A Heavenly Race

 

           Ordering Boston Creme Pie

Holly and Jessica ran the Boston Marathon today. It was cold and rainy but a great day for both finishers. I am so proud -  Boston Strong - Burbidge Strong!

  I remember the euphoria of running and finishing the Boston Marathon in 1998 with my friend Liz Cook.  Our friend Mary Glauser was also there - a little ahead of us. She was our trainer and thanks to her we qualified at the St. George 1997 Marathon. 

Much of life has passed since then - many miles of happiness and sunshine and also miles of sorrow and heartache. Running really is a metaphor for life. I remember waiting for "Heartbreak Hill" toward the end of the marathon. It really wasn't so hard then but life has a way of teaching us. It came and I'm still climbing. 

Holly attended a "Blessing of Athletes"

at the Old South Church yesterday. She was so touched by the message and I hope to find it online or have Holly write what she remembers. 

They sang a hymn she loved - music-George F. Handel, text-Phillip Doddridge

 

Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve,

And press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown,
And an immortal crown.

A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way,
And onward urge thy way.

’Tis God’s all animating voice
That calls thee from on high;
’Tis His own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye,
To thine aspiring eye.

Then wake, my soul, stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on,
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown,
And an immortal crown. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 and 12-14

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see The Lord.   

               

Remembering Lincoln

"Surely God would not have created such a being as man to exist only for a day! Man was made for immortality." — Abraham Lincoln

I remember studying the life of Abraham Lincoln in elementary school and he has been one of my greatest heroes. I memorized the Gettysburg Address with my fifth grade class and again in 2013 inspired by Getty Ready. The words are some of the most beautiful and sacred ever spoken.  I have had the privilege of visiting the Lincoln Memorial three times and at each visit have been filled with profound reverence. I give thanks for this humble, brilliant, wise President whose belief in God and moral compass saved our Union and abolished slavery. 

Today we honor him on the anniversary of his assassination 150 years ago.

"My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side." — Abraham Lincoln

"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of Earth." — Abraham Lincoln

What is my purpose?

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Deep Roots

                   Temple Square 

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

    J. R. R. Tolkien

             - Fellowship of the Ring 

            Spring in my garden and...

               Spring in my heart

This year I am grateful for the beauty and hope of this glorious season - made possible because of "deep roots" that ever bear me up. 

I Sustain the Prophet - Something to Shout About

Annie forwarded this blogpost to me - so well said. Written by April McMurtrey - published in Deseret News - April 7, 2015

President Monson – I Sustain You.

I like to keep a pen and paper close by when I’m watching General Conference, to jot down notes that come to mind. Sometimes when a message means a lot to me, I draw a smiley face, or heart next to it.

I have never drawn a face with a frown and tears descending….until today when President Uchtdorf stood and invited us to sustain the General Authorities of the Church.

When I heard the dissenting votes being yelled out during General Conference, my heart sank and my eyes began to well up. I had heard that this could happen and was actually expecting it, but I was unprepared for the feelings that arose when it did.

I wanted to raise my hand even higher! I wanted to stand when I raised it! I wanted to shout “YES!” I wanted the world to know I sustained the prophet. And especially, I wanted the prophet to know I sustained the prophet.

Right after the dissent occurred, a friend texted me and asked what, if anything, we could do to rally around our beloved prophet, to “circle the wagons” as she put it, to let the prophet know we love and sustain him. We wondered if we should send him a million paper hands in the mail! We contemplated starting a Facebook event to invite others to join us in a worldwide effort to show our love and support for the prophet of God!

Then, I thought….What would the prophet want?

I think he would not want a million paper hands, or a contest of opinions, as much as he would want a million single, living, breathing, committed hearts to His King and ours – Jesus Christ.

So, to sustain my prophet, whom I love dearly, I will do something to show my support. I will defend him. I will share his words. I will do what I have been counseled to do during this conference and all the others.  Then, slowly, I will begin to become something better. I will not justsay I will do something, or intend to be better, or raise my hand without thought. I will commit to KEEP TRYING, until I become more like my Savior. I think that’s what he would want, and what the Lord would want.

So….

I will listen for the music of the Spirit, which will bring more meaning to my daily dance.

I will hush my own fears.

I will fast for the poor.

I will be a better wife and mother by praising, expressing my love, and apologizing more.

I will focus on my Savior during the sacrament and not whisper or allow myself to become distracted.

I will savor, love and focus on the things of God more than the things of man.

I will actively decide to believe Christ, not just wish it to be.

I will focus on things that are essential. My family.

I will not parent by compulsion.

I will be humble, like Shiblon.

I will remember that compared to God, I’m not really that different from whom I’m judging harshly.

I will remember that my husband and I are equal partners.

….And if (when) I fail at any of the above…..

I WILL KEEP PRACTICING.

So, President Monson, because I love and sustain you, I will support you by doing. I will sustain you by trying. I will honor you by slowly but steadily becoming.

I love you President Monson.

And to show my love…

I will follow Jesus Christ.

And because I love my Savior, Jesus Christ,

I will follow His prophet.

Deseret News. April 7, 2015

 Written by AprilMcMurtrey originally appeared

 on Something to Shout About!It has been shared here with the author's permission. April and her husband live in California and serve as ward missionaries. They have three children, two of whom are serving missions and one who is preparing to serve. April is a dyslexia specialist whose favorite things are teaching, reading, writing, bacon and missionary work. (Bacon and missionary work are tied for first!). 

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