glimpses of godliness

People hesitantly shuffling to the front; the unified murmur of amen; the discomfort of your heart pounding in your ears: all things to describe yesterday's fast and testimony meeting.

As I sat in our 90-year-old chapel listening to person after person share their "I'm grateful fors," I started to ponder what I was grateful for. I reflected on my interactions with those around me: my wife, my family, my friends, my priesthood leadership. As I scanned through each memory, I began to see something beautiful. (Enter the pounding heart.)

In reviewing my interactions with others, I was able to see glimpses of godliness within each one of them--glimpses into the attributes, character, and love of God, embodied in my fellow man. The wife who loves and supports me regardless of my consistent follies, and abandons her own needs to take care of mine. The friends who build me up and appreciate me for who I am, and seek the will of God, even when it will mean difficult changes. The parents who sacrificed their everything to raise me, and continue to contribute to my happiness. The grandparents who began a legacy of righteousness. The siblings who not only put up with me, but also took me under their wings and befriended me. The nieces and nephews who radiate unmitigated purity. 

At least for a moment, God opened the eyes of my understanding and allowed me to see glimpses of His character, His attributes, and His love for me. I'm grateful for the monumental blessing it is to have such invaluable relationships with my loved ones. Moreover, in one way or another, each of those people provide me with glimpses of godliness. I thank you all.

c.  johnson

like the sands of the hourglass

The rigors of life have tied my hands from spending time posting to the ol' blog. I am flabbergasted that I haven't recorded any of my thoughts since August of last year. As banal as this may sound, time flies.

I can just hear you asking me, "So, what's new? We can't wait to know!" (I'm sure you're all just dying of curiosity.) Well, I got married--took the plunge, sealed the deal, strapped on the ol' ball and chain. How's it been? It's been an adventure, full of highs and lows. I've never felt stretched so thin, but I've also never felt so supported. My lovely lady is always there to help me keep plugging along. Not only that, but often times she pulls me.

I've learned more about what love means in the past 10 months than in the 24 previous years of my life. And not necessarily because good at giving it; rather, I didn't used to understand love. I didn't know that love wasn't just the gooey stuff that makes me blush. I'd spent the first two decades of my life believing that was love. But I'm slowly (oh, so painfully slowly) learning what love really means. Love is less about twitterpation, and more about listening. It's less about being physical, and more about being understanding. It's less about being romantic, and more about being forgiving. It's less about the capability, and more about the willingness.

It's less about me, and more about her.

Life's turning out to be quite nice. Sure, life's got its issues--disappointments, stressors, failures, frustrations. But with some consistency and a touch of patience, I've been able to strip off pieces of life's facade and exposes life's true self: beauty, fulfillment, and belonging. Exposing it is worth the effort.

c. johnson

the peas at glacier park in mt