Reflections in Sandy Tides

This is another (unfortunately) rare post by myself, the nerdy guy next to the beautiful wife and 3 cute kids in the title picture. I find myself the only one awake late this Friday night on the 3rd day of our great stay here on North Padre Island/Corpus Christi for our first true family vacation, and wanted to type a few of my thoughts out. I'll try and keep it brief.

I picked the title due to being the son of an English literature professor and wanted something complex and telling and...sorry, run on sentence. :) I was thinking about it today, as the tides here on North Padre Island are not crystal clear blue water, but are actually pretty murky with sand. You can't see too deeply in them at all. I'm used to quite the opposite being spoiled by the pristine shores of Northern Oahu. My wonderful wife and kids are just smiling and enjoying it as best as they can. I'll try not to make this a sacrament talk parable...the point is, you can't reflect too much in murky water. So why point out the obvious? I have had many varied events happen lately in my life to make me realize I wasn't truly reflecting and thus not truly appreciating the great things (read 'need to be relished') and not-so-great things (read 'needs to be changed') in my life. Why wasn't I reflecting on them? My "life's waters" weren't clear enough in that they were clouded by an (unfortunate) overemphasis on job/school/less-important pursuits. I do not condone slacking in your professional life, not at all, but achieving a balance, and having your efforts in harmony with your priorities, is a talent that I am still trying to obtain...and hope and think I'm getting better at. I don't like to dwell on it, that's not productive, it simply is one of the biggest lessons I've learned through this roller-coaster of a ride that is life.

I must clarify, however: I detest any kind of pity and "aw-shucks" type of attitude when reflecting on the past and its results. They are unproductive and drive away the positive that is and is in life. I am simply grateful to begin to learn and hopefully live this principle.

Also, the reason I feel so full of light and see the light at the end of the tunnel, is that my cup runneth over with not just small, but great blessings: I have many bright and beautiful "shores" in my life, and they are truly crystal clear blue waters. My stalwart and beautiful wife, :) our 3 beautiful though (unfortunately) stubborn children, and most importantly, our testimonies of the Truth. I can reflect all day and night in those, and my heart swells with gratitude whenever I do.

I look forward to what the future holds with great hope and faith...there will be struggles and trials, but I know there is a Guiding Light, even in the murkiest waters. They will clear and the path will open for us, in spite of the rolling tides; that is my testimony. It was appropriate, I thought, that in my personal reading in D&C I came across some of my favorite verses in Section 58: "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."