It's Tough to Be So Blessed

Before you shift your eyes to one side and say "pff, speak for
yourself", just stick with me. I read an unforgettable book last year
called, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara
Demick. This book reads like fiction, but tells the terrible and true
stories of six defectors from totalitarian North Korea. Since reading
this book, I've never looked at a single grain of rice in the same
way. I should say that I don't mean this in the way that reading the
book Fast food Nation (which I haven't actually read) might make
someone never look at McDonalds in the same way—I mean this book gave
me a new understanding of the struggles that are out there in the
world today and how far distant I am from them. While I try hard to be
constructive rather than to pitty, I thank God that I'm able to feed
my children. Actually, more than pitty, this book stirs up more
feelings of anger than I'm used to, so I have to work at keeping those
in check too. Bottom line… Nothing to Envy is a must-read.

In a totally different genre but with at least one similar theme, I'm
currently reading the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series,
Anne's House of Dreams. In this book, a conversation (Leslie's big
apology) takes place between Anne and her neighbor and they discuss
some of the tragic events in their lives. Leslie recalls the
accidental death of her little brother and she says something along
the lines of "[If there's one thing I could forget in the next life it
would be that horrifying image]" to which Anne replies something like
"[You surely will forget]". It's interesting to me how commonplace
tragedy is in some sphere's of time and place and how despite my own
lack of real hardship, I'm still supposed to learn to have faith and
to repent and develop a relationship with Christ and believe His
atoning sacrifice is for all.

While I'm giving book recommendations, let me also put in a plug for
Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and work of Relief Society,
recently published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I think there's a lot that pioneering women can teach us about faith,
courage, tenacity, industry, and priorities.

In the Bible it says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God"
(Matthew 19:24). That's me, but I'm not just talking about the future
doctor's wife version of myself which seems so far distant at the
moment; I believe even the poorest person living in the united States
today is wealthier than the majority of the world's inhabitants of
today or times past.

So, what a challenge you and I have. I'm so busy thinking about what
birthday presents to buy for the girls, today's dishes, not to mention
my running schedule for the week; I mean, what's with today's
preoccupation with exercise anyway? Yes, I'm with you on the health
benefits and learning self-mastery, but largely it's recreation. This
is coming from the girl who several months ago proclaimed her
aspiration to do a triathlon. I still have that goal, but I continue
to juggle my priorities and wonder at the privilege of living in a
time and place that affords me the hope of achieving this goal. Only
the truly wealthy would do such a thing.

A final word on wealth—Of course wealth is more than money. I have an
abundant life. I just have to make a lot more use of it. This is also
not to discount the real trials that are endured by people around me,
some of which I'll inevitably face. I think my wealth commentary still
applies to those people. Anyhow, some people might think blindness is
pretty tough, which it has been in some ways, but I think at this
point in time, my trials are more like being attacked by the
Lilliputians from Gulliver's Travels (a book I should probably read)
or perhaps more aptly described as being pelted to death by
marshmellows (or maybe peanuts). No matter who you are, life is
relentless!

I ought not to end on this note—I should explain that the title of
this post is not meant to be tongue-in-cheek (despite my reference to
marshmallow wars). Maybe I'm grasping at straws to think of something
serious to say after that. Still, remember Matthew's words above. So
many of us around here have to work really hard at developing faith.
"To whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke
12:48). . It just might be that my wealth is my greatest hardship.

PS My apologies that this post has been a bit all over the place.
Hopefully the theme holds it together if the writing is a bit
scatter-brained. I don't write this sort of thing very often and
apparently I need more practice.