T.S. Elliott "Choruses from The Rock"

Inspired to read this poem from a general conference talk by Elder Bednar.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/T._S._Eliot#Choruses_from_The_Rock_.281934.29

Some parts that strike a chord with me

"The endless cycle of idea and action,

Endless invention, endless experiment,

Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;

Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;

Knowledge of words, and ignorance of The Word.

All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,

All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,

But nearness to death no nearer to God.

Where is the Life we have lost in living?

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

I recognize the value of study, knowledge, information, data. Without a plan of where you want it to take you it takes you everywhere and nowhere, as if driven by the wind. The depth is lost when we give it not the time. Facts, information, data, are nothing without thought. "Why is the information there" "what can be done with it" "How can I use it, rather than store it" and "How does it help me know God"

"The world turns and the world changes,

But one thing does not change.

In all of my years, one thing does not change,

However you disguise it, this thing does not change:

The perpetual struggle of Good and Evil."

Well that basically summarizes the test of this earth. The more my eyes are opened, the more I realize that EVERYTHING is about the battle of Good vs. Evil. Wars, duh. Poverty, duh. Politics - A little more hidden. Entertainment - hidden again. Food - there again. Sports, recreation, quiet, peace, anarchy, activity, slumber. - all can be summarized as Good or Evil. Even the best of things can be bad without the proper moderation.

Recently, I've become more aware about the need to plan your life through the jillions of traps of Evil. If you do not plan, you cannot overcome, planning is Good, not planning is the alternative.

Wake up! There is much good that needs done, not just thought about!

Time and Money

Before we started this company I heard lots of advice. Most prominent was that we would never have enough time or money. True enough, we live it. But that got me thinking, does anyone ever think, yep, I've got enough time and I've got enough money? Seems to always be something more we want to add to our day.

If simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, must we abandon the drive to do more in a day? Maybe abandon is the wrong word. Balance seems more appropriate. If a day is balanced, you got the essentials done, had some down time, some rest time, etc.

Isaiah 65

I read this verse today in Isaiah 65:22

"They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat..."

I've been talking to the kids quite a bit about what I view as the American way, and this is a good part of it. We do not build so another can live there, or cook so another can eat, or sow so another can harvest. We make the world a better place so we can live in a better place.

Today Maile and I made cookies, I asked Arden if he wanted to help, but he was doing stuff outside. When he came in, he asked for cookies. I said he had to wait. He said but Maile is eating some and it isn't fair. I quickly corrected that nonsense. "No," I said, "What is not fair, is Maile working to make cookies and you expecting to eat them." Then we had a nice discussion about sharing and how that was supposed to be good. Well yes, but for people that do stuff; that help and work in whatever way they can, then we can share with a clear conscience. And I am all for charity, you wanna give, give. I will not judge that.

Arden's a good kid and I told him he could have a couple snitches of the cookie dough. Then I told him Maile received another reward for helping; she got to snitch all the while making the dough, she probably had 10 times the snitches Arden got because she was helping. I told him that is what is fair, that is the American way, you work harder then others, you should get more than others. Not fair is someone working less and complaining about the one who worked more and got more.

The Count of Monte Cristo

I just finished reading the Count of Monte Cristo. Good book. I don't believe the core premise is correct, but nonetheless, it was enjoyable. Here are some quotes I found particularly interesting

"He recalled the prayers that his mother had taught him and discovered a significance in them that he had not previously understood: to a happy man, a prayer is a monotonous composition, void of meaning, until the day when suffering deciphers the sublime language through which the poor victim addresses God."

The scriptures also talk about this, that when we are prosperous, we do not believe we need God, so our prayers have no soul, no heart. It isn't until we are suffering in our own perceived pain that we cry with intent. It does not have to be that way. We can cry to God in the happiest of times, because the quest is not limited to requesting help from God, but to know God, as we do a friend. Relationships are often build in the best of times and strengthened in the worst of times.

"But man, man whom God made in His image, man to whom God gave this first, this sole, this supreme law, that he should love his neighbor, man to whom God gave a voice to express his thoughts - what is man's first cry when he learns that his neighbor is saved? A curse. All honor to man, the masterpiece of nature, the lord of creation.

He burst out laughing, but such a terrible laugh that one realized he must have suffered horribly to be able to laugh in such a way"

This caused me to pause and consider my innermost, unexpressed thoughts towards my fellow man, do I genuinely rejoice in their success, or do I hide a silent curse

Monte Cristo said: "you know that all human inventions progress from the complex to the simple and that perfection is always simplicity."

I fully believe this. Perfection is simplicity.

Villefort in response more to his own thoughts than to Mme Danglars' words: "'So it is true that every one of our actions leaves some trace on our past, either dark or bright. So it is true that every step we take is more like a reptile's progress across the sand, leaving a track behind it. And often, alas, the track is the mark of our tears!'"

Tears yes, but from where did they come? Joy or remorse? A wicked man will see the track of remorse throughout his life, how it all tied to his fall, a good man will probably see the joys and happiness throughout his life, how it all tied to his salvation

"'Those who are born with a silver spoon,' Emmanuel said, 'those who have never needed anything, do not understand what happiness is, any more than those who do not know the blessing of a clear sky and who have never entrusted their lives to four planks tossing on a ragging sea.'"

There is some truth here, that many take what we have for granted. But this is my primary disagreement with one of the assertions of the book, that suffereing is required to feel the highest happiness. It may be a beneficial comparison for an individuals reflection, but a life of suffering does not generally improve ones happiness later.

The entire turmoil with Maximillian and Valentine drove me crazy; when he thinks she is dead and the Count wants him to be in the uttermost despair before he reveals her to him.

Happiness and the quality of it is based on a growth in love and service, not sadness and loneliness. If I want to improve my happiness at home, I do not need to experience deprivation and loneliness to build it, I enjoy the people I'm with, love them, and serve them and that is how happiness grows.

The book caused me to ponder what things would be like for children raised after the coming of Christ. Or those who lived during the city of Enoch. Were they never happy because they knew less sin, war, hunger, disease? Seriously? Satan's plan, completely. There is a need for opposition to allow us to choose. But there is not a need for opposites to make us stronger. The opposites are merely the result of our choice with the opposing forces. We choose God or Satan, we receive happiness or sadness based on that choice. Depth of loss does not ensure we will achieve the equal level of happiness. They are on different scales. Sadness vs. happiness depends on the choice of who we follow, what we believe, and how we live. The most destitute can be the happiest of all. The wealthiest can be the saddest of all.

Simplicity and sophistication

"Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication" - Leonardo Da Vinci.

Even the phrasing of this sentence is clear. In the world of technology and ever changing capabilities, time is lost learning the new. Too many options and choices, not enough relevant comparisons. I wish I could just put in my requirements and have something sort to the best one.

Robotics is a difficult field. When it is done right, people will say, "Well yeah, this is how it always should have been"

Life is like a marathon

Had a recent lesson in church that compared life to a marathon and how we each hurt and feel pain and need help along the way. That help so often comes from those we don't even know and may wonder, why in the world they are helping me. But they do. The question is, do we? Do we help those around just because they need a hand, even though we may never see them again. Do we lift rather than criticize, do we include rather than exclude. I have a lot to improve.

As part of the lesson, they showed this video, it is amazing. Love what she says 7:26-7:33 "running a marathon, just like life baby, you only get out of it what you put into it...you'll never forget it." Made me think about the hereafter, you'll never forget what you did with your time here.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley (1849–1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.