easter + perplexed

I recently found a talk by Elder Maxwell that is changing my life. I was 14 when he gave it. Which doesn't mean anything except I'm real grateful for the technology that allows me to listen to old conference talks pretty much wherever I want, whenever I want. The first half of the talk will kick your butt. The second half will make you weep from love and the promise of hope. Oh that promise.

Do we understand—really comprehend—that Jesus knows and understands when we are stressed and perplexed? The complete consecration which effected the Atonement ensured Jesus' perfect empathy; He felt our very pains and afflictions before we did and knows how to succor us." —Neal A. Maxwell "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father"

I really love that word perplexed. We talk a lot about making it through hard challenges, painful challenges, but not very often about the hurt of confusion. But, the atonement offers perfect empathy even for that rubik's cube of a wound. Especially when we have to wait one hundred years for understanding.

one thing about grace

 

I'll begin this short post by saying that I'm not totally sure how to define grace technically. We use it for so many gorgeous & useful reasons, both religiously and non-religiously. But, in terms of the atonement—perhaps after a period of astonishing pain or wanderingness—grace sometimes feels like finding yourself in a very lovely room with extremely comfortable chairs. There are also wood floors (and wonderful light from south facing windows). You can walk around in this room barefoot because the floors are always warm. You may find yourself asking a hundred times, do I really feel so comfortable and lovely here? and the answer is, Yes. None of the chairs go away. And, neither does the relief. You never have to leave.

You didn't know that the easiness of the yoke would be forgiveness.

The burden so bright.

Matt 11:30.