I am the kind of guy who enjoys to ramble (You'll hopefully notice that the word 'ramble' is cleverly hidden in the web address of this here blog). Get me started on a subject I love to talk about, and I'll ramble for hours. A prime example of that: Agency. It is the God-given gift to choose for one's self, the power to act and not be acted upon. We have to use this gift of agency every day of our lives, in determining what we will wear, what we will eat, what we will say and think. Ultimately, the greatest use of our agency will be the decision to follow Christ, or to not.
In Moroni 7:11 we read:
"For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil."
Recall with me the recent bombings in the Boston Marathon. I believe that that person or those persons who planted the explosives have allowed their souls to become so corrupted, proud, and wicked that they were willing to harm other human beings for no good reason, and I am firmly against them. I hope and pray that the local and federal authorities will find those responsible for this terrorist act and hold them accountable for their actions, punishing them with the severity that justice will require of them.
But it is not on those wicked men that I wish to focus this post.
It is on those others - the innocents, the runners, the bystanders, the spectators, the children - that I wish to speak.
There are many who witnessed this act of depravity and violence, and ultimately decided that our world was a great reflection of that darkness manifest. It is true: There are many, many, MANY bad things in this world today - but should we drown out light with darkness?
Shall we forget those who instantly leapt to their feet to help those harmed by the blast? Shall we forget the hundreds of local Bostonians who opened the doors of their hearts and homes to those who needed shelter? Shall we forget the immediate medical attention of those in desperate need of healing? Shall we forget the millions devastated by this attack, who immediately fell to their knees and offered pleas to God for mercy on those affected by the bombing?
When darkness looms - as it does every day in every country and on every continent - there is always light to drive it away. There are always the people, the good people, who will choose to ACT for that which they know to be right. There are always the people who are willing to fight back the darkness.
Today is a shorter post than usual (some of you are probably saying prayers of gratitude for that...ya welcome :) but I hope that the length does not diminish my point. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered in Gethsemane, was tried without cause in the house of Caiaphas, and was crucified on Golgotha's summit for you and I; He died so that we may CHOOSE: either to ACT, or to be acted upon.
The darkness of trials and tragedy need not mar our convictions to God, nor should they halt our eternal progression back home. When we are in need, aiding angels in the forms of friends, family, neighbors, and/or co-workers shall come to buoy us up. When others are in need of similar help, let US be those who choose to use our divinely appointed agency; let US be the ones who will not allow the attacks of wicked men to destroy the hopes and dreams of others; let US be those who will act on behalf of their fellow men and bring light back into their lives.
I pray that God will bless those who suffer from the attacks in Boston, and I pray that God will bless each and every one of you in your personal and public trials and tragedies. He is Supreme, and He is Loving. He will not fail us, and He expects us to be there to help others. Let us ACT, my friends! Let us ACT and share with others the light of truth and hope, of love and rejoicing. Let us ACT :)
May God be with you till we meet again, my friends.
Sam
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