I Blog, Therefore I Am

I have expressed a few times why I sought out and found the bloggernacle. But ultimately I was not content to be a commenter only. And when I found out how easy it was to start a blog I had to pursue it. I had slightly different reasons to desire to be an author on a blog. In a small way, I think I felt like Alma felt when he wrote the famous verses:

O that I were and angle, and could have the wish of my heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. (Alma 29:1-2)

You see, I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the church. I really believe this stuff. I believe it leads to peace and happiness in this life, and eternal life in the world to come. And I desire to have a voice in it!

Dammit Jim! I’m an Engineer, not a Theologian!

Some of you may recognize the title as a play on the familiar phrase that was frequently given by Doctor McCoy on the popular television show named Star Trek. This post is an attempt to draw some parallels between my career as an engineer, and my approach to living the gospel as a member of the church.

Revelation for your Blog?

We sometimes speak of the right to receive revelation in the church. We believe that Gordon B. Hinkley is a prophet and has been called, sustained, and set-apart for this calling. We believe that he has received priesthood keys which allow him the privilege, right, responsibility and authority to receive revelation for the entire church. The First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles and other General Authorities have also been called, sustained, and set-apart for their callings. They either have, or act under the direction of those who have, priesthood keys and also have the privilege, right, responsibility and authority to receive revelation as the act in their calling.

Friends

Right now I can break my life into two halves. One half being a youth, and one half being an adult. A few of the experiences that I have had lately have caused me to think about friendship, and how my ideas about friendship have changed in my life.
When I was young, friendship usually meant fun. My friends were the people that I had fun with. The people I played ball with (any ball), the people I would watch movies with, the people I would have over to play Risk and order pizza with, these were my friends. They were also people that had an unconditional acceptance of me. Even if I did or said something dumb or embarrassing, they would stand by me. If they laughed you could tell it was the ‘laugh with’ kind. There were also times, in awkward social situations (which for me is pretty much any social situation) my friends were people that I could stand by. It is amazing how having somebody to stand by makes such a difference.

There was an intensity to these friendships of my youth. And even though I don’t keep touch with many of them as well as I should, I will always think of them with much fondness. I had quite a group of very good friends.

‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ‘ (1 Cor. 13:11)

As an adult life gets pretty busy. Most of every day is filled with responsibilities of some kind. Not much time for fun. I have my wife and my children, and there is a level of friendship in these relationships. But those relationships are of a different sort of which I am speaking, aren’t they? Certainly one should be a friend with one’s spouse. But is it not healthy to have friendships in addition to this relationship?

It seems the older I get the less friendships I have. And in comparison to the friendships of my youth, the bar has been significantly lowered. Not that the quality of the people are lower, but the quality of the friendship seems lower. Not the intensity of youth. Not the fun. I have co-workers now. Ward members. Neighbors. Sure we are friendly, but are we friends? Really friends? I find myself wanting to protect the word friend. I don’t really give it freely. I have been spoiled with high expectations from my youth.

I love to golf. Most of the time I golf alone. I’m busy, everyone is. I’m a little old for ‘can Joe come out and play’? I watch sports, often on TV. Usually alone. I’m not shedding tears – I’m not that emotional. It’s just the way it is. It’s more practical.

That brings me to the bloggernacle. Are we friends? Are we having fun together, doing something we enjoy. Do we stand by each other? Do we laugh ‘with’. Are there people I can stand by when I feel awkward? Sometimes I think the ‘friendships’ I have here are about as real – maybe more – than the friendships I currently have in real life. Sometimes I think these ‘friendships’ are just one step away from having imaginary friends like a small child might have.

This is not a ‘HELP!’ This is a ‘what do ya think?’

My Second Honeymoon with the Bloggernacle

Some of you may remember me writing a post called ‘My Bloggernacle Honeymoon is Over‘ about two months ago. At the time the initial excitement about finding the Bloggernacle was finished and I was questioning the value of the entire experience up to that point. I was sincerely at the verge of ending the experience and doing something else with my small amount of free time. I was expressing two areas of value at that time – the value I was getting from the Bloggernacle and the value I was contributing to the Bloggernacle.

My Bloggernacle Honeymoon is Over

My bloggernacle honeymoon is over, and I find myself wondering if I have made the right choice in participating here. But just because the honeymoon is over, it does not necessarily mean I want a divorce. But I find myself evaluating the choice that I made.