What really matters anyway?

Lots of things struck me as noteworthy as I reviewed the day, but one idea prevailed. in RS we discussed the topic of which side were we on and how even a fraction of the wrong life would not allow the spirit to be with us and though it might seem hard or restrictive to obey every rule happiness is not our goal, but it happens when we choose God's side.

It made me write down on apiece of paper a road one direction was a smile and the other was a frown (the misery that prevails if we choose to head that way). I cannot recall what I wrote (that's why I wrote it) It said something about it mattering more which way we were headed than how far we were.

This idea fits snuggly with many other great ideas, Like the notion of not judging a person's worth by how much they accomplish.

I thought about my music theory teacher who taught us to learn the rules before we break them, though, I thought our whole point was to learn to write better music. It is how we are with so many rules, it is only as we are older that we realize that happiness comes from choosing the best. One comment that hit home with me in so many ways was "When I start to rationalize or reason a thing out then I know that it is not the right thing." When asked how do we measure our success in staying on the Lord's side?

Without details lots of people told of really difficult choices where the right was not obvious. I liked the comment that it seems to boil down to good, better, and best. The adsversary is more cunning and has more sucesess with his targets if he gets them to do good things so often they don't have time for the best. That comment made me think of the thing that my mother told me that everyone has trials suited for them. Then shockingly, when asked, "how does the adversary target us?" the RS president said that he aims for our weaknesses. Well put.

I just kept thinking "You need to think some more on this. Something isn't making sense even if everyone agrees". It made me wonder about the whole notion of Good and better when making choices. It seemed that earlier we had learned that everything was black and white, one side or the other. I out right disagreed with one lady's dilema (only mentally). She thought everyone seemed to whole-heartedly agree. Her choice was between spending time with family or going to church. This other lady offered a solurtion that suggested that the peace and happiness from going to church could be found elsewhere. Nope. That was just wrong. I didn't know why at first, but I knew it was wrong. But, that is exactly how I thought as a youth or even in my music theory class. The point was that peace and contentment was not our goal, but doing what is right or legal is our goal.

It makes my choices so obvious. I do not want to be with Nick or his family forever. They are excellent people though and I want to do what is best for my children. And, I was thinking that it was a good, better, best problem, but I need to refocus on what really matters, not how happy I will or will not be. It doesn't matter what is best but what is right.

I want to conclude this rant with another quote, "We are tripped up most by things that seem good at the time, but they will bring nothingless than couterfiet happiess." Uh, I should have explained that it was not a direct quote, but how I understood what was said. Sorta like a translation of scripture though I meant well, I might have understood it differently. additional scripture: Luke 12:19