Comments on: Traffic as the Test of Christian Character http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/ Free Articles on LDS Marriage, Parenting. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:23:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: “Traffic as the Test of Christian Character” | A Soft Answer http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-380 “Traffic as the Test of Christian Character” | A Soft Answer Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:45:43 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-380 [...] “Traffic as the Test of Christian Character.” It may sound silly but it’s those small things that can be hardest to conquer. Driving is a magnificent test of our Christian character. We are generally quite anonymous, we have lots of power, and we are fully goal-directed. If anything will demonstrate our spiritual maturity, I suppose that driving will. [...] [...] “Traffic as the Test of Christian Character.” It may sound silly but it’s those small things that can be hardest to conquer. Driving is a magnificent test of our Christian character. We are generally quite anonymous, we have lots of power, and we are fully goal-directed. If anything will demonstrate our spiritual maturity, I suppose that driving will. [...]

]]> By: Lynn http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Lynn Thu, 29 May 2008 02:58:07 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-350 I am crazy about knitting. [Some folks, my teenager in particular, might think "about knitting" is redundant.] I don't listen to NPR, so I can't answer your other question. Good point about the other trains not passing you [at least not in the same direction, but that may change within a year or so; rumor hath it that we are getting a bullet train that will go from FW to Dallas in about 20 minutes, obviously not on the same track as the one I'm currently taking]. I am crazy about knitting. [Some folks, my teenager in particular, might think "about knitting" is redundant.] I don’t listen to NPR, so I can’t answer your other question.

Good point about the other trains not passing you [at least not in the same direction, but that may change within a year or so; rumor hath it that we are getting a bullet train that will go from FW to Dallas in about 20 minutes, obviously not on the same track as the one I'm currently taking].

]]> By: admin http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-339 admin Thu, 22 May 2008 14:28:16 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-339 What an interesting discussion! The concensus seems to be that expectations can get us in trouble. I think that hope is expectation tempered with faith. It is the willingness to "receive all things with thankfulness"--which results in us being made glorious (See D&C 78:17-19). For example, Nancy and I expected to have a large family. Instead we had 20-plus miscarriages and just three (glorious and blessed) children. Because of my expectations, my early reaction was anger and demand. "We're good kids who try to keep the commandments and we want You to fix this!" That is expectation without the faith. It is not hope. Over time I learned to trust God. I learned to say: "I am so grateful for this miscarriage!" It sounded crazy. But miscarriages taught me to trust God. What a blessing! God does not have to explain His doings to me. He will do what is best and I will be grateful. His promise and covenant is to bless us. My duty is to be grateful. This ties to my definition of faith as the relentless determination to see God's goodness in everything that happens. That is soul-stretching. To be specific, God says that, if we keep the commandments, we will prosper in the land. What "prosper" means to God is certainly different from what it means to most of us--especially Americans. Sometimes we EXPECT (There's that word!) truckloads of money to start showing up because we go to Church. Candleman nailed that one. When we recognize that we are always hopelessly in debt, then we can be grateful for what we have. (PLEASE expand this for Meridian.) The way God has prospered me is very different from what I expected. He grew my faith. He challenged me to be unselfish and other-oriented (a continuing work!). Then He occasionally gave me a few hundred dollars of royalties that He told me to use for those who are much poorer than I. I was thinking of a home in Alpine and spare cash. He was thinking of building my character so that I could help Him in His work. He trusts me with resources ONLY as I show that I will use them to build His kingdom and bless His children. That is clearly why He hasn't made me rich. I am a slow learner--but maybe a determined one. So prospering in the land is very different from what I expected as a free-enterprise American. Blessings to all of you. Thank you for sharing from your full hearts. What an interesting discussion! The concensus seems to be that expectations can get us in trouble.

I think that hope is expectation tempered with faith. It is the willingness to “receive all things with thankfulness”–which results in us being made glorious (See D&C 78:17-19).

For example, Nancy and I expected to have a large family. Instead we had 20-plus miscarriages and just three (glorious and blessed) children.
Because of my expectations, my early reaction was anger and demand. “We’re good kids who try to keep the commandments and we want You to fix
this!” That is expectation without the faith. It is not hope. Over time I learned to trust God. I learned to say: “I am so grateful for this miscarriage!” It sounded crazy. But miscarriages taught me to trust God. What a blessing! God does not have to explain His doings to me. He will do what is best and I will be grateful. His promise and covenant is to bless us. My duty is to be grateful. This ties to my definition of faith as the relentless determination to see God’s goodness in everything that happens. That is soul-stretching.

To be specific, God says that, if we keep the commandments, we will prosper in the land. What “prosper” means to God is certainly different from what it means to most of us–especially Americans. Sometimes we EXPECT (There’s that word!) truckloads of money to start showing up because we go to Church. Candleman nailed that one. When we recognize that we are always hopelessly in debt, then we can be grateful for what we have. (PLEASE expand this for Meridian.) The way God has prospered me is very different from what I expected. He grew my faith. He challenged me to be unselfish and other-oriented (a continuing work!). Then He occasionally gave me a few hundred dollars of royalties that He told me to use for those who are much poorer than I. I was thinking of a home in Alpine and spare cash. He was thinking of building my character so that I could help Him in His work. He trusts me with resources ONLY as I show that I will use them to build His kingdom and bless His children. That is clearly why He hasn’t made me rich. I am a slow learner–but maybe a determined one.

So prospering in the land is very different from what I expected as a free-enterprise American.

Blessings to all of you. Thank you for sharing from your full hearts.

]]> By: Kristen http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Kristen Wed, 21 May 2008 21:05:09 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-337 I'd like that too. I'm not sure I understand the difference. When the Book of Mormon teaches so often that if we keep the commandments we will "prosper in the land," how do you not have some expectations? And what does it mean to go to the Lord in prayer with faith, "believing that ye will receive?" I understand the explanation of receiving what is expedient for us, or trusting that God knows what is best for us, but to have no expectations seems difficult to do. I’d like that too. I’m not sure I understand the difference. When the Book of Mormon teaches so often that if we keep the commandments we will “prosper in the land,” how do you not have some expectations? And what does it mean to go to the Lord in prayer with faith, “believing that ye will receive?” I understand the explanation of receiving what is expedient for us, or trusting that God knows what is best for us, but to have no expectations seems difficult to do.

]]> By: Jim http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Jim Wed, 21 May 2008 18:16:20 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-336 Wally, I, too, would be interested on your ideas regarding managing expectations. I think this ties in also with your recent post on regret. At times, I feel like I'm a dreamer and am too idealistic. When my dreams fail to materialize, the natural reaction is to become discouraged and to give up. In the end, my discouragement reflects ingratitude and a lack of faith as you mentioned in your Regret post. To me, there is a fine line between doggedly pursuing "our own" righteous goals and humbly submitting to and seeking God's will. Candleman, would you mind elaborating on your perspective of the difference between hope and expectation? I'm sure it is just semantics, but I see the two words as essentially the same in meaning. I would like to better understand this concept in hopes of better managing my expectations! Thank you... Wally,
I, too, would be interested on your ideas regarding managing expectations. I think this ties in also with your recent post on regret.

At times, I feel like I’m a dreamer and am too idealistic. When my dreams fail to materialize, the natural reaction is to become discouraged and to give up.

In the end, my discouragement reflects ingratitude and a lack of faith as you mentioned in your Regret post. To me, there is a fine line between doggedly pursuing “our own” righteous goals and humbly submitting to and seeking God’s will.

Candleman, would you mind elaborating on your perspective of the difference between hope and expectation? I’m sure it is just semantics, but I see the two words as essentially the same in meaning. I would like to better understand this concept in hopes of better managing my expectations!

Thank you…

]]> By: Candleman http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-335 Candleman Wed, 21 May 2008 05:05:33 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-335 Wally, I'm interested in your comment about frustration resulting from unmet expectations. The root cause of my addictive behavior was unmet expectations. In my case expections implied a deserved outcome. If I did X then Y should be the outcome. If Z is what transpired I went insane. The discovery that I was less than the dust of the earth and in actuality, deserve nothing (as pertains to the blessings side of the spectrum) was the most liberating discovery of my life. Clearly I deserve lots of things on the punishment side of the scale. The interesting thing is that the Atonement takes care of both. The foundation of Christ's sacrifice is love. Beneath the wings of charity He selters and sustains us. Not for our merit, but for His. Meanwhile, I can be considered guiltless and deserving of no punishment because of His merits and mercy, which resulted from that love. I now hope for things, but never expect anything. It's lots more fun, and always an adventure. Do you find that there are appropriate situations for expectation? Wally,

I’m interested in your comment about frustration resulting from unmet expectations. The root cause of my addictive behavior was unmet expectations. In my case expections implied a deserved outcome. If I did X then Y should be the outcome. If Z is what transpired I went insane. The discovery that I was less than the dust of the earth and in actuality, deserve nothing (as pertains to the blessings side of the spectrum) was the most liberating discovery of my life.

Clearly I deserve lots of things on the punishment side of the scale. The interesting thing is that the Atonement takes care of both. The foundation of Christ’s sacrifice is love. Beneath the wings of charity He selters and sustains us. Not for our merit, but for His. Meanwhile, I can be considered guiltless and deserving of no punishment because of His merits and mercy, which resulted from that love.

I now hope for things, but never expect anything. It’s lots more fun, and always an adventure.

Do you find that there are appropriate situations for expectation?

]]> By: admin http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-332 admin Mon, 19 May 2008 15:47:29 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-332 Jim, I liked your examples of things that often catch us off-guard and push us toward anger. It ties well with the C.S. Lewis observation. Thank you. -Wally Jim, I liked your examples of things that often catch us off-guard and push us toward anger. It ties well with the C.S. Lewis observation.

Thank you.

-Wally

]]> By: admin http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-331 admin Mon, 19 May 2008 15:46:34 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-331 Yes. We each have different triggers. And, whatever the source, each is an opportunity to grow. I like your suggestion that we can do hard things. This is not the world's approach which still tends to be ventilationist. -Wally Yes. We each have different triggers. And, whatever the source, each is an opportunity to grow. I like your suggestion that we can do hard things.

This is not the world’s approach which still tends to be ventilationist.

-Wally

]]> By: admin http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-330 admin Mon, 19 May 2008 15:46:02 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-330 Enjoyed your blog. By the way, do you like to knit? One nice thing about riding the train is that other trains don't try to pass you. I listen to NPR on the way to work. Do you think that makes a person sedated or hostile? -Wally Enjoyed your blog. By the way, do you like to knit?

One nice thing about riding the train is that other trains don’t try to pass you.

I listen to NPR on the way to work. Do you think that makes a person sedated or hostile?

-Wally

]]> By: Lynn http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/comment-page-1/#comment-325 Lynn Sat, 17 May 2008 01:21:33 +0000 http://www.drwally.org/working-with-people/traffic-as-the-test-of-christian-character/#comment-325 Loved this column when I read it on Meridian [yesterday?]. Embedded a link to it in my blog post earlier today, and got a great comment from my firstborn. I found an end-run around the speeding dilemma; this month I started riding the train to work. There are new challenges [also referenced in today's blog post], and I begin to see why so many people have iPods and MP3 players. With what I am now saving on gas and other expenses, I might be able to justify the purchase of one, particularly if I can get it on eBay for half price or less. Listening to Dr. Woodbury's soothing voice on my Book of Mormon CD's has done wonders for my attitude when I am behind the wheel. Lynn-the-work-in-progress Loved this column when I read it on Meridian [yesterday?]. Embedded a link to it in my blog post earlier today, and got a great comment from my firstborn.

I found an end-run around the speeding dilemma; this month I started riding the train to work. There are new challenges [also referenced in today's blog post], and I begin to see why so many people have iPods and MP3 players. With what I am now saving on gas and other expenses, I might be able to justify the purchase of one, particularly if I can get it on eBay for half price or less.

Listening to Dr. Woodbury’s soothing voice on my Book of Mormon CD’s has done wonders for my attitude when I am behind the wheel.

Lynn-the-work-in-progress

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