THE BEAT GOES ON

Today is Easter Sunday. It's nearly 6am, and I've been staring at the blank page of my blog for a while. I am usually eager to share the events--mundane as they are--of our week, so that family and friends scattered throughout the world will know that we're still alive, still hanging on, and doing our thing. This week, however, our life seems more mundane than usual. There are no real highs or real lows--just a comfortable moving forward with the projects and prospects of feathering our nest and readying it for the visitors who will grace us with their sweet presence throughout the spring and summer.

I am still sewing and decorating; Dad is hammering and painting. We've gone from this:

To this:

To this:

There is still a new counter to be installed on Wednesday and the wall/shelf decorations to be arranged. Some of you will be saddened--hmmm...ha....that the mountain man is no more. He's relegated to guarding the wood pile. Encouraged to know that dad's dog has had a long needed bath, and Molly Bear is not far behind. The refrigerator is doing some rumbling that sounds suspiciously like a death rattle, but....we're moving on--outdoors...to lawn projects and unburdening the gazebo of its winter storage of garden rocks, lawn furniture, and empty flower pots.

We have forgone the chocolate Easter bunnies, baskets, and colored eggs side of Easter this year for the sake of our health and our waistlines. Wait...there were those Cadbury eggs at our class the other night...

However the real reason for the season has not been ignored, and we have been moved and uplifted by a recent Easter message from Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the general authorities of our Church. Elder Holland's is posted many places on the internet. I, however, haven't figured out how to post the video of his talk on my blog, but you can watch/listen to the full text at: http://www.fromthedust.org/2009/04/10/mormon-messages-none-were-with-him-jeffrey-r-holland/ In this world of so much turmoil and chaos, his words were especially relevant and moving. My favorite part is this:

With all the conviction of my soul I testify that He did please His Father perfectly and that a perfect Father did not forsake His Son in that hour. Indeed, it is my personal belief that in all of Christ’s mortal ministry the Father may never have been closer to His Son than in these agonizing final moments of suffering. Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required; indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.
But Jesus held on. He pressed on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph even in a state of complete anguish. The trust He lived by told Him in spite of His feelings that divine compassion is never absent, that God is always faithful, that He never flees nor fails us. When the uttermost farthing had then been paid, when Christ’s determination to be faithful was as obvious as it was utterly invincible, finally and mercifully, it was “finished.” Against all odds and with none to help or uphold Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the living Son of the living God, restored physical life where death had held sway and brought joyful, spiritual redemption out of sin, hellish darkness and despair. With faith in the God He knew was there, He could say in triumph, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”

For all of you whom I love so much, remember that I am one of those family members, friends, companions who was given as your companion for your mortal journey. I don't have much in a material way, but...I have total and absolute faith--unwavering and well-tested. in the existence of God, in His power to hold us in the hollow of His hand and guide us through this frail existence. I can pray for you and with you; I can listen, hold your hand, and give you a swift kick if that's what you need!! I will always be here...lowly servant that I am. All my love, Mom