Look Up!
I had my head down while I was running. I was towards the end of my run, and I was tired, and weary. When I get exhausted, that is when I start to really feel deeply. Running is a great release for me, but it also brings raw emotion close to the surface. I often match the sweat pouring down my face with my tears. Sometimes I even yell out to the sky, "Dang it, Charles! Why? Just why!?"
I was having one of those emotionally-charged moments, when I heard a clear voice say:
"Look up. Just look up!"
As I shifted the angle of my neck from down to up, I saw the most beautiful sight... there was a rainbow around the sun.
For some, the occurrence of color in the sky may have been nothing. But for me, it was everything. Rainbows have always been our "sign." There was a rainbow over the mountain right after Charles proposed to me. There have been rainbows over the "right" house. We have seen rainbows when we are trying to make difficult decisions. Rainbows have just always been there at the right time for us. So, for me, the ring of color around the sun was something really special.
For me, a rainbow symbolizes that life is pointed in the right direction.
If I had not looked up, I would have missed it!
Look up, just look up!
and your pot of gold will be waiting for you.... :)
ReplyDeletecomment by: Kary Hafen
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your post tonight, I remembered that I had heard a talk on this very topic in general conference a few years ago. So, I searched for it and found it. You are so right Mari….it is always better to look up! Keep it UP! I love that you saw a rainbow. What a powerful testimony of how Heavenly Father, the Savior and your sweetheart, Charles, are always watching over you.
Here's a portion of the talk. Find the rest on lds.org
"It is Better to Look Up"
by: Carl B. Cook (of the Seventy)
At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor.
The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.
I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)
But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”
As we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: “Believe in God; believe that he is … ; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth.”1 As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator.
Since then I have pondered this experience and the role of prophets. I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and strengthened through Christ’s Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God.2
I testify that President Monson is not only a prophet, seer, and revelator; he is also a wonderful example of living the principle of looking up. Of all people, he could feel weighed down by his responsibilities. Instead, he exercises great faith and is filled with optimism, wisdom, and love for others. His attitude is one of “can do” and “will do.” He trusts the Lord and relies on Him for strength, and the Lord blesses him.
Experience has taught me that if we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy.3 We will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance—and if it is, the Lord will help us. But we must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow His direction.
Mari,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through a comment you left on another blog I read. I have read your posts and my heart just aches for you and your sweet children.
Your recent blog posts could almost have been written by my husband. You see, I had bilateral Pulmonary emboli 1 1/2 years ago when I was pregnant with our 10th child. Thankfully, it was not fatal for me, but it was close a couple of times(1st from the actual emboli and 2nd from the very scary miscarriage I had 10 days later while on anticoagulants)
I think of you often and I hope and pray that you continue to find peace and comfort in the Gospel. ((Hugs)) from a PE survivor in SE Utah!
Kassie Welch
ckwelch.blogspot.com