Tuesday, August 2, 2011

my handcart

All my life I have heard and read stories about the pioneers who crossed the plains. Their stories bring tears to my eyes because of their trials and hardships, but also because of their concrete faith and never-ending hope. None of those stories hit me as hard as those of the Saints who made the journey to Zion with handcarts. Tonight I went to go see the movie "17 Miracles" about these incredible pioneers. I am directly related to Levi Savage so this movie, and the stories it portrayed, are even more special to me because of my love for that great man, his testimony and example. It was a very spiritual experience watching this movie and I left with the conviction that I can continue to pull my own handcart.

If those early Saints were able to walk across the county through rain, sun, and snow; starve to death; freeze to death; leave loved ones in shallow graves; and come to the brink of complete failure....I can remain faithful and hopeful and continue to pull my handcart. My handcart isn't made out of wood. My handcart isn't filled with 17 pounds of my Earthly possessions. But it is just as real. I don't want to be found any less faithful than my ancestors at the last day. I don't know why I am having to pull this particular handcart right now, but the Lord does, and I know that through Him all things are possible and I will be given every blessing I have been promised if I remain faithful. It's hard. My hands, feet, and back hurt sometimes. There are days I'm not sure I can make it the 12 miles that I have to walk, but I will continue to put one foot in front of the other until help arrives and I reach my destination.

I was listening to a CD on the way to work today that echoes some of the thoughts and emotions I've been struggling with the last couple weeks, as well as what my hopes are for the future.

"Change"
Taylor Swift

And it's a sad picture, the final blow hits you
Somebody else gets what you wanted again
You know it's all the same, another time and place
Repeating history and you?re getting sick of it

But I believe in whatever you do
And I'll do anything to see it through

Because these things will change, can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win

We'll sing hallelujah!
We'll sing hallelujah! Oh

So we've been outnumbered, raided and now cornered
It's hard to fight when the fight ain't fair
We're getting stronger now from things they never found
They might be bigger but we're faster and never scared

You can walk away and say we don't need this
But there's something in your eyes says we can beat this

'Cause these things will change, can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win

We'll sing hallelujah!
We'll sing hallelujah! Oh

Tonight we standed on our knees
To fight for what we worked for all these years
And the battle was long, it's the fight of our lives
Will we stand up champions tonight?

It was the night things changed, can you see it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back fell down
It's a revolution, throw your hands up, 'cause we never gave in

We'll sing hallelujah!
We sang hallelujah!
Hallelujah!

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