Only An Arms Length Away

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we build a relationship with Christ. We have countless lessons and talks in sacrament meeting about walking with Christ and building a relationship with Him. We talk about reading the scriptures so we can learn Christ's attributes, we talk about praying to develop His attributes, fasting and praying to become more like Him. All of these things are immensely important we cannot draw closer to someone we do not know, we cannot claim to know someone if we do not understand their character. Yet I can know many different aspects of a persons character, their likes and dislikes and stories about their life and still not have a relationship with them. And when our leaders are talking about and exhorting us to walk with Christ or come to know Him I have a feeling they are really saying that we need to develop a relationship with Him, we need to know, not just be familiar with the idea, that He is our advocate with the Father, we need to feel the power of the Atonement in our lives daily, not just be aware that centuries ago He suffered in a garden for each of us. We need to know that His power is actively working in our lives daily whether we encourage it or not.

 We need to know that we have an ally in every aspect of our lives, not just sin, not just joy, not just the great despairs in our lives, no we have a friend who actually lived our lives with us, He knows us, not just what we like or dislike or are tempted by or what frustrates us, He knows us. We lived with Him and with our Father in Heaven before we came to this life, they watched our spirits grow, saw what were interested in, saw how we faced temptations and saw how we used our time. They took interest in us, we spent time together, counseled together and learned together. They know what we will do now because they know our spirits and because time doesn't exist for them. They can see our whole lives spread out before them, as we live day to day, they understand why we face what we face, thus they allow us to go through mortality and yet still weep with us in the moment, even knowing tomorrow will be brighter, they know now hurts so they hurt with us. We are known brothers and sisters, we are loved, we are cared for.

Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ walked into that Garden for us, knowing us before this life gave Him the strength to enter a garden of pain, of overwhelming emotion, both good and bad, because He wanted to walk this life with us. He knew that we would not completely understand the Atonement, nor use it as completely as we could, yet He chose that pain so that in our times of need we could turn to Him, we could use that love to change our eternity and also to change our every day. The past few weeks have been painful for me, I have felt isolated, unacknowledged, unknown, overwhelmed and not knowing what to do, talking to new mothers I realize I am so not alone in these feelings ( and no this is not an announcement), it felt like no matter what I did I was mad, sad, frustrated, lonely or confused and I didn't know what to do. I read books or watched tv late into the night because I just didn't want to think or feel anymore, I wanted to run and hide and yet I realized there was nowhere I could go, these feelings are simply a part of mortality, yet that seemed so unfair, what could I do. I knew academically speaking that the Atonement was real, that I wasn't alone and eventually it would get better, but that seemed really flat. As I have grown older I've come to learn about the many various and unique tools of the adversary and all of a sudden knowing academically wasn't enough, believing something happened two thousand years ago wasn't enough, I needed something more in my loneliness, I needed someone who knew me, who knew my pain and knew the other side of it as well. Someone who wouldn't place blame, or be impatience or get angry. I needed someone who would just be. And when I realized that I realized I already had that I just wasn't using it.

In our meetings we talk about improving prayer and we all talk about we only pray with our whole heart when we are in the low spots in life, when we are really down and can't see a way out. Which I see that pattern in my own life much more than I care to admit, but this isn't what I'm talking about. What I mean is really talking with our Father in Heaven, not pleading with heaven to send a blessing or show us a way out, but just saying "Father that really hurt and I don't know what to do, I feel so alone and so confused and so lost, where do I go from here?" It is an out pouring of thought, emotion, random ideas, confusion and eventually hope. Our intercessor with the father already understands all of these things and is simply waiting for us to give them voice. He walks this life with us, but He will never impede our agency, He waits for our acknowledgment to walk nearer our heart. He influences our lives daily, with tender mercies, flashes of life, hope, peace, understanding, sending the Spirit to guide us. But to truly walk with Him as an equal partner being as invested in what he wants for us as in what we want for us, that is walking with Christ, that is being real with ourselves, admitting we don't know what to do, sharing fear, concern frustration, worry, hope peace and joy. These last few weeks I learned that I am only as far away from  my father and brother as I force myself to be. The Atonement was meant as a very intimate, personal and daily gift, we have the power to invite that power into our lives everyday, we are not alone, we have the gift of company, we have the Savior we have countless angels surrounding us daily we are not without protection in this temporal world, from both sides of the veil. If only we could see through the veil for just a moment we would see the love and the help there and we would be so much more willing to reach for that help and love, we would access who we are meant to be through the power of the Atonement and that really scares the adversary. If he can keep us isolated, feeling alone and unloved he knows we're stuck, unable to progress. But we are loved and are  helped and are known, so go ahead and scare the adversary today, use your agency and your desire to reach for the love that is only an arms length away.

What times to Live in

First I want to thank all those who check in on this blog, thank you for continuing to come back. Thanks to your support this blog exceeded 5000 views this week, now for some this may seem small, especially for the professionals out there. But for me, someone just getting on to share thoughts and hopefully learn in the process 5000 views sure means a lot. It hopefully means that somewhere down the line someone received what they needed and at the end of the day that is what matters.

Fore ordination is sometimes considered a sticky thing within the church, because many wonder if we are fore ordained where does agency fit in. In an institute class two semesters ago we talked about the pre-mortal life, the war in heaven, the noble and great ones and fore ordination. I would encourage everyone to go to the gospel library, under seminaries and institute and find the Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual. In that manual is an amazing section entitled "The Foreordination of Covenant Israel and Their Responsibilities". I love this manual because it is based completely on scriptures and quotes from prophets and the Quorum of the Twelve. In our class discussion we talked about agency and focused on the fact that our choices in pre-earth life, how we spent our time, what things we chose to learn about and what we focused on blessed us with certain attributes and abilities in our life here. The things we learned about their gave us certain opportunities here. Peter, James and John were chosen as the foremost apostles because they chose to spend their time with the Savior and come to know and understand His divinity then, thus in the New Testament Peter was able to testify of Christ so strongly even though he had only known him a short time in mortality. Because of our agency Heavenly Father gave us opportunities and made covenants with us of things we would do here in this life. Now that does not mean that we will get it right everytime, we don't even remember what covenants we made and we have our agency in this life. Even with all that Peter's spirit knew of the Savior when he was questioned at the trial of Jesus Christ Peter still denied the Savior three times.

Heavenly Father realizes that we will not always get it right, He knows that this mortal life can be distracting and that temporal concerns and affairs can take us away from where and what we want to be. The beautiful aspect of the gospel is that through obedience, purifying our hearts and seeking for righteous desires we can decrease the thickness of the veil and relearn or recognize anew things we once knew and loved. We can become familiar with our Heavenly Father, with our Savior Jesus Christ, we can be reminded of our purpose and be where we need to be to fulfill the covenants we made then. A large part of the purpose of our life on earth is to learn by faith, to come to recognize our Father and Savior with mortal eyes that we once knew with spiritual ones. At times this may feel like an incredibly overwhelming task, how can we do what we cannot remember, how can we do all that our Father has for us? When the Relief Society was organized under Joseph Smith Emma Smith said that "we expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls" by the choices we once made and the choices we make now we prepare to meet those extraordinary occasions and meet the turbulent times in which we live.

We each have a divine purpose and calling, we each worked with our Father in Heaven to decide what we needed in this earth life to reach our fullest potential, we receive strength and power from the Atonement to meet these demands. Our Heavenly Father knew that as mortal beings far from the presence of the Lord we would not always live up to our purpose, He provided a Savior for us that we might keep working and trying to fulfill our purpose.  Our Heavenly Father gives us the opportunity to succor his children, to stand in the gap of others faith and struggle with fear. The Lord allows us to assist in this great work of salvation because he knows that this work also refines us.

I hope that we are not overwhelmed by this great calling, but that we realize our Heavenly Father has prepared us in eons of time to do the work we are called to do. He have provided a Savior to assist us and the Holy Ghost to direct us. We are to work with our father to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, for that is God's work and glory, it is his work to bring us all home again and our purpose to help in this great work. What times to live in and what amazing divine assistance we have to do the work.

The Gardener Here

 For a moment I would like to say that I am so grateful for this land that I live in. I am grateful for Founding Fathers who chose God over the philosophies of man, who fought for liberty and signed their names to a treasonous document that changed the course of the world. I am so thankful for the many men and women who have fought, served and sometimes died for the cause of freedom, Liberty and hope for a brighter tomorrow. I am thankful for a land and freedom that is a gift. (Please see my facebook page for many more Independence Day quotes and themes.)

I began my blogging "career" as a young teenager wanting to tell the world about the amazing history of America and the God given land we have when we live our covenants. That desire petered out rather quickly and that blog became something I only wrote on the 4th of July. This new blog came about because I realized that if I wanted readers I needed to write more than once a year and I needed to write about more than my frustrations that no one my age seemed to care about where we came from (mind you that still does frustrate me sometimes). Sometimes we are taken from the path that we are on, sometimes the Lord takes us from where we think we should be.

Here is another thought for tonight that I found from Hugh B Brown. Sometimes life doesn't go as planned, sometimes we face a curveball we have no idea how to face, sometimes shaking our fist at heave seems like a much more satisfying answer to life, but sometimes we simply need a gentle reminder of who the gardener is.

"Could I tell you just a quick story out of my own experience in life? Sixty-odd years ago I was on a farm in Canada. I had purchased the farm from another who had been somewhat careless in keeping it up. I went out one morning and found a currant bush that was at least six feet high. I knew that it was going all to wood. There was no sign of blossom or of fruit....So I got my pruning shears and went to work on that currant bush, and I clipped it and cut it and cut it down until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps.

And as I looked at them, I yielded to an impulse, which I often have, to talk with inanimate things and have them talk to me... As I looked at this little clump of stumps, there seemed to be a tear on each one, and I said, “What’s the matter, currant bush? What are you crying about?”

And I thought I heard that currant bush speak. It seemed to say, “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as large as the fruit tree and the shade tree, and now you have cut me down. And all in the garden will look upon me with contempt and pity. How could you do it? I thought you were the gardener here.”

I thought I heard that from the currant bush. I thought it so much that I answered it.

I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. If I let you go the way you want to go, you will never amount to anything. But someday, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to think back and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”

Ten years passed, and I found myself in Europe. I had made some progress in the First World War in the Canadian army. In fact, I was a field officer, and there was only one man between me and the rank of general, which I had cherished in my heart for years. Then he became a casualty. And the day after, I received a telegram from London from General Turner, who was in charge of all Canadian officers. The telegram said, “Be in my office tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”

I puffed up. I called my special servant. (We called them “batmen” over there.) I said, “Polish my boots and my buttons. Make me look like a general, because I am going up tomorrow to be appointed.”

He did the best he could with what he had to work on, and I went to London. I walked into the office of the general. I saluted him smartly, and he replied to my salute as higher officers usually do to juniors—sort of a “Get out of the way, worm.” Then he said, “Sit down, Brown.”

I was deflated. I sat down. And he said, “Brown, you are entitled to this promotion, but I cannot make it. You have qualified and passed the regulations, you have had the experience, and you are entitled to it in every way, but I cannot make this appointment.”

Just then he went into the other room to answer a phone call, and I did what most every officer and man in the army would do under those circumstances: I looked over on his desk to see what my personal history sheet showed. And I saw written on the bottom of that history sheet in large capital letters: “THIS MAN IS A MORMON.”

Now at that time we were hated heartily in Britain, and I knew why he couldn’t make the appointment. Finally he came back and said, “That’s all, Brown.”

I saluted him, less heartily than before, and went out. On my way back to Shorncliffe, 120 kilometers away, I thought every turn of the wheels that clacked across the rails was saying, “You’re a failure. You must go home and be called a coward by those who do not understand.”

And bitterness rose in my heart until I arrived, finally, in my tent, and I rather vigorously threw my cap on the cot, together with my Sam Browne belt. I clenched my fist, and I shook it at heaven, and I said, “How could you do this to me, God? I’ve done everything that I knew how to do to uphold the standards of the Church. I was making such wonderful growth, and now you’ve cut me down. How could you do it?”

And then I heard a voice. It sounded like my own voice, and the voice said, “I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to be. If I let you go the way you want to go, you will never amount to anything. And someday, when you are ripened in life, you are going to shout back across the time and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”

Those words—which I recognize now as my words to the currant bush and that had become God’s word to me—drove me to my knees, where I prayed for forgiveness for my arrogance and my ambition.

My young friends and brothers and sisters, will you remember that little experience that changed my whole life? Had the Gardener not taken control and done for me what was best for me, or if I had gone the way I wanted to go, I would have returned to Canada as a senior commanding officer of western Canada. I would have raised my family in a barracks. My six daughters would have had little chance to marry in the Church. I myself would probably have gone down and down. I do not know what might have happened, but this I know, and this I say to you and to Him in your presence, looking back over sixty years: “Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down.”" Hugh B Brown

We Each Could Use a Bit More of that Love

Sometimes the hatred I see around me just makes me hurt. I see Clinton supporters pointing fingers at Berny supporters, pointing fingers at Trump who is pointing fingers at everyone. I just saw a shirt that said, roughly, "when people complain about the current generation I want to tell them to think about who raised that generation." It seems as if people keep pointing fingers because no one dares slow down enough to really think about what is at stake and what is really going on. If you keep people on edge long enough they'll forget how to slow down, start listening, realize there are commonalities with the people around them and start building bridges not burn them.

I was at a local rodeo the other day and felt my heart start to race just a little bit as I saw the flag flapping in the wind as an attendant came galloping in on her horse. My heart raced again as I heard the music singing for our veterans. There has been much talk of late about lying, deceit, poor reasons, hatred and bigotry concerning the wars the U.S has fought, it seems like every time I turn around I see someone logically trying to point out why I am wrong, narrow minded, full of hate or just plain stupid for living my faith.

Life is too short and overwhelming to spend our lives trying to point out the negative and the different. It's interesting how we humans can help a random person on the street and then go and typecast that person as part of a group that you can never see eye to eye with. Perhaps as humans we need to take the time to realize that each person is an individual with their own heartaches, frustrations, joys and triumphs. Each of us on this earth were sent here to learn, grow and progress, that will look different for everyone. Each of us sat down in a personal interview with our Heavenly Father, we talked about what we would face here and what we would need to to do to return to Him. We realized there were no guarantees, but that we would have help along the way. Because we don't know the path we each agreed to we cannot judge others whether they have left their path or not. We cannot pass judgement nor even think about it, because we have our own role and purpose here on this earth. Hopefully part of that path and role involves sharing the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and our dear Father in Heaven, because we each could use a bit more of that love.

There are many times I have forgotten that, I've forgotten that the path I have chosen isn't for everyone and more importantly isn't perfect, is not without flaw or hurt sometimes, but that is what humanity is all about, sometimes we fumble, sometimes we hurt, sometimes we speak without thinking, but we ask for forgiveness and we give forgiveness and we just just keep trying.

We are so Very Loved

On this beautiful Sunday morning I was pondering on Father's day and the importance of fathers. My dad taught me how to love studying the gospel. My mom taught me faith and how to believe in a loving Heavenly Father. My dad taught me to enjoy searching out the things of God and making them a part of my life. He's probably one of the reasons I took so many of the institute classes I did, I wanted to learn what he has learned throughout his life. Many Sundays we would gather as a family and he would pull out a book from his ample collection of early church history and we would read and discuss the doctrine. As he has grown and matured he has taught me what it means to sacrifice what we want now for what really matters later, as well as always putting your family first. My dad always worked so hard, in his career, his church calling and around our house. He has taught me a work ethic that continues to bless my life.

If my earthly father, with all the imperfections we mortals have has taught me all of this, what has my Heavenly Father taught and done for me? As I pondered this morning I thought about my Heavenly Father who offered his son as a sacrifice for sin, He allowed Jesus Christ to suffer mockery, isolation, pain and fear so that we could be saved and returned to Him. He loves us so much He left his son alone in a garden to undergo the Atonement so that our Savior would know how to succor us in that isolation. Our sinless Savior understands what it is to feel separated from God because in His darkest hour His father, our Father in Heaven in pain and mourning left our Savior to face the agony of sin and mortality alone. Our Father in heaven created this earth that we might come here to face the extremities of mortality and learn to choose Him even when we can't see Him. He knew that some would not be able to make it back, but He knew we were halted in our progress if we stayed safe and sound with Him. So he sent us here to prove us herewith and give us the keys to eternal life.
 

Our mortal fathers are much the same way, they realize at some point that we each must leave the nest and try our wings. I'm grateful for the role of all the fathers in my life. Men and gods who have given up so much to see me happy, healthy and well taken care of. The role of father is so imperative in the life of a child. I'm so very thankful for so many men who step forward to live that role courageously, for their many sleepless nights wondering how they will provide for their families and so many long hours making sure they do. Sometimes I wonder how many sleepless nights the Lord has seen us through and our Father in Heaven still metaphorically goes through with each of us. No matter our situation or circumstance we are so very loved.

What are we holding onto?

 I've been dealing with some inner turmoil the last week or two, turmoil that most people in the middle of transitions face. I'm just really struggling with loving my body in its current state and loving my purpose, because right now I'm feeling very stuck. Each time I bring something new to the Lord he tells me to wait. With the summer half over (ish) and trying to figure out which future I am to build I'm feeling very much at loose ends. I'd so love to go on and get my masters and eventually do my PHD. I'd love to do research to my hearts content, late evening discussions about religion, education, toleration, perceptions of others and class. If not that then perhaps a phlebotomist or a job coach. Yet each new thought is met with a "just wait". My response to that just wait is, "what then"? You'd think about waiting nine months for a mission call, two years and 4 months for a wedding and seven years to graduate with a bachelors you'd think I'd be better with waiting. When I pause long enough between jumping from idea to idea I realize that Heavenly Father already has my future in motion. I think back to every job I've had so far in my life and somehow each time I have found myself in need of employment, the right opportunity always presented itself right when I needed. I need to have that same sort of faith now. Heavenly Father has a way of making all things right, but we need to give him the time to do so.

The other part of my mind that is causing me pain is seeing the wickedness in the world and feeling so powerless to stop or fix it. Every time I turn on the computer I am bombarded by wicked intent. Whether the news and hearing about a shooting or hate crime, or youtube and having nudity on adds when I'm trying to watch Studio C. In a world that seems full of chaos Satan would have us feel that we are powerless, that we are suffering bystanders that must simply watch as our world goes crazy. I don't know that any number of petitions or facebook posts with change minds. Though doing those things shows the Lord we will stand for truth and righteousness in all things and places and is an important part of us remaining un-spotted from the world. Just as important as those things is to realize that us holding that what is sacred dear to ourselves and keeping the faith and cultivating hope that this chaos and wickedness is just a small moment is also so important for our spiritual stamina. I so love these lines from Return of the King that remind us there are good things to hold onto.

FRODO: I can’t do this, Sam.
SAM: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened.
But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.
FRODO: What are we holding on to, Sam?
SAM: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

In a world of hatred, confusion, fear, name calling and subliminal messaging what are we holding onto? We are holding onto a God in heaven who loves us, a Savior who atoned for us, a plan we supported before coming to this earth and a purpose we've covenanted to fulfill. The darkness may seem overpowering, but there is a light shining, it is filling the whole earth and the Lord's kingdom will come off conqueror. What are we holding onto? We are holding onto faith that there will be a brighter tomorrow, that God is in his heaven and all is well in the world. We are known, we are loved and we are never left alone.

The Race

Today has been a very powerful day for me as I have begun to realize just how important family truly is. I have always loved Memorial Day, wandering through the cemetery and learning the stories of my ancestors, those coming from across the sea for love of the Gospel, some almost losing their children for it. Yet after attending the funeral of my great uncle on Friday and reading the life story of my own grandpa today I'm realizing these aren't just stories of men and women from long ago that are interesting to pass down, no these are the stories of great men who sacrificed much for their country and the gospel and who have faced so much tribulation with a smile on their face. 

I have some very amazing great aunts who wanted to make sure that I knew who their brother (my grandfather) was even though he died when I was too young to remember him. Today I learned about his dedication to his callings, his love of farming and his desire to remain out of debt. I learned about a man who suffered through multiple bouts of cancer and lymphoma, who almost missed his youngest sons wedding due to radiation treatments, but because of the love and effort of so many, especially his wife that he made it to the sealing. I learned of a husband and wife who dedicated themselves completely to each other, who worked and served whole-heartedly in the hopes of somehow lightening the burden of the other. I learned of giving everything you have to overcome obstacles and to keep laughing, even when you fall and break your back.

Reading this story I saw quite a few parallels with my own life, perhaps not the exact experiences, but relatable feelings and even I have a back with its own set of special issues. We all have trials and tribulations, things that make us hurt, things that seem tax us, things that can overwhelm us. Reading how my dear grandparents handled it and how their siblings and my parents and aunts and uncles helped, gave me a whole new perspective on my family legacy, I am so grateful for that legacy of faith and endurance, humor, love and sacrifice.

The veil is so thin, the more we learn of those who have gone before us, the more we will recognize their presence still in our lives. Those taken from us on this side of the veil are still there encouraging us and aiding us in our time of need. They might have graduated from their education in mortality, but they are still connected to us and perhaps more aware of us now that they are no longer distracted by temporal things. Our dear Savior Jesus Christ, who has suffered our pain and sorrow and has seen our joy and hope provides his love and tender mercies through families. He who knows our every need has provided a plan that we will always be taken care of in our time of need. There truly are "angels among us sent down to us from somewhere up above" (Alabama). There may come a time when we will be even more aware of their love and efforts in our lives. 

This is a poem my great aunts found, they say this is my grandfather to a tee. I'm grateful for their love and the opportunity to learn more of this man who gave me so much, an example of how to just keep going with a smile. I love you grandpa

The Race

 

Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
    my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
    excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
    or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
    and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
    to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
    was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
    the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
    and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now.
    Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
    which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
    and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
    his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
    “I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”

But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
    with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
    “If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
    but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
    “There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try?
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
    But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all,
    for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place!
    You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!”
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
    and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
    still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
    Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
    head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
    the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
    you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
    “To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
    the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
    And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
    another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”

D.H. Groberg