Nothing to see here...

I've been thinking for the last two weeks that I needed to blog but have been dumbfounded on what to blog about. The past month has been full of ups and downs and everything in between. Yet, none of the events feel very blog appropriate.

The conversations of the last month that have made me pause and think have included subjects like: is it okay to question authority in the church? What are my feelings on gay marriage? What things can I be doing to show more gratitude in my life? Are your struggles harder than mine, or do we all have different struggles?

Like I said before, I'm not sure the stories about these questions are the most appropriate to share on a public blog, but I think it is good to let you know what has been on my mind for the last while. I should say my religious belief is not wavering. I just like to think, learn and grow from discussions with those who may have a different perspective than me.

So what can I tell you? I want to tell you about someone I heard speak last month at the Senate.

I got the chance to come up and do some part-time work for the state senate during the interim day in September. During the interim day, the senate convened to confirm some of the Governor's latest judge appointments. One judge stood out to me. I don't remember his name or what court he was assigned, but I remember him saying something about the youth. He said, "I do a great deal of work with the young people in our state and I can tell you, I have great hope for our future."

If appropriate I would've raised my hand and asked him to say that sentence one more time and then asked, "are you telling me that the rising generation gives you hope?" I believe his answer would've been yes. I was impressed by his comment and now have tried to take that same feeling of hope in my life.

In our previous ward I got the special chance to work with some of the young men. At first, I really was indifferent to this calling. I enjoyed it but I didn't feel like I had much to teach the boys, I was only 10 years older than them, did I really know that much more than them? As time passed though, I grew to love those boys. I saw their potential and became excited for the great lives ahead of them. I was reminded of them when I heard this judge say he has hope for the future. The judge is right, there are great things still to come in this world.

It's easy to be cynical and sarcastic about what may come, and maybe being a cynic is even the more realistic way to be, but I prefer to have hope. I have hope because of those boys I got to serve with. I have hope because of the great woman I am married to. I have hope because of my religious beliefs. I have hope because sometimes I don't know what else I can do.

I'm sure there will still be times when life goes in a direction less than desirable, but I'd rather have hope for great things to come.