Change is What I Know

I was encouraged this past Sunday to blog again by a beautiful woman in my local church congregation.  She is strong and passionate.  I don't know much about her, but her story of conversion from Islam to being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given me greater insight into my own faith.  So Bilo, this one's for you.  ;)

Just about 3 weeks ago I was released from my calling as Relief Society President of my local congregation.  I served for 22 months in that position and I attribute my growth, insight, faith, accomplishments, and deep human relationships to that calling; in part, it was the blessings and insights that come to a Relief Society President and in part, it was the women themselves that allowed these changes to occur within me.  Many of the women I came to know during that time have moved on: marriages, education, new career paths, life changes, and itchings for change prompted changes in their life course.  However, I will never forget even one of them nor will I forget any of the women I still have the opportunity to see every week.  The strength and resilience of these women has inspired me to live life larger, deeper, and more intensely.  I've had the opportunity to re-evaluate what life means to me and to others.  I've grown in my faith and understanding of what a loving Heavenly Father feels for each of his daughters and in turn what love truly means.  This release has been my biggest change of 2014.  

For the longest time I only really desired one thing: an absence of change.  When I was struggling in my eating disorder and deep depression, I refused to believe that relinquishing the struggle and allowing change within would help anything.  I was convinced that my finite foresight was reality.  And, as easy as it is to say that I was wrong, it is even harder to apply that truth to the here and now.  Though I am not struggling in my eating disorder or a deep depression anymore, letting go is still required of each of us.  It is simple, but never easy.

My Stake President recently taught that many times we are required to bury our pasts deep in the ground.  He was referring to past transgressions and sins, but I think it can also be applied to past faults, past relationships, past coping mechanisms, and a longing for the past.  In short we must bury the things we had to let go of that allowed us to move forward and grow.  Life will not work out as God intended if we walk with our eyes behind us.  

And so I leave you with a challenge: dedicate yourselves to experience the heartache of moving on in the next 60 days.  Sounds sadistic, huh?  But, I know each of us is dreaming of days gone by when we must believe in better things to come.

~Come What May and Love It~