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I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been so supportive since I discovered this board about six months ago. I went back to the temple yesterday for the first time in 8 months and while I still feel like I have unanswered questions and have much continued learning ahead, it feels good to feel like I am back on the path that is right for me at this time. You may not even realize what you have done for me by sharing your personal struggles and wise perspectives, but there were many times that I found comfort and solace by reading about your own questions and concerns. It is good not to feel alone and to have a “safe place”. Crap! You made me cry. Thanks – and, CONGRATULATIONS!!
Thanks so much for sharing professionalmom! We love it when someone can make Ray cry
Happy things are always nice to hear!
Thanks, professionalmom! That’s great to hear. I’m sure your follow up note gives hope to many others also. Thanks for that followup it does give some basic hope and looking forward to the future. I agree that the key part of this board is the real sense that you are not alone in the struggle as it is so easy to feel in any given Ward of the Church where you feel like you may be the only one with questions. It probably isn’t true but there is no structured or even informal way for members to share except within very close friendships and even there one is hesitant, you don’t want to possibly upset a good friend with issues that they have never considered and for that matter never need to consider. Isolation leads to depression, here we get to at least talk enough to keep the depression away.
I was wanting to post a thank you too, to everyone, so I’ll just jump on here and do it. 😳 Thanks for your comments professionalmom, I haven’t been around long enough but I definitely would like to echo your statements of gratitude.
My ability to detach from the church in a healthy way so as to be able to continue to attend church, enjoy church, and even grow from the experience of participating, may not have been possible had I not found this place.
The ability to stay present, look inside myself, embrace goodness, transcend black/white thinking, in short, moving past stage 3 into stage 4 with moments in stage 5, have been greatly enhanced by my participation here.
I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. It’s been fantastic!
And, I know my DW would thank you too. She loves how I’ve come to accept rather than expect.
Quote:She loves how I’ve come to accept rather than expect.
and that, dear readers, is the heart of the struggle.swimordie thank you for you as well!!!! Quote:And, I know my DW would thank you too. She loves how I’ve come to accept rather than expect.
If you haven’t started the “Book of Swimordie” yet I nominate this quote to be the starting verse. It is literally a “scriptural” insight. Thank you again, so much communicated in one phrase, here I am going to write it again, pared down to the essence:
Accept rather than expect.I may have to hop back here each day, hmmm, maybe I’ll just run it off on my inkjet and post in on the office wall. This has really hit me, I feel rumblings within. Thanks.
Wow! You made it back to the temple! That is great. That is where I am headed. Can get myself to the parking lot. Even to the front door….. But I haven’t had the gumption to get myself back inside. Working on it, though. Feel the invitation of the spirit. Know I am at least worthy to be there. Went to a temple dedication yesterday and felt such a crazy combination of anger and transcending peace! Vented all my concerns to my sweet heart husband but woke this morning to recognize the peace of the experience has even laid those concerns to a safe shelf with God.
Now I just gotta get my feet to walk thru the dang door.
I am so happy for you. Thank you for sharing.
Way to go, “Mom!” Your journey makes this website worthwhile…for many, I’m sure! Hey Poppy, Your last post got me to thinking about what was probably the most intense spiritual experience of my life. When I had just passed the darkest (personal) emotional point of my crisis/confusion my wife wanted us to go to the temple. I still had a recommend so I (somewhat reluctantly) agreed. My wife at this point didn’t really know of what I was going through, but I wanted to make an effort at whatever I could – even though I was uncomfortable and unsure about so many things in church. I thought “hey, at least I know that I won’t be asked to do or say anything there” (like pray). I had recently covered a lot of material on the similarities to masonry – and actually had come to terms with the 19th century mindset relating to a Masonic type ritual and finding inspiration there. I sort of thought “I may not understand it in the same way that the members back then would have, but I can appreciate that THEY did see something that they appreciated, or even found inspiring.”
I guess I went there with an open mind – free of any expectations.
What I experienced was a quiet moment of reflection – contemplating the beauty of the earth, and the whole wonderful/confusing state that is life.
I can’t describe what came over me but I actually got giddy with optimism for life. It’s like I got a glimpse of unconditional or God-like love. I don’t understand it, I can’t explain it, but it was an amazing moment. I somehow knew that the opportunity to live and to love is a tremendous blessing – and to waste any part of it with negative emotions is such a loss.
I’m not saying this same experience couldn’t have happened in some other setting, but I do appreciate the way the temple is dedicated space – and the world is made to wait outside.
Thank you, Orson. I appreciate that. Perhaps one of these days I will have some similar experience to share. Orson wrote:I somehow knew that the opportunity to live and to love is a tremendous blessing – and to waste any part of it with negative emotions is such a loss.
Loved that! This little gem along with “accept and not expect” are going into my quote treasury. Blessings to all!
This thread is full of human beauty. Thank you everyone who shared your personal experiences. Beautiful.
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