Being stuck in the hospital gave me a great deal of time for reflection. Some of my favorite afternoons were spent with my Grandpa Reese. He has an abundance of amazing stories (and usually brought junk food). I enjoyed sitting back and listening as he recounted the remarkable events of his 83 years. Thank you Grandpa for the stories and potato chips.
One analogy that I contemplated as I stared longingly out the window of my hospital room was what I have come to call "Spiritual Leukemia". Allow me to explain; cancer - of any kind, not just leukemia - is basically when cells grow out of control. The location of those cells, and the nature of their malfunction determines what type of cancer you have. The point is that cell growth is not a bad thing (it's necessary for life), but when it gets over done or distorted it can have devastating consequences.
Leukemia is a result of the unrestrained growth of cancerous blood cells. These cells are not functional and basically crowd out the good cells and prevent them from performing their proper functions. If untreated it is fatal. Likewise, there are many activities (work, hobbies, facebook etc.) that can crowd out the aspects of our lives that revitalize our relationship with God. If untreated, these behaviors can be spiritually fatal. It is important to understand that these actions are not necessarily bad, but if overdone or distorted, they can have devastating consequences.
No institution, plan, program, or system ever conceived by men has access to the redeeming and transforming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, while the Lord’s invitation to follow Him is the highest of all, it is also achievable by everyone, not because we are able, but because He is, and because He can make us able too."
The Way - Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge
One analogy that I contemplated as I stared longingly out the window of my hospital room was what I have come to call "Spiritual Leukemia". Allow me to explain; cancer - of any kind, not just leukemia - is basically when cells grow out of control. The location of those cells, and the nature of their malfunction determines what type of cancer you have. The point is that cell growth is not a bad thing (it's necessary for life), but when it gets over done or distorted it can have devastating consequences.
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| This was my view during the 2nd hospital stay |
Leukemia is a result of the unrestrained growth of cancerous blood cells. These cells are not functional and basically crowd out the good cells and prevent them from performing their proper functions. If untreated it is fatal. Likewise, there are many activities (work, hobbies, facebook etc.) that can crowd out the aspects of our lives that revitalize our relationship with God. If untreated, these behaviors can be spiritually fatal. It is important to understand that these actions are not necessarily bad, but if overdone or distorted, they can have devastating consequences.
Unfortunately there is no perfect cure for leukemia. There are many methodologies - chemotherapy, radiation, transplantation - but nothing that will guarantee the cancer will be defeated.
Luckily, unlike leukemia there is a cure for spiritual cancer: the atonement of Jesus Christ. By acknowledging our weakness and having faith in Christ we can overcome even the most egregious habits and behaviors. I conclude with a quote from one of my favorite speeches:
Luckily, unlike leukemia there is a cure for spiritual cancer: the atonement of Jesus Christ. By acknowledging our weakness and having faith in Christ we can overcome even the most egregious habits and behaviors. I conclude with a quote from one of my favorite speeches:
"Don’t think
you can’t. We might think we can’t really follow [Jesus Christ] because the
standard of His life is so astonishingly high as to seem unreachable. We
might think it is too hard, too high, too much, beyond our capacity, at
least for now. Don’t ever believe that. While the standard of the Lord
is the highest, don’t ever think it is only reachable by a select few
who are most able.
In
this singular instance life’s experience misleads us. In life we learn
that the highest achievements in any human endeavor are always the most
difficult and, therefore, achievable only by a select few who are most
able. The higher the standard, the fewer can reach it. But
that is not the case here because, unlike every other experience in this
life, this is not a human endeavor. It is, rather, the work of God. It
is God’s work and it is His “glory … to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
There is nothing else like it. Not anywhere. Not ever.
No institution, plan, program, or system ever conceived by men has access to the redeeming and transforming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, while the Lord’s invitation to follow Him is the highest of all, it is also achievable by everyone, not because we are able, but because He is, and because He can make us able too."
The Way - Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge
Hi Marshall, I don't know if you will remember me from the singles ward, but I stumbled upon your blog via Lauren Ford's website. Your posts and insights are very inspiring. I am shocked to see what you are going through! I wish you and your family the best, you are in our prayers!
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