Sayings--By Karl Southwick
I was asked once why we cry. Water has interesting magnifying properties. Many of us have used water to read small print on newspapers, to help us to see that which was previously concealed from our sight. Might I suggest that in this there is a symbolism? In our most difficult moments, in the midst of trials and difficulties, our eyes will often fill with tears. I personally believe that this demonstrates one purpose of challenges in life--when we pass through them, and our eyes fill with tears, our vision is broadened and expanded. Magnified. We begin to see things which, to us, were previously concealed, and can begin to understand who we truly are and who we can become. We can see things as they truly are. We can grow. So when things get hardest, remember to open your eyes and to see the big picture. Press forward, and, before long, those tears of sorrow will become tears of joy.
Here in Brazil, I have learned many things. Perhaps the most crucial lesson that I have learned is this: We rejoice, and we suffer. We laugh, and we weep. We see miracles, and we see tragedies. But, in the end, we come to see God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ through purer, refined, and tested eyes. We grow closer to Them. Press on in trials, and They shall make you strong. They shall lead you to the light, no matter how dark the way may be. For They are light. They are truth. And They are at our side. This work we do, this missionary work, is not the work of the missionaries. It is the work of God. It is the work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. With reference to participating in this great work, we must always remember the words of the beautiful hymn "How Firm a Foundation"--"Fear not, I am with thee. Oh, be not dismayed. For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand!" I know that this is true. I know that He is always at our side, and His angels around us. We are truly never alone. God lives. His Son is our Savior and Redeemer. He guides us and directs us today, all of us, that our eternal family, God's eternal family, might be reunited for time and all eternity. This is our charge.
"It is definitely a better decision to be happy than to be sad. Trust the Lord, step forward with faith and a smile, and everything will turn out for the best, regardless of how dark paths may seem to be in the present."
Life--that period of time in which we dive into the deep, seeking buried treasure, get tossed and turned about in the turbulent, relentless waves, preyed upon by shadowy beasts, cast upon rocky, abandoned shores, frozen and crushed when we dive too deeply into forbidden areas, and yet from which we emerge, tattered, torn, yet smiling and happy. In life, we descend into the deepest depths. Yet, in the end, we ascend up to the greatest joy. Though times may be hard, there is always that secluded paradise, that buried treasure, that peaceful sunset and glorious sunrise, the glistening rainbows and the majestic albatross, soaring free on the currents of a fresh, brisk wind. For all its pains and trials, the sea of life is filled with beauty. And the best part is this: it is filled with others, just like us, all swimming to the same destination. We never have to go through it alone. There is always someone there, waiting to help us or ready for support from us. So swim on, along with your friends, and find untold joy along the way.
"With every person we meet, every life we touch, our hearts are woven together, tied by a cord of friendship, love, and support. The more and more people with whom we come in contact, the more cords are tied, and the more tightly-woven our fabric of life becomes. Yes, some cords may be weaker than others, and, at times, some may be cut. But there is always room for more. We can tie more cords to the same heart, strengthening our bond, and we can tie new cords to replace broken or frayed ones. It should be our goal to form as many of these bonds as we can, making them powerful and lasting. For that is when our fabric of life is at its strongest--when we surround ourselves with truest friends."
"People don't follow leaders, they follow examples. Tell a person what to do, and they will rebel or resist. Show a person what you want them to do, and they will be far more inclined to do the same. Good leadership is not necessarily about leading, it is about doing."
Success in life is not winning a trophy, becoming fabulously rich, or achieving unheard-of levels of fame. Rather, true success is being able to look back and realize that you have made a difference in even just one person's life. To have given the gift of friendship is to have given the gift of happiness.
"Life and diamonds teach one magnificent lesson: the hardest things are often the most valuable."
"We are what we believe we are, and if we try to change that just because of something someone says, then we are defying our own definition of ourselves. So don't worry about what others say. Be yourself."
"And never, no matter how trying life becomes, no matter how treacherous the path I must traverse may be, I shall never forget my friends. Throughout all of my pains, throughout all hardships, I shall remember that they have been and always will be there for me. That's what friends are for. And mine are the best."
There comes a time, when you work as hard as you possibly can, that you begin to fall in love with that thing for which you are working, and at that time the line between work and fun becomes so blurred that you can not tell the difference.
The solution to all depressing trends is simply the gift of supportive friends.
It's always good to set goals. Goals are the pavement of the road of life. They give it form and solid definition, leading you along until you reach the ultimate goal.
Perfection in itself is impossible to achieve in this mortal life, but as long as you are striving for it, you have reached a form of perfection itself.
What's on my mind? An excellent question. What's on anyone's mind? Well, it kind of works out like this: the mind is like a parfait. It begins with a layer of dreams and aspirations, a lump of goals and desires, a scoop of memories and secrets, and is all topped with a creamy spread of thoughts, impulses, and emotions. All combined into one, you get a masterfully delicious culmination of the essence of personality, of the definition of an individual. What at first seems to be merely a scrumptious ice-cream treat turns out to be something much deeper, much more profound, and something truly unique and special. What's on my mind? I don't know. How about you pick up the spoon of conversation and find out?
And so it is that we learn the nature of happiness. We learn that it is in good company of great friends and family that our souls are nurtured, our spirits are lifted, and our countenances are brightened. Never forget your friends and loved ones, for love is the avenue down which happiness travels.
Ultimately, it all boils down to one question, the question that sows destruction and yet reaps reformation; that causes rebellion and results in unity, that boggles minds every time it is asked; that has no real answer, but many responses. Yes, when all is said and finished and the beginning has ended and the end has ...just begun, the question of the ages inevitably arises again, to be considered, to be confronted, and to be addressed with caution, for its answer could end peace or war, tear apart or repair relationships, and cause either an outpouring of knowledge or an increase of ignorance. This question, the ultimate and final factor in any circumstance, is this: Why?
Imagine for a moment that you are a stone, sitting on the bank of a deep, peaceful mountain stream. The birds are chirping around you, and a light breeze fills the air with pleasant mountain scents. The stream trickles softly along next to you, and all is calm. You have not a care in the world. All of a sudden, you are lifted up off the ground by a human hand. You are skipped across the stream, bouncing once, twice, maybe three times before coming to rest on the opposite bank. There you stay, once again peaceful and happy, until another human hand picks you up and hurls you across the stream again. You enjoy these brief moments of exhilaration; however, you always wait for another human hand to send you off on another ride. You never do it yourself. Are we not often found resting on the banks of contentment, idly soaking in the sun of passive laziness? Occasionally, something will come that will, in a sense, throw us across the stream of commitment, and we will do things we know we should do with a renewed sense of determination. However, is not this ride usually short-lived? Do we come to a rest on the opposite bank, once again lazily avoiding those things? Motivation can be difficult to obtain, and even more so to maintain. However, if we become successful in motivating ourselves towards our cause, success can be right around the corner. So, instead of being like a stone skipped across that stream of commitment for only brief moments, allow yourself to become completely immersed inside of it. Sink to the bottom, and success will come.
Everything can be learned from or grown upon. That's why we have challenges in life. They're like storms, raging and buffeting us until we no longer know which direction we're supposed to be going in. The key is learning to learn from them instead of giving up because of them. That is how we grow, that is how we become successful. Let your challenges become opportunities, and ride them through the storms.
Childhood memories are interesting things. They allow you to travel back in time to times before the pain and suffering, back to times when all we wanted was to have fun. It would appear as though some of us have forgotten what that time was like, and have sealed away these memories. Fortunately, just because we may no...t realize that they are still there does not mean they do not exist. All we have to do is remember.
What is power, but having something or someone surrender their will to yours? Every dictator and tyrant in this world only has power because the people they govern give it to them. They can't force us into obedience. No one can force us to do anything. Ultimately, the decision comes down to us. We can choose to go with... the flow, or do what we feel is right. Take courage, and stand up for what you believe in.
You always hear people say that you should shoot for the stars. Why shoot for the stars, though? They are merely giant balls of gas out in space. Might I suggest that we look deeper into the vast reserves of space? Look beyond the night sky, look beyond those stars you see, and what do you find? You find a light far brighter than any other star in this universe. You find hope. That's what dreams are made of. Basically, what I'm trying to say is this: shooting for the stars will only get cheated out of a greater opportunity. Don't shoot for the stars. Shoot for your dreams.
Don't get me wrong, darkness is powerful. The forces of darkness are constantly awake and alert, probing into our thoughts and desires, leeching into our deeds and actions. However, darkness has one major fatal flaw: it has no REAL power. Darkness cannot be forced upon you; you must accept it in order for it to succeed.... Darkness is a decision. Evil is a choice. So choose wisely, and cleave unto the light.
"Live, knowing that you will die. Die, knowing that you will live."
If you believe in something with all of your heart, what is there that can stand in your way? Beliefs are the offspring of a powerful mind, one that can push aside the foolish fallacies established by humanity and dare to consider the impossible.
"Why do you laugh, boy? Do you not realize the storm is raging?" "I realize that sir, but why are you so worried? Do you not realize the sun is rising?" Things unfortunately get worse before they get better. Most people just focus on the worse part and forget that they WILL get better. Look to the future--the sun IS rising.
You know what? Life really is good.
He looked at me, and asked, "Why did you even try?" I looked at him for a long moment before finally responding. "Because," I said, "I was told it was impossible."
Sometimes, when life gets rushed and hard, and may even seem totally unfair, the best thing a person can do is stop. Take a little break. Find a nice, quiet place, and think. Simply think.
