Sunday, January 15, 2012

CHOOSING SIDES

The summer after going through the third grade in American Falls, Idaho, our family made the move to Long Beach, California, where in September of that year I entered into the fourth grade at Lincoln Elementary.

This move brought about many life changing experiences, one of which was that, instead of having playgrounds of grass and dirt, the playground at Lincoln Elementary was completely covered with asphalt with the exception of the little fenced off area reserved for the kindergarten kids. In American Falls even the outdoor basketball courts had been dirt with patches of grass.

Lincoln Elementary also had an afternoon activity program which was conducted by the Recreational Department of the City of Long Beach. I spent most of my afternoons enjoying the activities provided by this program. Actually, during the fourth grade I mainly spent my two hours after school playing kickball with an occasional excursion to the tether ball ring. Our afternoon kickball games always started with the laborious task of choosing up sides.

There was no way that the activity coordinators could leave this task up to the eager kickers. If they were left without supervision the ‘good kickers’ somehow always ended up on the same team. When the coordinator lined the kids up and counted 1, 2, 1, 2 … the ‘good kickers’ always somehow had an ‘average kicker’ on both sides of them in line. (The ‘bad kickers’ always sat at the picnic type tables and did crafts or played board games)

The coordinators continually had to create new ways of choosing teams in order to try to keep some sort of competitive balance. With all their creative attempts the ‘good kickers’, even when on opposite teams, found a way to keep their friends ‘safe’ by missing catches and letting balls escape them.

I don’t think these experiences permanently scarred me or any of the ‘kick ballers’, but I do know that throughout my life I have been very aware that the phenomena of ‘choosing sides’ exists in almost all facets of our lives.

Tacitus, a Roman historian, who in his Histories chronicled the tumultuous times of the Empire during the years 69 and 70 of the Common Era, said “When a ruler once becomes unpopular all his acts, be they good or bad, tell against him.”

In the political arena we find that strategic statements made by candidates as they vie to gain their party’s nomination become fodder to fuel the flames of fury which engulf them as they enter the general elections. Once a winner is determined, it will matter little whether their decisions are sound or silly, all those who were (2’s) when the choosing was finished will find nothing but fault in all that is said and done by the (1’s). If the results were reversed the negativity would still be a consuming constant.

When a long time union is dissolved by divorce or separation, sides are immediately chosen usually along the lines of common DNA. From the moment the decree is written, right and wrong are no longer matters of reality, but one of relationship. Long time friendships are ended and the rotten (2) suddenly becomes someone whose reputation should be trashed and muddied, no matter how sterling their character was previously. In areas of disputation (1) will always carry the day.

Adherents of religious beliefs, who weekly read and listen to words of love and common kinship, when encountering one of another belief will invariably seek to be right rather than righteous. In any disputed doctrine the (1’s) will always find shortcomings in the doctrines and ritual of the (2’s) and visa-versa.

Economic social groups find the sides they choose to be surrounded by are as distinct as the bottom line on their tax returns. The wealthy (1or 2) continually talk of the poor (1or 2) as if they were all lazy and indolent underachievers, while the poor (1or 2) are sure that most people of wealth (1 or 2) have what they have because of some accident of birth or because they were willing to sacrifice principle for profit.

We could go on citing examples of how we all choose sides depending on the schools we have attended, sports teams we support, the relative beauty of the dominant pigmentation of our skin, how high on the hill we live, the country of origin of our ancestors and even the correctness of the age we are currently passing through contrary to the dismalness of another’s years. It seems as if we are constantly lining up to choose sides. If I have been chosen to be a (1) I will almost always walk contrary to your (2). If you think of yourself as a (1) you will most often see me as a (2) to be walking a crooked path.

Most of us have dreams about living in a utopian society where we will all live in peace, but most of us secretly feel that this will only happen when you desert your side and make an effort to be more like me and mine.

The apostle John in his first epistle gave the following counsel. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” “Herein is our love made perfect, that ye may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4: 20, 7, 8, 17)

So there it is, it matters little if thee become like me or I become like thee, it is imperative that we both choose to become like He.

13 comments:

  1. Bill,

    A very relevant topic to our day. Thank you.

    Just where and how to we choose sides? Here is a telling Pew survey about "Mormons in America" (Jan 13, 2012 Deseret News).

    Russ Cleveland

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  2. I penned a long reply. Unworthy of a saint. Sitting repentant unsent. :(
    I liked your thoughts, they sparked many for me.

    Paul Maddow

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  3. I loved this one. True to life even though we wished it wasn't.

    Love Kellee Kiley

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  4. What a needed message. My new favorite. Thank you!!!!

    Sharon Cocanour

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  5. Dear Friend,
    Thank you for sending your "THOUGHTS" ~~ I enjoy reading through your messages. Yesterday, our Relief Society lesson was on Pres. George Albert Smith and his "creed" for living. It should be our goal in this life to be able to love our fellow men/women as it is a commandment from God to do so. I appreciate your quoting the Apostle John's epistle as he states this very fact so very well.

    Have a beautiful week!

    Love, Carla Johnson

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  6. Muchas gracias Pte. por sus pensamientos inspirados para un dia de reposo, los cuales son pensamientos no solo para todo un año, sino para toda una vida! Mil gracias nuevamente y muchas bendiciones para Usted y su Familia.

    aura elena thalliens acosta

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  7. Donya wrote: "I so appreciate getting your weekly thoughts. Glad you are on the mend from your surgery."

    Donya Jenkins

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  8. Mahalo, Bill and Kathy! Looking forward to spending time with you in Hawaii!
    Aloha,

    Shannon and James Kanekoa

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  9. "Presidente RILEY gracias, disfruto mucho de sus lecturas....."

    Alejo Lasso

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  10. Presidente y hermana,

    Excelente reflexión, gracias por tomarse el tiempo de escribir y compartirla con nosotros, es tanto el apuro que tenemos en la vida y tan preocupados de ser mejores que el otro, que olvidamos hoy ser mejores de lo que eramos ayer y perdemos la perspectiva del mejor modelo que tenemos que es nuestro salvador y llegar a dar lo mejor de lo que cada uno puede a portar a un equipo, respetando y amando a nuestro projimo podemos elevar su potencial en esta tierra pero primero entendiendo que somos material divino igual que nuestro projimo y coherederos de nuestro PADRE CELESTIAL, y que por provenir de ese mismo ser si atentamos contra nuestro hermano, de cualquier manera, a el lo hacemos.

    Agradecemos su mensaje y todo lo que en esta tierra han a portado para que otros como nosotros sus hermanos podamos vivir vidas mejores.

    Familia RICARDO LEON Y ESPERANZA RODRIGUEZ E Hijas

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  11. Bill,
    I beg your pardon? ... :)
    Not "choosing sides", but "chosen"!
    We who are so blessed by having been chosen bear a burden, owe a debt to the remainder of mankind.
    We attempt to fulfill that debt, only in part to be sure, by going amongst "the unchosen" when we are young, offering them to offer themselves to be chosen. When older, we sacrifice financially for that mission. You see, in the end, we who are chosen fully realize that we cannot choose, but are chosen.
    Why is it that we the chosen become so jealous rather than generous in our judgments of the "unchosen"? Perhaps, "because as he (He) is, so are we in this world?” He is a jealous God, so say scriptures. Sometimes, without the casuistry of the saints, (all of we who are the "saints" included), one would have "mis"-read some of His acts (as told in the scriptures) as petty. We indeed wonder about His more current acts in our modern world and throughout history which, from our human perspective, seem to be capricious. But thankfully we have been chosen and are on His side, (and "as night follows day," He on ours) so we trust.

    Who are those who you say dream of living in a utopian society?
    Children have such dreams. Those dreams persist in different form for youth and on as young adults as we send them out into the world to convince others of those dreams (as nations we send them out with their dreams to fight our wars for our now jaded dreams). We all would like to re-acquire some of the enthusiasm of the dreams of youth. That is something that I as an old man would love. [But not to worry, it doesn't seem to be happening. :)]
    As we age that dream takes another form as we choose to be chosen into a different kind of utopia; one with an enduring, an eternal nature. None of this fleeting, fickle choosing of youth. We want to nail the hope down into an eternal promise - to be chosen onto the winning side for good. No more competing for the prize; the prize must be won once and for all. For good. Forever.
    Being and becoming:
    "it matters little if thee become like me or I become like thee, it is imperative that we both choose to become like He." That is the song of a Siren, so pure and clear, yet so false. It is a clear bell that rings a false tone; lovely, alluring, and false.
    We are each by the design of The Creator unique. I cannot become like thee, nor thee like me. And to, even for a moment get into my mind that finite I can become like He, my Creator, is preposterous.
    But ah-ha you rejoin, you have me now. My perspective is narrow, perhaps too narrow, earthly narrow. You speak of eternity while I speak of a temporal world. My view is restricted to that of "the natural man," the enemy of God. Your perspective is more elevated, more enduring, eternal.
    So here we have it: I must admit that your admonition is one available to one who has the gift to see beyond that dark abyss, through that veil that has proven so impenetrable for those like me. I see only with hope and a dogged sort of faith while you see with a high degree of assurance. Your faith has made you whole. Since my limitations have rendered me incapable of clear apprehension of ultimate things, I may only listen and wonder,

    With some degree of skepticism, inevitable under the circumstances, yet trying to remain open,

    I remain,
    Your Apostle, Paul Maddox

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  12. Querido Presidente y hermana Riley:Mil gracias por sus pensamientos.REciban nuestro amor y gratitud deseandoles salud y bienestar.Deseamos visitarlos tan pronto Karen se recupere de su parto.

    Armando & Graciela Gomez

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  13. Guillermo wrote: "Gracias Presidente por sus palabras"

    Guillermo Sanahuano Cardenas

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