As I drive around on Halloween evening I find myself amused at three and four foot monsters, goblins and pirates clasping empty caloried/teeth decaying loot in burdened bags. Not a second of fright overcomes me as I glance here and there at ghosts and pumpkins hanging from trees. I even catch myself laughing at headstones and skeletons half buried in browning lawns. However, there are many things that I see not only on Halloween, but also during the other 364 days of the year which really do scare me.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT A LAW IS BROKEN ONLY IF ONE IS CAUGHT
LAW OFFICERS WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT ENFORCEMENT HAS NO RESTRAINTS
PARENTS WHO NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT EXAMPLE IS THE BEST TEACHER
CHILDREN WHO BELIEVE THAT THEIR PARENTS’ EXAMPLE GIVES THEM LICENSE
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT ONLY ONCE WILL NEVER CAUSE ANY HARM
PEOPLE WHO GET GAIN BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ADDICTIVE PROPENSITIES
POLITICIANS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEIR JOB IS TO BE RE-ELECTED
ELECTORATE WHO BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT IS SOMEONE ELSE’S RESPONSIBILITY
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEIR DECISIONS NEVER AFFECT ANYONE ELSE
PEOPLE WHO ALLOW THE DECISIONS OF OTHERS TO AFFECT THEM FOREVERMORE
ATHLETES WHO THINK THAT SKILL REMOVES THE NECESSITY FOR CIVILITY
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT FAN-DOM GIVES THEM THE RIGHT OF INTRUSION
PEOPLE WHO FEEL THERE IS NO REASON TO RID THEMSELVES OF BAD HABITS
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE A PERSON WITH A BAD HABIT IS TOTALLY BAD
MEN WHO FEEL THAT MARITAL RIGHTS INCLUDE A DOUBLE STANDARD
WOMEN WHO FEEL THAT MARITAL RIGHTS INCLUDE A DOUBLE STANDARD
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE DOGS AND CATS ARE CHILDREN
PEOPLE WHO ALLOW OR CAUSE SUFFERING TO DOGS AND CATS
MEN WHO BELIEVE THAT GENDER INCLUDES THE RIGHT OF DOMINATION
WOMEN WHO BELIEVE THAT FULFILLMENT COMES IN BECOMING LIKE MEN
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE PROSPERED MUST BE MORE CHARITABLE
CELEBRITIES WHO BELIEVE STARDOM MAKES THEM UNIVERSAL AUTHORITIES
PEOPLE WHO ACCEPT THE OPINIONS OF STARS WITHOUT QUESTIONING
LEADERS WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO BE SERVED
CITIZENS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE OWED THE GOOD LIFE
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT MONEY GIVES THEM SUPERIORITY AND PRIVILEGE
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT STEALING FROM THE RICH IS NO CRIME
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS NO LIMITS
PEOPLE WHO DENY OTHERS A VOICE
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THEIR WAY OF LIFE IS THE EPITOME OF VIRTUE
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE OTHERS HAVE NO VIRTUE
I hope these thoughts will not be the cause of nightmares and loss of sleep!!!
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Hola Presidente Riley,
ReplyDeleteThis is Sariah Crowton (From Colombia). Lindsay Crowton's wife (He served his mission 92-94).
I love your inspiring writing and I wanted to ask you on a specific subject, I have a testimony and I go to church, well it feels different going to church here, maybe the language and the culture here in Utah, I don't know, anyway... I wanted to learn how to concentrate and focus my mind towards the eternal perspective while going through something hard like illness. I just got diagnosed with Breast Cancer and I want to be as positive and strong as possible for my family, my kids my husband, and for me during treatment and recovery, but it is hard sometimes to keep a smile while trying to digest everything. I really love your thoughts and anything that you find valuable that is helpful in this kind of situation I would greatly appreciate it.
Muchas gracias Presidente,
Mil gracias por los pensamientos que durante la noche del Halloween nos hacen meditar.Esperamos que la operacion de la rodilla haya salido bien y la recuperacion sea pronta .
ReplyDeleteLos amamos y deseamos buena salud y bienestar.
Armando & Graciela Gomez
Well done!!
ReplyDeleteLarry Profitt
Bill and Kathleen
ReplyDeleteOh how appropriate!!!!! Hope your knee turned out well and that you will be back on the links soon!
Bruce Ford
Así es la vida ..... El doble estándar que siempre vive la humanidad
ReplyDeleteSaludos
Justo Sanchez
My dog is not my baby? Oh shucks.
ReplyDeleteCristi Fagan
Right on!!!
ReplyDeleteJanice Bagley
Dear Brother Riley:
ReplyDeleteHope you are recovering speedily.
Well said my favorite teacher. You seems to always said the right thing at the right time of my life. Thank you for your wisdom.
Have a Happy Halloween.
Daisy Ryan
Personas que creen que es importante ser bueno,
ReplyDeletePersonas que cree que es bueno ser importante.
Personas que creen que hay cosas que son lujo,
Personas que creen que lo que ayer era lujo hoy es una necesidad.
Personas que creen tener sus derechos,
Personas que creen que sus derechos terminan cuando empiezan los del vecino.
Hermano Riley: Que tenga una buena semana
Luis Enrique Perez
Dear Bishop and Sister Riley,
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for including me on the list of those who receive "Thoughts for a Sabbath Day". I appreciate the keen insight into human nature you so artfully express. Today's writing was on Some Really Scary Things. Yes, there is a lot to worry about in the world. But just to give you a little ray of hope let me tell you about a couple in the ward next door. They will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on November 1st. They were mentioned in the Church News. Fred and Marty Martin are amazing people. They sit on the same bench on the side of the chapel every week. He is a greeter at the east door. Always a smiling face and a handshake when Fred gives out the programs. What devotion to each other they display. Yes, they were recognized for their 70 years of marriage during Sacrament Meeting. So with that thought I recall the last line of a poem I discovered just after coming home from my mission and just after meeting Kellee (yes, we are still married after 30 wonderful years-she apparently has a very strong constitution!) The poem is Desiderata and the last line goes like this,"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams it is still a wonderful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
Thanks for all you have done and all you continue to do. You have set a sterling example for those who follow.
Sincerely,
Mike Kiley
Hermoso mensaje Presidente. Muchas gracias por su sabiduría ! Un abrazo !
ReplyDeletemartha angelica ortega tovar
De nuevo gracias por compartir tan valiosos pensamientos conmigo, es algo muy relevante si se tiene en cuenta que muchas veces caemos en el error de pensar que las cosas se pueden hacer sin hacerle daño a nadie, pero el primer perjudicado es uno mimos.
ReplyDeletees mi deseo de que ya se encuentre mejor de su operación y que tenga una buena y pronta recuperación
feliz día y sea feliz...sin pensar que necesita de alguien para poder serlo..
con aprecio
Claudia Gonzalez
Pres. Riley,
ReplyDeleteHow is the knee recovery coming? Hope you are getting around and that your recovery is speedy. We had an unusually nice, warm Halloween night, but followed by our first snow storm. We got 2 inches last night.
Happy Fall !
Ann Bradshaw and family
Hola hermano y hermana Riley! Espero se encuentren bien.
ReplyDeleteGracias por sus lindos mensajes, los recuerdo con mucho cariño, proximamente me voy
a vivir a Bogotà con mi familia, mìs Padres estan paseando alla estuvieron en Provo, y
ahora se encuentran en Orlando, en casa de mi hermano. Yo por mi parte deseo agùn dìa
poder ir a conocer alla, especialmente los sitios històricos de Josè Smith.
Cuidensen, abrazos.
Lucìa Helena Aguirre.
PRESIDENTE RILEY, ME UNO A SUS PENSAMIENTOS REALMENTE A ESA SERIE DE INTERROGANTES ES A LOS QUE LE BEBEMOS TEMER VERDAD?, QUIERO APROVECHAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD PARA COMENTARLE SOBRE MI ESTADO DE ANIMO, ASISTO A UNA CAPILLA DONDE ES CENTRO DE ESTACA Y ES HERMOSA Y MUY AMPLIA, DONDE NO LA UTILIZAMOS SINO PARA EL DIA DOMINICAL, CONTAMOS CON UN OBISPO QUE NO HACE ACTIVIDADES, NI PERMITE QUE LAS HAGAMOS, LE NIEGA LAS LLAVES A LOS MISIONEROS PARA HACER DEPORTE PORQUE SEGUN EL SE GASTA LA ENERGIA, COMO LE PARECE?, MI ESPOSO ES EL SEGUNDO CONSEJERO DEL BARRIO Y ESTA MUY DESMOTIVADO PORQUE EL OBISPO NO LE ACEPTA NINGUAN SUGERENCIA, NO QUIERO QUEJARME PERO VEO QUE ALGO MALO ESTA PASANDO, EMPEZANDO POR EL PRIMER CONSEJERO QUE NO NO FUE MAS, A LOS CONCEJOS DE BARRIO NADIE VA, LA ASISTENCIA A DISMINUIDO Y YA LA ESTACA NOS SENTENCIO QUE SI NO CAMBIAMOS EL No. DE ASISTENCIA NOS BAJARAN A RAMA, ESTO NO LO PUEDO CREER, YO SIGO TRABAJANDO CON MI ESPOSO, SUGIERIENDO MUCHAS ALTERNATIVAS Y RECORDANDO MI PERIODO MISIONAL CON TODAS LAS HERRAMIENTAS QUR YO HICE EN MIS TIEMPOS, MI PRESI NO SE QUE HACER, NECESITO DE SU AYUDA, EL DOMINGO TENGO DISCUSO Y QUIERO HABLAR SOBRE LA UNIDAD Y EL TRABAJO EN EQUIPO, DESEO QUE ME AYUDE A CONSEGUIR LA HISTORIA DEL CABALLO CHUP, POR FAVOR ESPERO ME ENVIE ESA HISTORIA GRACIAS, POR FAVOR ORE POR MI BARRIO,
ReplyDeleteCON APRECIO
SANDRA YANIRA CORAL LUNA
Gracias por esos pensamientos inspiradores a esta hora del dia y antes de empezar mi trabajo no sabe cuan agradecida me siento x ellos
ReplyDeleteYaneth Beatriz Díaz Rojas
THANK YOU
ReplyDeleteYOUR BEATIFUL THINKS AND IDEAS
DEAR PRESIDENT
WHAT HAPPEN WITH YOU OPERATION
Victor Manuel Holguin Montaño