I really like the whimsical work of Dublin-Based Artist Chris Judge. When he looks into the sky, he sees much more than just clouds.

 

Another digital article from the September Liahona taught me important things.

"How Can I Be Empathetic without Becoming Overwhelmed?" By Chakell Wardleigh Herbert

I was feeling my loved ones’ problems like they were my own.

I am a helper. And believe it or not, this can be a toxic trait in some instances. By wanting to help everyone solve their problems, I sometimes stretch myself too far. I neglect my own needs.

When someone shares their struggles with me, I try to put myself in their shoes and understand their point of view. But the problems come when I (metaphorically) forget to take their shoes off.

I’m learning that I can listen to, support, and sit with someone in their struggle, but I do not have to take on their challenge as my constant companion. I can “mourn with those that mourn," but I also need to step back into my own shoes and take charge of my own challenges and responsibilities. I have to take care of myself if I’m going to have any energy and compassion left to give others!

I’ve learned that offering support and compassion doesn’t require extravagant efforts to fix problems. Simply reminding others of your and Heavenly Father’s love can do wonders.

While I can’t resolve the pain of everyone I care about, there is someone who can.

I am not the Savior.

I don’t have the capacity to be there for every person who needs a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, or instant solutions to their challenges.

I am simply one of Christ’s disciples.

I can share inklings of His love and shed glimmers of His light in darkening corners of the world.

What I give, combined with what He gives, will always be enough.

Aren't those beautiful, encouraging words? I often cannot solve the problem, fix the problem, or make everything better, but I can express love and help the person to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Capitol Reef! 

We drove there last week to see a place we had never seen before, and we loved it!  We saw only a fraction of this National Park, so we would like to go back. Here are a few glimpses, although it is hard to capture the panoramic views, the interesting features in the rock, and the majesty of the scenes:

I really liked a digital-only article in the September Liahona titled, "What If Everything I Did Was Motivated by Love for God?" by Maryssa Dennis. 

Maryssa begins, "I used to think of being Christlike as a hefty list of things I had to do and be.  When I tried to set goals, I'd get overwhelmed thinking about how far I was from where I should be. I felt like I was failing in so many ways I didn't know where to start. I realized that I'd been more focused on "doing" the gospel than becoming like the Savior.  Somehow, with so many distractions, the love got lost along the way.  But wasn't love supposed to be the point?

I decided to set a simple goal: "Do one thing each day to love God, others, and myself."

After just a few days, I was amazed by the difference.  With showing Christlike love as my goal, things that usually felt like a chore became expressions of love for God, others, and myself. I started looking for new opportunities to express love. I felt like I was seeing the world with new eyes, and as I looked for ways to love, I also noticed the love that was all around me every day.  I added a new section to my journal entries: "How I've seen God's love today."

When I felt like I was failing, Jesus Christ's love is what lifted me back up. When I feel the Savior's love, I want to reflect it back into the world.

 

Chick Rey gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting that I am still thinking about.  When Chick was a little girl, her school provided vision testing for each student. Chick was tested and her parents were later contacted by the school because Chick needed glasses.  When Chick put the glasses on, she realized with amazement that she could see so much better! She said, "I did not know that I couldn't see."

While growing up, Chick attended church faithfully in her town in Pennsylvania. She came out west to study and work and became acquainted with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After searching, studying, pondering, and waiting, she decided to be baptized. She then served a mission to Italy and later married John in the temple. She listened to President McKay when she was investigating the church, and has listened to subsequent prophets. She used the parable of the glasses to explain how she felt after joining the church and following the guidance of the prophet.  "I didn't know that I couldn't see," she again explained, "but now I see!"

One of the greatest gifts our Father and His Son have given us, and one of our greatest mortal safety nets, is the gift of a living prophet (Sheri Dew, Insights from a Prophet's Life: Russell M. Nelson, pg. 432).