Remember, Remember

Do you remember running around your school gym during p.e. class and being told not to think about a white polar bear? As soon as you did, you were supposed to stop running. Needless to say, it didn't take long before we all stopped running. (Although the smart kids would've realized it was a great way to get out of running. Guess we know which category I fell in. Not the brightest crayola in the box. Alas.)

This experiment seems to be the concept in reverse. Instead of remembering within a few seconds of getting your sneakers to the floor, you forget. I think this is because of two reasons: 1) unceasing virtue isn't something we have down yet and 2) as you attempt to increase the light, you will have a corresponding increase in darkness around you.

Here's what I mean. First of all, I have trouble remembering my grocery list if I don't write it down. I'll get a lot of it, but I may pick up something I didn't need or forget one item I did. How often do you think of a mental 'to do' list and get through the day only to realize you forgot an item or two? None of us can keep something in our head constantly. Our very nature causes us to be distracted. Without some kind of reminder, we will forget the experiment at least once or twice. And, unfortunately, that's all the opposition needs. And that's the second part of this. Have you noticed how much more people are rude or a situation is aggravating? I sure have. And that makes sense. If you are really trying to be patient, kind, loving, honest, etc. then you will have opposition helping to create a situation that encourages you to be impatient, mean, cruel, or lie. (But on the plus side, it means you've got someone's attention. The 'bloody knuckle complement' as it were. By trying to be a force for good, you are now on the bad guy's radar.)

So how to solve both problems?

Well, for memory, I think an apt illustration is from the Bible. Peter, walking on water. We all know this story. The apostles see who they think is the Savior, walking on water in the middle of a storm, on a lake. Peter is invited to come walk on water and he does. Until he looks at the waves, gets scared, and starts to drown. At which point, the Savior saves him. My point: we have to keep our eyes on the prize. An ealier post had a great comment from Lizzie. She writes some form of the word 'virtue' and places it where she can see it throughout the day. This is a great idea. But what if you don't have a daily schedule that allows for that? What if you spend your day dancing while holding up a business sign? Then what? Well, if you listen to music, you could make sure your play list only includes songs that are virtuous. But no matter what you do each day, you can always start and end your day with scripture and prayer. And pray specifically for promptings from the Spirit regarding virtue. (I've done this and had this over the course of this experiment.) If you have a place to put a picture of the Savior, that may be another idea. Have more? Let us know. We're all in this together.

Now to the opposition problem. Some of this, let's be honest, is our own fault. Our actions and choices can antagonize someone or hurt someone. Should we be surprised when our relationship with them is then damaged? If we react in anger, well, that only escalates the problem. So first, we can pray for wisdom. But sometimes, no matter how well we try to do, we have negative feelings in us. In fact, I'd venture to guess that there are those out there who like to antagonize people just because they like to get a rise out of someone or they like to show off their verbal or intellectual prowess or they think it makes them important or included. Whatever their reasoning or motivation, it really doesn't change the fact that they are now part of a mounting opposition working on frustrating our attempts to be virtuous. What to do, what to do?

Now the obvious concept of a baseball bat, a brick to the back of the head, or even throttling are neither virtuous nor good ideas. Virtue will not cause you to end up in an orange jumpsuit. If it does, please let me know b/c that would be a first. So then what? You can either act by saying something/doing something or you can act by not saying something/not doing something. Either way, it's your choice and it is a choice. And their will be consequences. Sometimes speaking only gets you a lecture or silence only leads to increased attacks. I've experienced both but I've also experienced how silence can cause someone to change or how talking things through clears up stuff. To know what is best, pray for guidance, and follow your promptings.

This may solve problems of virtue regarding other mortals but it won't solve the problem you have with Uncle Luoie (yes, that is short for Lucifer). You can't reason with him and you can't be silent and hope he goes away. He won't. The best thing to do? Again, let's turn to the scriptures for the answers. Moses gives us a good example. You refuse to obey him or give in to vice, you denounce him, declare your allegiance to the Savior, pray like crazy. Or, you do like Joseph of Egypt, you declare your standards and then run like heck the other way. What you do not do, is hang out with the vice and get on a first name basis with it, in some misguided attempt to prove how 'strong' you are and how long you can resist. Didn't work for King David and it won't for you. I have a friend who has a friend who is married. And her husband has struggled with pornography. So his solution? On a Sunday, go sit in his car in the parking lot of a strip club to see how long he can resist not going in. Is anyone surprised by what happened afterwards? Foolish. If you don't want to get dirty, don't play in the mud. Sure, someone will always throw mud on you. But the difference is that you may not be able to control psycho mud-slinger's actions. You can control yours. And you are accountable for your's. As for someone else--how about putting on a slicker? The mud hits the waterproof yellow coat and just shucks right off of you. You are still clean. What's our metaphorical yellow slicker? The whole armor of god. That's how Joseph of Egypt made it out. That's why he is the example of the virtue 'chastity'.

So this week, let's try it. Work on ways to keep the experiment upper most in your minds and keeping the armor on. Write me throughout the next few days and tell us your thoughts, suggestions, questions.