Oh the Places You'll Go

Just a black hat.
Just a creaking swing.
Just calloused fingers.
Just a call.
Just an old car.
Just a sidewalk step.
Just a blue book.
Just a mossy rock.
Just a long board.
Just a weakness.
Just a blue bench.
Just a curb.
Just two cupped hands.
Just a twirl and a compliment.
Just two shorter haircuts.
Just some words.
Just some silence.
Just an embrace.
Just some change.

Objects? or Places.
I've been to each.
Not missing them until now.
Don't want to sell it short, but must tell it short.
Good luck out there.

Bravery: Overrated

We do not think we are brave 

Because we see the expensive price-tag, but

We do not see the wealth in our own pockets.

It is easy to understand that bravery takes sacrifice.

But hard to understand that we are capable of making said sacrifice.

The truth is, every brave decision was made on the edge of a boundary

And we are right in the middle.

The odds are 50/50.

To make that simpler, we are

JUST AS CLOSE

to the brave decision, as the cowardly one.

We forget this when we look at others' decisions:

"I could never go through what they went through,

(Comparison)

It would be too hard for me.

(Self-scrutiny)

I'm more of a behind-the-scenes person."

(Denial)

We tend to place the bravest person we know on a pedestal,

But we always seem to forget that distance does not provide precision in perception.

If we were to climb that platform and get a true glance of the bravest person we know,

How different would they be from us really?

They are human. With fears. With family. With faith.

Just like us.

I am willing to bet that one thing sits atop this podium.

A mirror.

With a reflection of

YOU. 

For Seniors

Congratulations!

You're about to get everything you wanted.

Everything you didn't know you wanted.

Everything you didn't want.

And, most importantly,

Everything you need.

Take a look at yourself. You're human.

That's right.

And humans are amazing.

What's so cool about us?

We grow.

A LOT.

In fact, one could argue that our whole purpose is to grow.

Imagine if you were still 7 lbs 8 oz.

That would be weird right?

Because we're supposed to grow.

We need to grow.

Another fun fact? We're really good at it. 

We are so good at growing that we can't help it. We can't stop it. We can't do anything about it.

So... with this inevitable growth, where are you going to grow?

What's next?

The truth is, you probably don't know where you want to grow.

Guess what? Most people don't.

BUT!

Even if you don't know exactly what you want to be... you'll still grow into something. 

So even if you haven't determined your particular flavor, be the best of yourself.

Make sure that if anyone is to look at you, they will be touched. 

Because the beauty of humans is that we can reach people. 

Humans are amazing.

So grow into a good one. 

Easter Sunday

Easter is the reason why I can smile at funerals.

Easter is how I know I'll see them again.

It's how I know I'll see Him again.

What a homecoming.

It is bright.

But not because pastels run rampant.

It is bright because it is hope

And hope shines.

It is rebirth.

Not because all of the eggs are hatching.

It is rebirth because of Christ

And Christ was resurrected.

It is a reunion.

But this isn't because my family always gets together.

It is a reunion between us and our Heavenly Father

And He misses us.

It's Christmas with warmer weather.

It's a Birthday with His name on the cake.

It's Valentine's day with a love that will last for eternity.

It's the Fourth of July with infinite freedom.

 It's Thanksgiving with much more to be thankful for.

It's cold in the shade

I see you.

 You're hard to miss. 

Beautiful and strong

  Stunning in your territory.

I sometimes feel I shouldn't be included in it.

   But I was planted right next to you

For reasons I don't fully understand yet. 

   The gardener knows. But He's alone in His proficiency with reasoning.

I appreciate your beauty.

  I do.

But at times there isn't much room for me.

   And you've had longer to grow your branches. 

The sunlight illuminates you in all of your magnificence.

    It is lovely to see.

But at times it's hard

    Because it's cold in the shade. 

And 
I 
must
grow
right 
next
to
you.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

In a mirror,
You are the only person who sees yourself straight.
You are the only one who is your own,
Height

Weight

Eye color

Shape

Hair color

All in one package.

Nobody else sees you the way you do.
Nobody else sees you from your eyes. From your angle.

Other people are taller than you.

Angled differently than you.

Other people have things in the way of their view of you.

Maybe it's their lenses.

Maybe there's something blocking their view.

But they don't see you straight. Maybe it's a lighting issue.

Yet, they see YOU in better light than you do.

Maybe the problem is that you've never actually seen yourself.

You have only ever seen a reflection.

Reflections tell us many things,

Height

Weight

Eye color

Shape

Hair color

All in one look.

Take another look. And see yourself straight.

...Because YOU exist outside of that reflection. But that reflection doesn't exist outside of you.

HOME

Take me home.

Where the foil is red and green and there is chocolate inside.

Take me home.

Where I will probably still sleep like I'm in a twin bed... but I won't have to.

Take me home.

Where Mom isn't a voice inside a glass-cased, geometric, handheld device.

Take me home.

Where the only writing required is none.

Take me home.

The place that I didn't fully appreciate until it wasn't the address I put on my envelopes.

Take me home.

Where I can finally sleep in... but I probably won't.

Take me home.

Where I can bug my little brother everyday.

Take me home.

Where I can hear my Mom's footsteps wherever she goes in the house.

Take me home.

Because even though I have to turn the bathroom fan on to fall asleep, I still know there's a Priesthood holder within shouting distance when the thoughts in my head run away.

Take me home.

Because there's a fireplace.

Take me home.

Because it's been an incredible journey and I want them to see it.

Take me home.

Because even though I saw you regularly, I missed you more than I can tell you.

Take me home.

The place where the bubbles are in a tub big enough to fit all of me inside.

Take me home.

Because right now. Today. It is the only place I want to be.