Perspective

Every day opens new horizons. Every dawn brings new light, every hour new hope, in a sky that keeps getting brighter and brighter.

Twelve. On passion.

Iver: Swedish. Passion, enthusiasm, zeal.

Enthusiasm- en-theo-as-mos: God within us.

I love the movie, Chariots of Fire. The Christian character of Eric Liddell (sp) presented there is one of my heroes. However, I must disagree with one of the quotes as it is presented in the movie. Drawing from the verse, "The Kingdim of God is within you," Liddell goes on to say, "Where doed the power come from, to see a race through to its end? From within." 

That may be true, but it is only by God working in us, and in no other way.

Eleven: "No."

Fiction:

"No, in answer to your previous question. In the collision of two heavenly bodies, there will always be damage of a collateral nature." - Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows.

Ten. Strange service.

As I journey on my way,

ere the sun goes down -

There are kind words I may say,

ere the sun goes down!

There are cries I would be heeding,

for the injured interceding...

Nine. Rainbows

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. - Genesis 9:13.

For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. - Isaiah 54:9

It's been that kind of day.

Eight: God Speed the Right!

God has a way of confirming to us that which is right, and rejecting that which He would not have us do. I cannot give a definitive list of how He does so, as God doesn't play by my rules, nor do I know all of His. However, He has said:

Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2)

There are some things I feel the Lord has asked me to do; building this company is among them. Note that I am indeed mortal, and divine approval is not the same as divine substance; God is perfect, I am not, and neither will my company be. But having "received my errand from the Lord," to borrow a scriptural phrase, is I think the best preparation I could have for this work.

In that vein, for all who pursue the path that God has set for them, believing in God and following His will in faith - following those things He tells us in our minds and hearts - is not arrogance. Indeed, it is humility, or the recognition that God is the source of all our strength.

With that recognition comes the assurance that whatever God asks of us, we can do, because it is really He that does it anyway. We only make ourselves available to be instruments in His hands; He does the work, with us or without us. It is our choice and privilege to participate, but we do not ultimately determine any outcome except our own allegiance to Him and whether we are found on His side at the last day, or not. He has already seen the end from the beginning and ordered existence such that "all things work together for good to them that love God". (Rom. 8:28)

Again, to quote Joseph Smith:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17)

And that is as true in the spiritual things He asks us to do - believe in Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, love one another, serve our fellowman -as it is "other" things He asks us to do - like starting a company that publishes clean literature.

All things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created. (Doctrine and Covenants 29:34).

So, I say: God Speed the Right! Let us go forth in our righteous endeavours, whatever they are, with the assurance that the Lord's hand will be revealed in our lives as we do so, and that indeed all things shall work together for our good.

I have appended here, as a footnote, an interview I had on May 26th, at a writer's convention in Salt Lake City, with UGeekTV. The interview deals mainly with publishing, but there is a discussion of how my faith affects my business ideas at 16:44 which fits nicely with this post, I believe, and provides a segue into the post for tomorrow. I would appreciate any feedback in this regard; I am considering putting the video on the company website. Thank you, in advance.




Tomorrow's (non) fiction: Lime-ing couplets, courtesy of my sister.

Seven.

Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. - Exodus 34:21.

Rest: to cease from the usual pattern of activity; to find relief or freedom from worry, fear, pain, anxiety, etc.

Sabbath, day of rest: Cessation from worldly activity in order to pursue spiritual/religious activity.

Today, I found rest in temple work; it was marvelous.