Be Still

How often do we see people walking around with those little buds in their ears, rocking out to the latest tunes? It reminds me of when I was in college and seeing all the people on the bus with there ear-buds in. Now I see people running together and not talking but listening to their separate music. Who of us has put on music to relax or think? I know I have. I even put on music to study. But it is only on very rare occasions that I spend time in just quite peaceful thought? Now don't get me wrong, I love music it seems a little strange to me to not have music playing as I am driving. Perhaps however, we need to take time to simply be still, and listen.

When I was in college I can remember a day where life just felt overwhelming. I had just heard that my dad had kidney cancer and I was struggling with the idea of mortality. After about a day of freaking out and crying my eyes out, I decided that I would spend some time and just talk to God about it. I turned off the music and sat on the floor of my bedroom. I said a prayer, which consisted of very little, and then just sat. As the stillness and the quiet overcame I was able to listen to the spirit and have a better understanding of what the Lord had for me to hear. I was able to understand that no matter what happened that everything would be okay, that my dad would be taken care of even if that meant in heaven. The Lord has said "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10).  I believe that if we take the time to be still and listen to the Lord we will be able to truly know that he is God and is looking out for us and our needs.

Watermelon Snow

We are always taught not to eat colored snow but have you ever seen pink snow? Well here in Townsend there is a mountain familiarly termed Baldy. It is a high peek that continues to have snow, left over from the winter, into the summer months. Because of the height of the peek there is higher Ultra Violet rays. Now this is only important because in order to protect itself an organism that lives in the snow produces a red hue and turns the snow pink. Now I know that right now your mind is blown! But it gets better not only does this snow look pink but it smells and tastes like watermelon. Thus the name watermelon snow. Now when I heard this for the first time I couldn't even believe what I was hearing. But I have come to realize that we need to expect the unexpected, or believe in miracles. A miracle is an extraordinary event caused by the power of God.

Many miracles have been performed though out history. We see the things that the prophets did. Moses, he parted the Red Sea, there was manna for the Israelites, Noah built an ark, Daniel was saved from the lions and many more. There is of course the many miracles that Christ performed throughout his life, beginning with turning water into wine and ending with his Resurrection.

However many today do not believe that miracles still happen. Just look at the brilliantly pink snow and tell me that is not  "an extraordinary event caused by the power of God." So if God is working in these small ways to show that he is still there and still working with us then why would the greater miracles have ceased? "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God . . . Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men" (Moroni 7:27, 29).

The Lord has again reached out to his children in love and has revealed the fullness of his Gospel in a miraculous way. He appeared to a young boy who had a simple question. A young boy with enough faith to go forth and do what the Lord asked of him despite the difficulties that it would bring to his life. The Lord has not ceased to be a "God of miracles." We must have faith to see the miracles in our life. Do you believe that there could be watermelon snow? Then why not greater miracles?