lesson fodder

incase i ever am asked to give a lesson or talk on this subject. I thought it a good idea to jot this mental work down:

It is interesting to me that Oeople are assigned to be our friends. This bothers me and it did all of the way back to when I was in a student ward in provo and i was called to be the compassionate service yahdahyada, and after I gave a long spiel about how I felt impressed after reading my duties in the handbook, I was curtly told that none of that was necessary. My duty was to notice the people in our ward who were not in attendance and visit them and find out why and perhaps keep a record of this. I agreed because I saw the merit in seeing abscence as a red flag especially if attendance was actually desired, and noticing a recurring pattern would allow for better detection of a problem that could really help people, but instead it was turned to being just nosey. Then in Auburn, WA at a singles ward I was asked by the bishopric to sit by and make friends with certain people. Did they think I was an idiot? I knew they just didn't want me to sit alone. I'm just not a very social person, especially so on command. Then my attendance at activities wasn't very good, so they called me to be the activities chairperson, urgh! I just do not like being forced into friendship.

As a young woman, I was told to be extra careful who I made friends with because we tend to marry our friends. My Stake president, at a youth conference, already sealed my fate when he, with no prior notice, announced that I would now bear my testimony as to how I would only date members of the church. But, what brings this all up is the sort of connection between arranged marriage and compelled friendship...

Now, to my real topic, Visiting Teachers. What is a visiting teacher. Well, we all might have our own personal definition based on our own experiences, but my favorite VT's were most of all friends. But, looking at the title, what is it? The subject or noun is a teacher, not a visiting friend, but visiting TEACHER. This made me realize that friendship just naturally develops as one learns more, which happens when they visit with you.

I instantly think of Jesus because to me visiting sounds like nomadic, and well teacher means rabbi or vice versa...