So, the truth of the matter is that I have been very bad at documenting the events of this year at all, which is bad. I know from experience that a good journal or record is one of the best ways to remember my experiences, so I will seek to do better.
Last week I visited Albania, and saw my sister and her family there. It was really neat, after getting off the plane we visited a castle where Skanderbeg (a national hero) had held off the Ottomans. Plus there was ten cent ice cream, and people living within the castle walls, way up on the mountain overlooking the valley, it was a really awesome place.
The next day we went to the beach, which took us off on a dirt/village road for a while, which was at times a little questionable (including communist era anti-invasion bunkers) but the beach was nice, and I ended up with a sunburn. Church on Sunday was interesting, since I didn't understand a word. But the people were so kind, and the same kind of spirit and feeling was there, and it was neat to see the Church growing in such a new place.
It was a really great trip, and wonderful to see my sister again. Our family is small, but my sister and brother-in-law are some of my best friends. Plus I love spending time with my neice and nephews.
This week I did some homework, but on Saturday we went to the Preston temple with the ward. It was a long drive (4 hours each way) but it made me so grateful to have a number of temples so close and accessible. We are so blessed to have the gospel, and it made me ponder on how easy it is sometimes, and how I can take it for granted. Plus I got to hang out on the bus ride with Daniel and Mandi, two of the other interns that are a lot of fun to hang out with. I have made some great friends here, and I am so glad that I have been able to have this experience.
So there is the past week or so, I am going to try and do better on recording what I do. We'll see I guess.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Community
I went to an interfaith conference at my Church yesterday, and it was a really interesting experience and I am really glad that I went. The Stake President of the Edinburgh area spoke, as well as leaders from the Episcopal Church, the Jewish community, the Baha'i and a leader of a Muslim woman's group. It was interesting as they talked about families and how important families are to all of these communities.
Another topic that arose was concerning community in general, and how the idea of community is dying. It was an interesting topic to consider, and as I thought about it I think it is true. One of the examples used was of stores, as small local shops are replaced by large stores. But as was pointed out, these are symptoms of a deeper malaise, the real problem is that we are replacing community and family with a focus on things that don't matter. Rather than building friendships and helping those in need we find ourselves spending all of our lives trying to make money, or to get the next cool gadget, etc. And these things aren't bad, we need money to live, and I am glad that I can email rather than always write letters, but the problem comes when these become the focus of our lives instead of tools that enrich our lives. As was pointed out the really important things, the things that will last beyond this life, are our families and friends, the things that we have learned, the experiences and the memories that we have. Honestly, has anyone on their death bed ever said, "oh shoot, I never did get that new I-phone?"
Anyways, this rambling does have a point, I hope. Essentially, we need to spend our lives on the things that really matter, on learning and serving, on loving and growing. And as we do these things everything else will come with it, we will have good jobs, and we will have means to survive. And we will be happier, and we will have family and friends (i.e. a community) to share it with, and that is what really matters in the end, is it not?
Another topic that arose was concerning community in general, and how the idea of community is dying. It was an interesting topic to consider, and as I thought about it I think it is true. One of the examples used was of stores, as small local shops are replaced by large stores. But as was pointed out, these are symptoms of a deeper malaise, the real problem is that we are replacing community and family with a focus on things that don't matter. Rather than building friendships and helping those in need we find ourselves spending all of our lives trying to make money, or to get the next cool gadget, etc. And these things aren't bad, we need money to live, and I am glad that I can email rather than always write letters, but the problem comes when these become the focus of our lives instead of tools that enrich our lives. As was pointed out the really important things, the things that will last beyond this life, are our families and friends, the things that we have learned, the experiences and the memories that we have. Honestly, has anyone on their death bed ever said, "oh shoot, I never did get that new I-phone?"
Anyways, this rambling does have a point, I hope. Essentially, we need to spend our lives on the things that really matter, on learning and serving, on loving and growing. And as we do these things everything else will come with it, we will have good jobs, and we will have means to survive. And we will be happier, and we will have family and friends (i.e. a community) to share it with, and that is what really matters in the end, is it not?
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