This.

In our world we have a problems.  One of these problems is that we are constantly striving to be this.  We don't exactly know that this is.  We say we want to be this size or have this house/job/article of clothing/etc., but once we finally have obtained this, this is no longer good enough.  We cannot quantify this, it is always changing.    

On the other hand sometimes we get caught up in the quantifying of a certain this.  Many of us, myself included, get hung up on the idea that this type of music, this school, this style of parenting, this religion, etc. is the best version of this and that no other version can compare.  We tend to exclude and often criticize any other versions of our specific this.  

Lately this obsession of our world's has been a tad bit frustrating.  Why is it that we can't accept others?  We stand and preach the idea of tolerance from every soap box available but then we find it almost impossible to implement for ourselves.  Ug.  Why is this so difficult for us as a race?

I took a class this last semester entitled Educational Psychology.  It was a brilliant course.  One concept I thoroughly enjoyed was the idea of "schema."  Each person has grown up a certain way. Certain pathways, routines, and ideas become ingrained in the super highway of our brains.  These are termed our "schema" or the way in which we see the world and the things in it.  If we only use whole wheat flour to make our pancakes then that becomes ingrained and it is hard for us to understand how anyone would venture to use white flour (this is just a general example, no hidden meanings).  One of the biggest challenges of this life is to overcome our schemas or to enlarge their capacities.  In political correctness terms we call this being "open-minded" or "tolerant."  Our goal should be to stick to our guns on what we firmly believe but not to the point that we exclude any other answers/ways of life/etc. from having any bit of truth.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we often recognize the important role of all Christian faiths in their effort to bring people closer to Christ, encourage service, promote scripture study, etc.  We also recognize the efforts of other religions to cultivate Christ-like, although they may not be officially termed so, attributes in their followers.  Many religions encourage self-reliance, preparedness, service, brotherly kindness, etc.  We affirm the role of these religions in helping to establish peace.  We recognize the truth that we do see!  We should strive to do this with all areas of life.  This may be your personal favorite pancake recipe, but their are thousands of others that could be equally good, or suit someone else's taste better.  This type of music may be your favorite, but this one has catchy rhythms, this one has very technical elements, this one has a good dance beat, this one has a special place in someone's heart.  Each of these has something unique and special to offer.  Also, this school is in a wonderful area, this school has an incredible program, this school is close to home, this school has emotional and spiritual connections, this school offers good connections.  Each of these schools has something good to offer.  We cannot diminish that.  Although something may not be your personal this we have to remember that it could be precious/valuable/good for/etc. someone else, and there is nothing, At All, wrong with that.

Get the point?

My goal is to strive to view others this way.  Hopefully that will have a positive influence on those around me.  We are all different for a reason.  Wouldn't it be boring if everyone was a hipster, gangster, country boy/girl, etc?  Yes.  I believe so.  We need variety and change.  There can often be more than one way to be "right."  Isn't that the best?  We all have different strengths, needs, etc. that can help us to reach our own version of "right."  Let's strive to recognize this and use it to bond us together and help us understand and Respect each other.

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Stumbling.

"We have all seen a toddler learn to walk. He takes a small step and totters. He falls. Do we scold such an attempt? Of course not. What father would punish a toddler for stumbling? We encourage, we applaud, and we praise because with every small step, the child is becoming more like his parents." 
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

It's ok to stumble
And it's fine to fall
If we only remember
To get up after it all. 

Our Heavenly Father loves us infinitely.  My take-away from scripture study this morning was that the Lord still loves us when we stumble, because through stumbling we learn more easily what we need to do in order to become like our loving and dear Heavenly Father.  And that is the ultimate goal...to become like and live with Him.   

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