A FIRM FOUNDATION

There are some events in our lives which by their very nature cause us to pause and pensively take a personal inventory on where we are and what brought us to this point. I remember as we sat as a family in the Reno Convention Center witnessing the high school graduation of our eldest son, out of the air thoughts which covered almost two decades flashed through my mind. Besides the wondrous things which had transpired in the family life of Kathleen and I, our family had increased to where it had maxed out to be composed of five sons and a daughter. It was a period where we made six major moves in three different states, and my personal life had gone from struggling student/construction worker to what would be a life long journey of eager learning and sharing thoughts with others.

The fundamentals of religion and philosophy seemed to change as rapidly as the cars on the freeways speeding by in a blur bearing their propagandizing bumper stickers. ‘God is Dead.’ ‘Do Your Own Thing.’ ‘I Found IT.’ ‘The Moral Majority.’

Automobiles were no longer called sedans, coupes, four doors and hardtops, but had been transformed into Cougar’s, Mustang’s, Dart’s and Malibu’s.

It was an age when parents ‘Spocked’ their kids and made every effort to make sure the offspring would be ‘OK’ since the parents were also ‘OK’, while all the time they were being assured of the futility of their efforts because the children as well as the parents would all end up suffering terminal cases of ‘Future Shock.’

Last year as we sat in the Lawler Events Center in Reno and attended the graduation of another grandson I reflected on the passing of another three decades of life. Our family now bragged of 17 grandchildren and we had made two more major moves which included a wonderful three years in the beautiful country of Colombia. I had ‘retired’ from my teaching career and became aware of my days rapidly being filled up with all kinds of new adventures.

Religion had now become a way for comedians to bring laughter to parishioners congregated in clubs and bars. Church’s were springing up to gain tax advantages. Sermons and sacred hymns were delivered into homes on flat screen HD televisions while the followers vegged in pajamas and snacked on sugar laden cereals.

Automobiles were now identified by undistinguishable letters and numbers. People on the freeway are seen waving at cars with similar alphabetical and numerical labels as if they had some kind of special bond.

Parents were now constantly being pulled between raising their children with ‘tough love’ and not doing anything which would damage the fragile psyche of the tender child. Children had learned to use threats of lawful retribution for any corporal punishment which might be administered.

In these moments of reflection I would hope we would always take a deep breath and pause long enough as change swirls around us to reflect on the value of being founded upon principles which we as well as future generations can depend and which will be the cement which holds societies intact.

It may be well to consider that no matter how wise and sophisticated our ever-expanding internet-fed ever-learning makes us feel, we will never be able to supplant the teachings of Jesus Christ as the firm foundation upon which to build a fitly framed world.

About peace: Peace will never be found universally upon this earth until each of us truly comes to believe, understand and act as if there is one universal family.

About love: Love in my life will only increase as I demonstrate my love to others through edifying, building and strengthening actions.

About success: Success will never be measured by the number of lives I control, but only by the number I serve.

About worship: The most sincere form of worship is done when finding and lifting those who are down-trodden and lost.

The next time we find ourselves in one of those activities which tend to stimulate reflection and contemplation on what has and is transpiring during the rapidly disappearing days of our mortality it might be well to let our thoughts sort through the man-made mountain of philosophies which have been tested, found wanting and cast aside after their 15 minutes of trial and then in that quiet moment ponder and resolve to seriously determine to reestablish the teachings of the Savior as the foundation of our experiences in the laboratories of our lives.