Month: July 2020

War and God

Jeanne 2 Comments

This is the title of an article written for “The Stars And Stripes” newspaper, printed by the New York Herald and distributed to servicemen in the army and navy. The date on the newspaper is Monday, Dec. 25, 1944.

I don’t know why Dad saved pages 3-6 of this paper, but, there it was, in his army scrapbook. The book contains a plethora of memorabilia from his tour in Germany with Patton’s 3rd army. He was an auto mechanic in an artillery battery.

I’v seen this paper many times, but never paused to read it, until last night. Oddly enough, I was drawn immediately to this article in the small section reserved for comments from the GI’s. This one by a Pvt. James A. Decker, quoted now:

“Many suggestions have been made relative to the achievement of a lasting peace when this conflict is over, but one of the best considers religion of paramount importance.

Religion is a potent force in the world today, and it should continue to play a leading role in world affairs in the future. Without a strict adherence to religious ideals, the world cannot hope to avert another war in a generation or so.

As we prepare to observe another Christmas Day we cannot help but wish that the whole world would be reconciled to God and there would be peace among men. Instead of men living in harmony with one another we see human beings destroying other human beings. Bitter hatreds and various destructive influences such as Nazism and Fascism abound in the world today, attempting to undermine our spiritual foundations. Even in our own america, which has always symbolized equality and tolerance, we fine racial and religious antipathies.

The eradication of these hatreds and the substitution of Christian ideals is absolutely necessary if nations are to be at peace with one another. As long as hateful germs thrive and are propagated, then the recurrence of another war is inevitable.

The renunciation of Christianity by a large portion of the world has been a major contributing cause of the present war. Only by a return to the teachings of Christ can we hope to have a genuine peace in our time.”

Don’t Rest Too Long

Jeanne 2 Comments 
Don't rest too long, along life's song, or you may cease to grow.
Continue on, with heart and song; our Lord's light lifts our soul.

These are strange times, and often cause me great reflection. Most of the time, I feel very disconnected and isolated, and I sometimes wonder if I use the pandemic as a reason to retreat; an excuse to not reach out or communicate. In the beginning of it all, I reasoned that all of us could use this time to plan for a ‘new normal’ that would be ever-so-much better than the old one. We should do that, but as time has progressed, I see much more division and lack of unity and compassion. At first, we seemed eager to help each other out, but now that’s been replaced by a lot of anger and intolerance.

I don’t know for sure what all that means. I’m just trying to keep the family safe and free from the often devastating consequences of the virus. I try to keep fear at bay. I have contemplated ‘faith’ a lot lately, and have come to the conclusion that you can’t have real faith unless you have an eternal perspective, a real vision of who we really are and why we are here in the first place, and what is the purpose of all this….

I treasure your comments. I welcome them. I beg for them. Let’s connect.

I have found the best way to fortify faith is to read the Book of Mormon!

July 24 marked 173 years since the pioneers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. I think we can best commemorate and celebrate that by being pioneers ourselves.

To be an example. To be a leader.

As in a children’s song—“You don’t have to push a handcart, leave your family dear, or walk a thousand miles or so, to be a pioneer. You do have to have great courage. Faith to conquer fear, and fight with might for a cause that’s right, to be a pioneer.”…or something close to that.

There is a wealth of videos, thoughts, and positive helps in these troubled times by logging onto lds.org

Anxiety

Jeanne 1 Comment

So, like many of you, I’ve been feeling anxious about all this COVID-19 stuff: hospital capacities, new cases, schools starting, face masks, social distancing, etc. Everybody has an opinion, and the more I hear, the more anxious I become. One of my friends posted a comment on face book that helped. She said she expressed fears about the future of our nation, and, her friend responded that there is no sense in becoming frantic over situations that we have no control over; instead, focus on the good things around us, on the things we CAN control, like our love, and the happiness within our spere.

And then I listened to ‘Music and the Spoken Word’. It was a pre-recodred program commemorating 90 years of public broadcasting, and they opened the program by singing, “The Morning Breaks, the Shadow Flee”…

You can hear it (I can’t seem to post it) on thetabernaclechoir.org and choose #4739

Below is the script of today’s broadcast. I found it to be encouraging and comforting.

july12Download

IN EVERY SOUL

Jeanne 2 Comments 
In every soul is a piece of ourselves, if we look with eyes to see.
If we listen with ears that hear, we learn to grow more free.
Only those who strive to know another's heart and mind
Will ever find the pearls of truth that help us love mankind.

Those who judge another's ways before they strive to see,
Walk in blindness to others light that help our souls grow free.
Please, Dear Lord, give us the strength to listen with mind and heart
And overcome our vanity so we can learn Thy art.

Some souls teach us what NOT to do as we go through our life,
And show show us where NOT to go while going through our strife.
"We shall know them by their fruits," are words the Master said.
"Judge not least ye be judged," adorns each true seekers head.

So when we see another who is different from ourselves,
Let's take the time to search for pearls & increase our own true wealth.
Only then can we grow from all we choose to see.
Each soul of God on this earth can add to you and me.