“A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishment of others.

Whereas humility generally denotes dependence upon God and the constant need for His guidance and support, a distinguishing characteristic of meekness is a particular spiritual receptivity to learning both from the Holy Ghost and from people who may seem less capable, experienced, or educated, who may not hold important positions, or who otherwise may not appear to have much to contribute.

Meekness is the principal protection from the prideful blindness that often arises from prominence, position, power, wealth and adulation.”

-          (Elder David A. Bednar, “Meek and Lowly of Heart” April 2018 GC)

When the Pacific Area Presidency was located in Sydney, Australia 30 years ago, I was fortunate enough to be in the same ward as them. I was a freshly divorced single mother in the Church and I was the Gospel Doctrine Teacher. It was a humbling experience to teach this class with Elder Featherstone and Elder Hafen listening to me. They never corrected me, or offered comments that made mine insignificant in comparison. They built me up when I needed it the most. They were the meek men of the earth who cared more about the little fish in the Church than elevating themselves because of their callings. This is meekness.

I reflected this week on many of you wonderful people who build me up through your appreciation of my writing. I am still a little fish in the Church without a name yet I am fed every day by your grateful comments of the knowledge and understanding I glean through my study of the Gospel and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. You are also the meek of the earth……

Elder Bednar went on to list the qualities of a meek person: strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; gracious, not brash. Can you see one person in all these attributes? The Saviour is the epitome of meekness.

Lucifer in all his pride wanting to exalt himself above us, would have through his plan given us what the Father had but it would never have made us what the Father is. Only the Saviour can: in example, in leadership, in empowerment.  Everything he is, we have to become. Everything we become, we owe to Him who seeks to elevate us to His own station. This is meekness divine.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus Whispers of Grace by Ivan Guaderrama)

 

THE PATH OF OPPOSITION

 

“The ultimate purpose of the Atonement [of Jesus Christ] is to ensure our happiness and joy. But the Lord achieves that purpose in our lives through the interaction of conflicting forces that, at first, seem determined to rob us of the joy we seek. Paradoxically, our purest joy emerges from the natural tension between those opposing forces.”  (Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Broken Heart” p 63)

We often think that opposition in this life which befalls us is arbitrary because we are living in a world of opposites but I had an insight the other day into the process of opposition and its role in our lives. I realised that all the opposition I have been through that marred my happiness is everything that I was intolerant of before it showed up in my life.

This opposition came in the form of trials which I now understand had no aim to destroy my happiness and make me miserable but to test my resolve to adhere to the truth in the midst of my emotional distress. That was its primary purpose. I could see when I understood this that all the opposition we are confronted with in our lives is not random and is tailored to us personally. It has to be opposite to our personal values, ideals and plans for it to be a test.

I know for a fact that my reality does in no way resemble that idealistic view I once had of myself and my life. In fact, my life ended up being the very opposite of what I had once imagined. I know there are people in the world who have the life they have always wanted so I presume they are tested differently but I know we are all on testing ground in some way. And sometimes the ease of life can be a testing ground too. It makes some of us forget God.

Consider Job and his experience with opposition:

Job was “a perfect and an upright man, one that feared God and eschewed evil” (Job 2:3). His love for God was beyond fault. Job’s service to his fellowman was incredibly impressive (Job 4:3; 4:4; 29:12;13; 29:1516); 31:32). In short, Job was righteous, did good continually, was incredibly respected in the community and he was fabulously wealthy. You could say, his life was perfect. Then came the opposition to that picture perfect life.

 

Job went from the pinnacle of society to living in rags on the outskirts of the city, in constant pain, not understanding what has happened to him. He went from a picture of perfection to being disfigured with boils, and worms and maggots were bred in his sores (7:5). He ended up living outside the city on the refuse heap where outcasts and lepers lived. (7:14). Whereas, everyone in his community honoured him before, he suddenly became an outcast.  

 

He who had loved God beyond reproach felt that God had forsaken him ((19:6,7-13); His friends scorned him (Job 16:20), he became estranged from his wife who told him to curse God and die (Job 2:9; 19:17); he lost his friends and  respect of his servants (19:14-16); young children despised him and mocked him (19:18); and everyone he loved turned against him (19:19). In other words, all that was good in his life turned opposite.

 

This is my theory. The greater you are, the greater the tests of opposition. The test has to equal the stature of the man or it is not a test. If your life is particularly difficult and it is not in consequence of your own making through sin, be comforted, you are among the greats!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Path to Light by Ivan Guaderrama)

ASHES OF LIFE

 

"Each of us will taste the bitter ashes of life, from sin and neglect to sorrow and disappointment. But the Atonement of Christ can lift us up in beauty, not only from our own ashes but also from the ashes of Him who fathers the rebirth of our spirits.

"We then soar toward the sun on the wings of a sure promise of immortality and eternal life. Thus may we be lifted up, not only at the end of life but in each day of our lives."

- Elder Bruce C. Hafen, "The Broken Heart" p 22

Your tender mercies
So graciously given
Sail me across my turbulent seas
As with love You speak: Peace, be still.

The waves obey,
The deep whispers Your name,
I am saved yet another day.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Reflections of Grace by Ivan Guaderrama)