MIracles

I just returned from three days in Nauvoo where I attended a seminar related to work. It was a good experience and one from which I left with some new insights and new goals.

During the five hour drive home, I had ample time to contemplate my life's experiences and to evaluation my personal history. There are areas where I remain weak and others where I feel I might have something to offer that is either helpful or humorous or both. My thoughts then rested on the concept of miracles...

Christ would often refer to the sinners of the world as needing a physician. He would refer to Himself as that healer. I am sure His working of healing miracles among those who suffered mortal infirmities was one way He taught us about the healing power of the Atonement. Nowhere in scripture is this better demonstrated than in the account found in the second chapter of Mark:

"AND again he entered into Capernaum after [some] days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive [them], no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." (Mark 2:1-5)

The Scribes who were witnesses to the event began to entertained angry and jealous thoughts which the Savior perceived and which He answered by testifying of His personal mission and really, to who He was:

"And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house." (Mark 2:8-11)

As I thought of the concept of miracles, I thought of several things but most poignantly, my heart was focused on the friends of the palsied man.

Their friend, perhaps even a family member, was sick. They had the faith necessary to bring him to the Savior to be healed and they refused to give up when faced with the crowds that were keeping them from getting near Him. I thought of the families I neglected to home teach over the years.

Oh, there are several reasons why I miss families this family, but, as I read about these singular men who climbed on the roof with their friend in tow and tore a hole in it to lower their friend to the Savior's side, none of those reasons sounded all that good to me. I confessed my sin to the Lord in a silent prayer asking God's forgiveness for my lack of tenacity, which really was a lack of love for these families.

For the balance of the drive home, I tried to count the miracles in my life.

I remembered when I was the palsied man, lowered to the feet of the Savior. I remember His healing touch as He commissioned me to repent of my sins. I remember the weight of the world being lifted from my shoulders at that moment.

I remembered times before my journey adrift when I had witnessed the healing miracle of the gospel when it comes into the lives of the most humble of mankind when I served a mission. I remembered how I felt when I was sealed to my wife forever and the dark sadness I suffered when I walked away from that miracle.

I remembered the birth of each of my children and saw in them the hope of the world.

I remembered feeling somewhat like Alma felt during his repentance ordeal on the day my blessings were restored and the sealing to my wife and children reestablished. My exquisite pain replaced by unspeakable joy.

I remembered see this same miracle in the lives of my friends.

There are few men more blessed with miracles than me. I have been forgiven by God and friends and family. I have made close friends who are great examples to me and who love me, in spite of my flaws. Most of all, I have been blessed with a sense of the reality of Christ and His personal commitment to me. I love the words He uses as my advocate with the Father:

"Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:4-5)

Words cannot express my love nor my gratitude for my Advocate.

So, when the waves of life are boisterous and my faith wavers, it is comforting to know the Savior is there to keep me from drowning and that, more often than not, His lifeguards have names like Debra, Bret, Jody, Sam, Mary, Erin, Matt, Will, Barney and Paul.