Happy Sunday: Christ is risen, indeed

I celebrated this rainy, yet lovely Easter morning at mass at the National Cathedral with Gma and company. I loved singing about the resurrection of the Lord accompanied by an angelic choir, a brass ensemble and an organ. There's just something so impressive about organs in massive cathedrals. At one point the reverend proclaimed, "Christ is risen!" to which the hundreds in attendance responded, "Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!"

This was repeated back and forth about 6 times and I was so overwhelmed with joy because that is exactly what I adored about celebrating Easter in Romania. For at least 2 weeks preceding Easter, and another 2 weeks following Easter, Romanians (and others nationalities that are predominantly Eastern Orthodox) greet each other with this same dialogue. On the phone, in stores, on the street...family, friends, strangers... For a month Christ and his resurrection are at the forefront of everyone's thoughts and incorporated into daily salutations.

May we remember the blessing of the resurrection always. Christ is risen. He lives. Through him the bonds of death are broken that we may all rise and live again.

Happy Easter.

The Name Game

A couple weeks ago, I was making my merry way across the Key Bridge towards Georgetown. I usually despise traffic but sometimes it facilitates exciting conversations with strangers. Like the guy driving behind me who started wildly honking his horn and shouting out his window when he saw my license place and alma mater sticker.

Stranger: "UTAH! WHOA!  Utah, hey, Utah!!
Me: "Wha...the...?"
Stranger: "OH MAH GAH you went to BYU! Woooo! Go cougars! AHHHH! JIMMER! Do you know Jimmer????"
Me: Not personally, no.
Stranger: My sister went to BYU! Do you know [insert name that at least 200 other people have here]?

There is something you should know about Mormons. We have a weird fascination with playing the Name Game. You know, the game where you list off every possible Mormon you know and hope that the other person knows one of them, even vaguely. Mormons have this lofty assumption that they share all their connections with other Mormons. So we play the Name Game to confirm those connections.

This is the first time someone has played the Name Game with me in the middle of DC traffic. Impressive.

Happy Sunday: Perfection

I heard this insight about perfection today.  

The girl sharing the comment more or less said that being a perfectionist is a sin, in the sense that perfectionism is self-absorbed, rather than Christ-centered. A perfectionist relies solely on himself and his own capabilities, therefore eliminating the assistance of the Atonement and the whole idea that we are made perfect through Christ. 

In the Book of Mormon it says: "Come unto Christ and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then his grace is sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." (Moroni 10:32)

Perfectionists base their worth and success on an imaginary idea that humans, acting by their mortal power alone, can be perfect. And they measure their progress according to what they deem is better or "more perfect" in others. 

Let us not be perfectionists but rather come unto Christ and strive for perfection, recognizing that we are inherently weak and that it is only in and through Christ's Atonement that we can be made strong. 

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)  

I feel like this would significantly decrease the amount of stressed out people in this mad world.

For more fantastic Pinterest fails, click here. 

Shout out to St. Pat, from this Galway Girl

What kind of person would I be if I didn't give a shout-out to the mother turf on this day of celebrating St. Patrick, who rid the Green Isle of all snakes. 

Fact. I swear. 

I thought I'd throw some photogs of my favorite country up here, from our last trip in Summer 2011. These pretty much sum up Ireland for me. Music. Green. Dancing. Beer. Music. Rainbow-colored houses. Sheep. Music. Castles. The jolliest people in the world. Did I say music? 

On our first trip in 2006, my cuzball Katie and I started the tradition of rolling down the hill of the Rock of Cashel. It was my brother's turn the next time around. This castle was built by Brian Boru, founder of the O'Brien dynasty. Blood runs thicker than water, so sometimes you have to do foolish things to honor the dead. 

Happy St. Patty's Day! Erin go bragh!

Happy Sunday: Grace

Today I heard it described as this:

Justice: When you get what you deserve.
Mercy: When you don't get what you deserve.
Grace: When you get what you don't deserve. 

Read it like 50 times and ponder it for 20 minutes. It'll make sense. And then all of a sudden God's love will take on a whole new meaning.

I finally fully grasp how God can be both just and merciful. And it is through His grace that I can truly feel His love, even especially when I don't deserve it.

Happy Sunday.

Snowquester

Fresh Prince marathon!

I've been as productive today as Congress has been all year. 

Wait. What?

This was roughly my reaction when I woke up one morning last week and realized I had registered for a half marathon. 

There are few things in life I hate more than running. 

Despotism. Bullies. The plague. 

But it's to raise money for Crohns Disease research. So I guess I can do it. 

February was

a FAILURE. As far as blogging goes. 

HUGE FAIL.

Like the time I closed my eyes on the treadmill.

True story. December 2012.

I'll do better this month. [Both at blogging and running on a treadmill]