Sunday, September 9, 2012

failure - reoccurring theme

It seems to me that stumbling is the way the world judges failure.

Previously, I picked apart the validity and desirability of the world's definition of Success. Obviously, I didn't agree with it. It should be of no suprise to now learn that I also disagree with their version of failure. Infact, you can just assume that if it is the accepted definition of a thing I do not agree or subscribe to that type of thought. It makes communication, using words difficult, but I still do it. Those out there who have ears will "hear" me "know what I'm sayin'".

When we fail it is often taken as the answer that our attempt did not succeed and it ought to be given up. But, I was listening to Nephi chapter 4 on a new little Book of Mormon App and was thinking, well, if The scriptures are supposed to give me some sort of answer, then, do your thing, already. I did not recieve bolt of lightening revelation, but it occurred to me that just because a thing fails is no indication that it was wrong, just look at the story told here: A bunch of straping boys head out into the wilderness cause dad told them to go get some book. They tried and failed. Then, before giving up one of them remembers all of the valuable things that they had at their old home and decide to go get them to trade for the book! Brilliant!! But, it still doesn't work. Uh, well, then one might conclude that it isn't really God's will but their father's and he was mistaken. but, thank goodness that was not the end. A younger brother decided to go back and try again, cause he fully believed, no matter how rediculous it seemed, that it was the Lord's will and so he would do it. Ends up he has to decide to kill this guy and wear his clothes to sort of pretend and lie to someone to get the book. He admits that this feels wrong, but an angel explains that this is the will of God that it is better that this one man be slain than a whole nation of people (later called Nephites) dwindle in unbelief.

I had often wondered why such a story would be placed in the begining of canon touted by a religion, further I decided that it was there to weed out those who might, like the parable of the sower, show signs of grabbing a hold of the doctrine, but never really having roots, because there would be plenty of things that would discorage people from accepting it as true, if they tried to reason it all out. Belief must be founded on something deeper. But, as I was thinking about it this time, I thought, well, the Bible stats with Adam an Eve and she out right disobeys God, and the whole Old testament is riddled with faith shaking stories if understood in a worldly way. I even had people worry about me and my sort of obsession with the old testament. It was not what they said, but I think it was a wise thing. Just look at the saducees and pharasees who got all caught up in looking for a deeper than face value of a thing (I want to mention the story of Moses' staff and ppl not being willing to look upon it to be healed because it was too simple).

In conclusion, The guidance I personally got from this was that just because I might have fallen doesn't mean I shouldn't get back up. Here's a song that expresses my sentiment better:

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