel parallel. We often hear Christ referred to as the Light of the World. I think Christ's love is an extension of this light analogy. As we just discussed, light is everywhere. It fills all of space. Light, however, is imperceptible without reflectors. Likewise, Christ's love is manifested through His faithful followers. We are the "reflectors" that make the Light perceptible to those who see the world as a dark void.

I'd love to hear thoughts, rebuttals, and/or other parallels about this thought. What do you think?

Jesse

It's been a while since my last post. That happens. Sorry.

Jesse is the next in line. He turns 22 on July 22. He's living in Provo and working at Andy Anderson's shop. Trying to describe Jesse in a few paragraphs is going to be very hard, so I'll try and capture at least the biggest things, according to me.

Jesse walks his own path. He'll never do something just because everyone else is doing it, for better or worse. He'll think it through, and choose for himself. He is not easily influenced by the opinion's of others. If I had to, I would designate Jesse as the most fiery sibling. He can have a short temper, but also has a heart of gold. He always has the back of the people he cares about the most. There are few people I would rather have on my side in a fight than Jesse.

Jesse is one of my best friends. We've been playing basketball together for so many years I lost track. Watching Jesse play basketball brings me so much happiness. He plays the game the same way he does everything else, at an energy level unmatchable by most humans. He's in on every rebound, every fastbreak, and all over the floor defensively. We call him the matrix because he's everywhere. It's not that he doesn't get tired, he just doesn't slow down when he does like everyone else. He can push himself further when he's tired than most people I know.

Jesse's a deep thinker. I love talking to him because I often leave with a different point of view on something. He often provides angles that I had left unexamined. I appreciate that a lot. It is my opinion that most people suck at thinking. Jesse is not one of those people. While we don't agree on everything, he thinks a lot and I love it. I actually think the fact that we don't agree on everything as evidence that we both think past the surface. At some point past the surface, our thoughts took a different fork and ended up at different destinations, but the process was the same.

Jesse is also one of the most loyal people I know. He and Matt Nielsen have been best friends since forever. When they were younger, you'd never find one without the other. They're a bit older now, and they may not always be physically together, but they are fiercely loyal. They would do anything for the other and they know it. They are the best friends I know. Seeing their friendship inspires me to be a better friend.

Do I really get to be with them forever?!

I love my family. I've been thinking about them lately. I know, they only live in Springville, and I in Provo, but sometimes I miss them. I don't get to see them as often as I'd like, that's for sure. I was looking through some pictures of them recently and laughed and missed and pined.

I won't do this all at once, but I'm gonna write about each member of my family. Who they are. Why I love them. Things I've learned from them. These types of things. I'll start at the youngest.

My younger brother Jaden is one of the best people I know. I only know three other people who are as unaffected by others' opinions, and they're all in my family too. He is 17 years old. He'll be 18 in July. He graduates from Springville High in May.

I get to go to his eagle court of honor tonight. He's had it mostly done for years now, but he finally finished it in true slow-bro fashion. The world just spins at a different pace for Jaden. That's one of the things I love most about him. He thinks for himself.

He loves few things as much as he loves basketball. You can try and credit three older brothers who also love it, but a love like Jaden has for it only comes from playing in the backyard until the sun tells you it's time to quit. I can't even count tell you how many times I come home and find Jaden in the backyard shooting all by himself. The kid loves basketball. He plays every chance he gets.

Another thing he loves is sleep. He loves it so much he sleeps through three alarms, fifteen rousings by my mom, and sometimes even from Aunt Liza. It's incredible. He was the only eight year old I've ever heard of that didn't want to get up on Christmas morning. He definitely gets this from my dad. The kid loves to sleep, and is dang good at it.

The kid also loves to have fun. He's one of the funniest, wittiest people I know. His jokes usually aren't loud, and if you're not careful you'll miss them, but I laugh harder at his than almost anyone's. He rarely misses out on a good time, because he's usually at the center of a good time.

He's only 17 and a half, but Jaden just gets it. He has his priorities straight and he just does what's right. He seems to have it figured out much quicker than most. He's quiet about it, but his actions show where his heart is. Family is a top priority to him. He'd rather spend time with his family than just about anything else. I've learned a lot from him in this regard. He came out to visit me with my mom in D.C. He's at every significant event of every family member. If he never said a word, and he doesn't normally share feelings like this, you'd know exactly how he felt about his family.

It's awesome to have a brother who's 8 years younger than you that teaches you how to be a man. I've learned a ton from Jaden, and I'm sure that will only continue. I tell everyone he's one of my best friends, and he is. There are few people I would rather spend time with than Jaden, and few may be too many. His ability to care for others inspires me. After all, he's the one that came up with our family motto, "Take care of each other". I want to be like him when I grow up.

Who's got two thumbs and loves holidays?

This guy!

I love the day off of school and work! You get to catch up on things that you haven't had time to do for a long time. It's wonderful. I have been studying, yes, but it's at home. I don't have to walk up to campus once today. I don't have to go to work. I don't have to leave my bedroom if I don't want to. I have, but only because I decided to. I have no obligations today :)

I would hate this for an extended period of time, but a day every now and then is one of my favorite things in the world. I love holidays!

A timeout for some Jazz

I can't believe I haven't already commented on this. The Utah Jazz are currently on a 9 game winning streak! They haven't lost since early January. When their streak began, they were in 11th place in the west and the playoffs were a serious question, maybe even in doubt. They are now solidly in third place in the west, one game out of second!

As I've watched bits and pieces of games, and studied box scores, there are a few things that stand out:

First, assists. The Jazz lead the league in assists per game. They average right around 27 assists every single game they play! That's incredible. Most games a team only makes about 35-40 shots, so for a team to assist on 27 of those shots is the epitome of team basketball. It's hard to beat a team that shares the ball that much.

Second, Andrei Kirilenko is playing like the all-star he was in the early 2000s. The guy is everywhere. His defense is back. He's scoring nearly 20 points a game during their streak. He's getting steals and blocks. Before the Clippers game last night he was shooting 82% from the field over the last eight games!! 82%!! Are you kidding me!? So, despite his best attempts to look like Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber, he's playing some incredible basketball.

Third, team defense. The Jazz are actually playing some pretty good team defense lately. I even saw Boozer block a shot the other day! If the Jazz could play solid defense consistently, they could beat anybody, except maybe the Timberwolves. :)

The Jazz have a chance tonight to make it 10 straight by beating the Lakers. This would also help them in the western conference playoff race. GO JAZZ!!!

The Liberating Effect of Forfeiting Liberties

One of my new year's resolutions was to get a 4.0 this semester. I knew this would require a level of focus previously unknown to me. I have, quite possibly, my toughest class load yet. I'm taking 16 credits, working, and trying my best to fulfill my calling. Throw on some dating and basketball and I'm a pretty busy boy.

I sat down at the beginning of the semester and outlined my plan to achieve my goal of a 4.0. Many social activities were cut out. Televised sports have gone by the wayside. My sleeping patterns required rearranging. The library has become my home away from home. The 7th cubicle on the north side of the 5th floor has become my domain.

I worried that it would be difficult to maintain the level of focus I had the first couple weeks of the semester. I was at the library daily. I was ahead in every class and still working further ahead. I agonized over a missed point on a quiz. The result has surprised me. I still study a lot. There are still things I turn down for the sake of my goal. I've found, though, that I feel so much more free using this approach. I can choose which social activities I want to go to the most. I'm not at the mercy of a due date to determine leisure time. By forfeiting certain liberties that I haven't in the past, I feel like I am so much more in control of my life. I've become more free by forfeiting liberties.

This surprised me. It shouldn't. This is exactly how the gospel works. Heavenly Father gives us commandments to direct our focus. Yes, these commandments require us to give up certain things. Some liberties are removed by our desire to keep His commandments. There are weeks that I want to stay home and watch the NFL playoffs rather than go to church. There are nights that I don't want to go to institute. There are times when I feel like cussing, usually at myself. There's also no way in the world that I would ever do these things. I've learned over and over again that keeping His commandments makes me free.

I love it when things click in my head.

A difference of opinion

So, I went to the Jazz game last night. Fun game, win number 7 in a row! I love the Jazz. My Jazz love will have to be saved for another post, though. This post is about the ride home.

I went with my dad, my older brother, my youngest brother and a girl he brought. I was driving, my older brother was in the passenger seat, and the other three were in the back. I don't remember how it came up, but we started talking politics and such. My older brother has very opinionated views on all things politics. He has a very dim view of big government and "so-called democracy".

I am an international relations major, so I was unhesitatingly drawn into a debate. I disagree with many of his views, but it was very refreshing to talk to someone with such a different opinion. He wasn't just playing devil's advocate, either. He honestly believed what he was arguing, and I loved it!

I love differing opinions. Especially when you can have a respectful, open debate. I love it when people think for themselves and are willing to question things. Elder Enzio Busche said, "On the road to salvation, let questions arise, but never doubts." That's what I try to do. I love to think things through. I believe there is an immense value in the process of questioning the answers, researching, and coming to your own conclusion.

How many times are we counseled to do that in the scriptures?!

Moroni's promise exhorts us to read, ponder, and ask God. - Moroni 10:3-5

"You must study it out in your mind, then you must ask [God] if it be right." -D&C 9:8

Those are just a few examples. That is how it's supposed to work. Clarity and answers come as we think, study, and pray. Too often we skip the first two steps and just want the answers given to us. That's not real learning. Real learning takes place in the process, not in the answer.

Here's a toast to differing opinions!